Forever Forestville - January 2012

Happy 2012 to all of you! I trust that your Holidays have been merry and bright. This year marks the end of my second year writing this column and I am sad to say that this will be my last installment. I have found that I have been juggling just a few too many balls in the air and I desire to simplify my life this year so that all I do can be its very best. It has been a true joy being part of this paper’s family and I thank you for all of the encouragement I have received. It is my hope for you all that you will continue to support our community and participate in all it has to offer. Don’t miss out on the many opportunities to meet others, provide a helping hand, be entertained, and enjoy delicious foods and creative products. We are so fortunate.

Student Snippets

February 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th El Molino Theater Arts will present the fun-filled musical 1776. All shows are at 7:30 in the Café Theater. Don’t miss out! Forestville Schools Drama Department will be performing The Butler Did It, Again this March. Keep your eye out for details.

Hollydale Happenings

This year The Hollydale Community Clubhouse celebrates 65 years as a family social gathering spot for the Forestville Community. Please continue to help support this great establishment by attending one of the many events this year hosted by members and great volunteers:

January 15th Sunday - Community Breakfast 8:00-Noon. $6 donation

January 28th Saturday - Clubhouse Work party 9:00-1:00PM

February 4th Saturday - Russian Dinner 6:00PM.

March 17th Saturday - Annual Clubhouse Corned Beef & Cabbage Feed (on St. Patrick's Day!) 6:00PM w/ music.

Around Town

Amazingly – three downtown businesses have changed hands as we enter 2012. Off the Track Café was purchased by Anthony & Natalie who will be starting bright and early on January 2^nd. I’m excited to see the opening of the Forestville Pizzeria at Westside Center between Tahoe and Shear Glory. Dan Reha and Gwen Taylor come to us from east county and have been welcomed with open arms! It’s menu of gourmet pizzas, burgers sandwiches looks wonderful and the prices are just right. And Mike White has purchased The Package Store from Holly  - you may have met him as he has been in training for the last month – so Holly’s business carries on as she transitions to her bookkeeping office at West County Financial in Guerneville. Let’s all support our hard working businesses!

Chamber of Commerce

It’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again as the Forestville Chamber of Commerce has announced their choices for recognizing the volunteer efforts of outstanding community members who give their time to making our home a wonderful place to live and raise families. The Chamber Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony will be held in March. The Citizen of the Year is Doug Wood. The entire Wood family has been a major reason why our hometown functions well. Their volunteering helps maintain life in Forestville. The Volunteer of the Year is Richard Nagle, the former president of the Forestville Planning Association who has worked hard to bring people together for our mutual benefit. The Business Person of the Year is Holly Robinson.  For the last 17 years, Holly has run The Package Store at the corner of Covey & 116 in downtown Forestville. Serving both our cottage businesses and general public, she has provided a convenient location for packing and shipping packages, selling office supplies and notarizing documents right here in town. She also serves clients as a bookkeeping service.  2011 is her last year in town, and her shipping business will be turned over to Mark at the beginning of 2012 but Holly will continue her bookkeeping service at a new office in Guerneville. We are grateful that she chose Forestville to serve West County with the convenience of a local shipper so we don't have to travel far for this service.

Thank you again for allowing me the privilege of representing our town in this wonderful paper. I look forward to seeing you at future events and pray that we all enjoy a magnificent 2012 and beyond!