www.95436.com

Can you get cellphone coverage in Forestville?

Several months back a bunch of us Forestvillians started griping about cellphone service in Forestville. No one in our small group had a good thing to say about any of the cellphone service providers. I'd like to know others' experiences.

I've had Verizon for nearly a decade and their call reception has never been good here, at least at my home. The other day I called one of their service techs. He did some research and told me there are two cell towers that "serve" Forestville. The closest is two miles to the north, which I guess is on the hills

Rotary Is Now Accepting Applications for Scholarships...

By Herb Nurmi

The scholarships pay up to $25,000 for a school year overseas. The favored applicants will probably be college juniors, seniors or graduates. The goal of the Rotary Ambassador scholarships is world peace and understanding. For details, call Bill Cole at 829-5069

Hal Roa, Troy Tristhammer and Rotary

By Herb Nurmi

At a recent Sebastopol Rotary meeting, Hal Roa, teacher at El Molino High School, recited a "chant" he learned at a recent U.S. Marine Corp boot camp... the boot camp, incidentally, was a 5 day version designed for more elderly folks. The "chant" was delivered as a shout..."Highly motivated...Truly dedicated...Rough, tough...Can't get enough...Hoo-Hah!"

Hal said the "chant" described the qualitities of Troy Tristhammer, El Molino's Student of the Month, whom he was pleased to present to the Rotary club. Troy is a four year computer drafting student and an Eagle Scout and will continue his education in engineering. Teacher Cindy Comb from Analy introduced student Amon Moffit who said he was grateful for being guided by his teacher in computer art. He will continue is studies at the S.F. Art Institute.

Jason Sherbundy...El Molino '92

By Herb Nurmi

Are El Molino graduates making their mark? How about Jason? While at El Molino, Jason was an outstanding piano player in the jazz band. He has been the Music Director and Conductor of "Promises, Promises" at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park.

He has a few other credits: Consider that he has worked with such groups as the Santa Rosa Symphony, the San Francisco Opera Guild, Bear Valley Music Festival, Sonoma State University, Livermore Valley Opera, San Jose Lyric, Cinnabar Theater, Napa Symphony, Summer Repertory Theater, and Pacific

95436.com isn't FPA, isn't FCSG

A citizen stopped me today in downtown Forestville and asked me if 95436.com was affiliated with the Forestville Planning Association. I assured him it wasn't. Maybe some clarification is in order.

I think the question was really about me, because in the past I was involved with both FPA and FCSG. I was active with FCSG for a dozen years or so from roughly 1985 to 1997. I attended FPA meetings from its inception until last March, when I went on a lengthy trip.

I'm no longer active in either organization, although don't take that to mean that I'm dissing them, because I'm not. Both organizations, in my opinion, are filled with lots of hard-working citizens concerned about the future of their community. They are doing what citizens are supposed to do in a democracy: get involved, make their views known and try to influence things.

Last fall I concluded that the way I could contribute the most to Forestville was NOT as an active worker within FPA or FCSG. I have lots of experience creating online discussion forums; it's what I do best. And I've decided that's where I'll put my money and energy.

When I was in FPA and FCSG I often lamented that there was no easy way to establish the communications forums I've been using online since 1983. Now those tools are sufficiently simply that even I can use them. So that's what I'm doing.

In short, 95436.com is entirely independent of FPA and FCSG. 95436.com is just me (and the stories from Vesta's Gazette). It's really a 24-hour online coffeehouse where Forestville citizens can "meet" to exchange ideas and information. That's it. On occasion I'll report about FPA and FCSG. But if it appears under my byline, then it's my view, my interpretation and no one else's.

Got questions about how that might work? Click the "comment" button just below and ask 'em. That's the purpose here: to get discussion going, not to dictate the content of that discussion.

A Season of News...

By Herb Nurmi

New burn rules...new boards of directors...new baseball diamond infield...and a New Year...and may it be a happy one!

Burn Rules: Starting January 1, 2004, it will be against the law to burn in any type of burn can or non-commercial incinerator. Any residential or agricultural burning must be done in open piles with a burning permit from the Air Pollution District in Healdsburg on designated burn days only. To determine burn days, call 565 2876.

New Officers and Boards:

Forestville Youth Park: President, Fred von Renner; Vice President, Randy Hull; Recording Secretary, Jim Piper; Corresponding Secretary, Bitsa Burger; Treasurer, Debbie Eakins; Board Members at Large: Patti Baxman, Tom Sheridan, David Lawson, Gwen Trappe, Allen Tilton. Bruce Witt, Immediate Past President.

Chamber of Commerce: President, Earl Stephens; Vice President, Theresa Mitchell; Treasurer, Raynetta James; Secretary, Mo Hull; Other Board Members: Steve Lathrop, Barbara Friedman, Bobbie Zogler and Vesta Copestakes.

There's a new infield at the Youth Park's upper baseball diamond. A group of four volunteers made this possible: Greg Dumas, Fred von Renner, Tim Moore and Carlo Moscolo. Also key to the success of this project was Pace Building Supply of Santa Rosa with respect to the irrigation piping and Park Avenue Turf with respect to the sod.
Upgrades included, infield sod, the pitcher's mound, home and other bases and running lanes etc. The upgrades will enable the hosting of tournaments on the upper diamond.

Around Forestville

Nature Conservancy Recognizes Forestville Students...
The Forestville School has received a Certificate from the Nature Conservancy in which it "gratefully recognizes Forestville elementary students and staff for helping to protect 41.8 acres in one of Nature's Last Great Places...the Brazilian Cerrado."

Firefighter of the Year 2003...

At their annual Board of Directors meeting, Nick Alberigi was named Forestville Firefighter of the Year 2003. Fire Chief Gary Duignan says, "Nick has given us 27 years of voluntary service as a captain. While serving as a volunteer, he made 77% of the training drills and 45% of the alarms, and that was while holding down a full time outside job and raising a family."

F'ville vineyard gets awards

By Vesta Copestakes

Kent & Donna Ritchie’s Vineyard, Forestville, was given world-wide recognition for contributing the unique qualities of their grape vines to Aubert Vineyards 2001 Chardonnay, which was chosen by Wine Spectator as #12 of the Top 100 Wines of the Year, Worldwide. “Aubert attributes the quality of the wine to the grapes in the Ritchie’ Vineyards 30 year-old vines.”

Christmas Canned Food Drive

By Herb Nurmi

Last year, El Molino High and Forestville School, in a joint effort, collected about 4,500 items which were taken to the Forestville United Methodist Church for delivery to needy families. Enough cans were collected to feed families in need through the summer months. This year, the estimated number is around 4,700 items. Curves set up a collection box and brought in around 500 cans. Harold Johnson headed up the El Molino program and Nancy Jones was in charge of the Forestville School program. Nancy says, "The kids are really into this program...they collect, they sort, they transport, they do whatwever is needed. Joanie Blechel's sixth grade class collected 500 cans in front of Speers Market and also raised $267 in cash. What a wonderful project for the kids as well as for those in need."

Christmas stocking winners

By Vesta Copestakes

This last Christmas was especially thrilling for Scout and Jonah Boese because they were the winners of Bob Baba’s (Ideal Hardware, Forestville) Giant Stocking contest. Naturally, being twins, they shared the bounty equally! Thank You Bob for contributing to a happy holiday season in Forestville.