Forestville United Methodist Church Welcomes Our New Pastor

FUMC also welcomed their new pastor, Rev. Monique-Cheri Pierre, as the church celebrates 130 years serving the community of Forestville and look forward to their next 130 years.

Continuing the church’s tradition, new pastor Rev. Monique-Cheri Pierre, is committed to being active in the Forestville community.  A native of Petaluma with family roots in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa,  Pastor Monique-Cheri says moving to Forestville has a “sweet sense of coming back home to Sonoma County”.

Read full article in the Sonoma County Gazette

Forestville United Methodist Church Celebrates Landmark’s 130th Year

Celebrating its 130th anniversary, the Forestville United Methodist Church under the leadership of beloved Rev. Rochelle Frazier, plans a series of events throughout the year to highlight this landmark church and more than a century of service to the Forestville community and beyond.

Coming right up is a first time community event:  The Valentine’s Day Love Feast on Friday, February 14th from 7pm to 9pm. Free. Don’t miss this golden opportunity to renew your marriage vows.  Share an evening celebrating our love for each other with dancing, singing, love letters, poetry reading, refreshments plus prayer for single people to find their soul mate.  Please bring wedding photos.

Read full article in The Sonoma County Gazette

Forestville Open Space Grant Approved for Park

For the past almost 40 years, Forestville has fought one development plan after another on downtown property that runs along Front Street in the heart of downtown. Now, with the support of Sonoma County’s
Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, the Forestville Planning Association, and a local investment group that includes the Bartolomei family, and a Yes vote from the Board of Supervisors, Forestville finally gets a plan everyone can live with.

Read full story in the Sonoma County Gazette

Forestville UPROAR over Proposed Park and Roundabout

By Richard Naegle
As many know, I am on the Board of the FPA. However, this article solely expresses my personal opinion and is written by me as a concerned member of the community.
The Forestville Planning Association has been trying for ten years to engage the community in an open dialogue about the future of our fair Town. Unfortunately, many have not participated in the many Town Meetings that have been held. Sometimes it takes an uproar to finally draw everyone together. And that is just what we’ve got. The challenge now is to work collaboratively and respectfully together. ...

 Read full letter in the Sonoma County Gazette

Canneti Roadhouse Italiana in Forestville

Watching Francesco Torre create his restaurant over months this last year has been a delight. He didn’t just show up and open the doors. He tore the building apart and put it back together. What’s he doing now?

People were curious. They would come in the open door to see inside, find Francesco somewhere deep into demolishing, restoring, creating, building whatever his next task entailed. One day I spent a hour with him while he was cleaning up detritus from a project.

Read full article at the Sonoma County Gazette

Forestville Downtown Park: Responses to May 18th Town Meeting

In recent months, my family, friends, and everyone I’ve talked to, has been very positive and excited about the proposed Open Space Park in downtown Forestville. So it was rather surprising to hear a couple of fearful, angry, and outspoken people at Saturday’s Town Hall Meeting speak out against it, fearful that this beautiful new park could somehow bring negative consequences to our town!

Read full letter in the Sonoma County Gazette.

Pinkee's Kustoms - Eric Reicheun of Forestville

Eric Reicheun, owner of Pinkee’s Kustoms in Forestville, has perfected the art of restoring custom vehicles. His passion began around the age of 5, inspired by his father who worked for Datsun in Southern California. Eric grew up helping his father work on a variety of European cars like Jaguars and Mercedes. He developed a love for classic American cars early on, captivated by the curves of the bodies and power of the motors.

Read full article in the Sonoma County Gazette

A Community Of Fabulous Art Studios Art @ the Source in Forestville

This year 160 artists in 99 studios are participating in Art @ the Source. These artists will open their studios to the public June 1,2 and June 8,9 from 10:00-5:00pm. A bountiful and artful community, Forestville has studios 99-95 and three exciting new restaurants to tempt your taste buds.

Read full article in the Sonoma County Gazette

OpED on Forestville Town Meeting

Where were you when…
 By Vesta Copestakes
 I just came from my home town Town Meeting. I am impressed, thrilled and disappointed all at the same time.
 Impressed and enthralled with the people who put countless hours of their personal time into maintaining the integrity of our home – and disappointed at the people who don't see the value in their contribution.

Read full article in the Sonoma County Gazette

Our Own Town Parks Forestville and Monte Rio

Forestville is currently in negotiations with Summit Bank (who now owns the land formerly slated for Orrin Thiessen’s Forestville Town Square) to purchase 8 acres of downtown property so they can turn it into a park for everyone to share. With this purchase, the land can go back to its original intention of being an open space as defined in the original General Plan.

Read more at the Sonoma County Gazette

The Sun also Rises:Coming out the other side of bankruptcy

by Vesta Copestakes
The weight of too much debt carries with it a cloud of failure that is both perceived and feels very real. There are those who fall from the burden of their own decisions and never get up again…and those who stumble over obstacles in their path to step confidently onto level ground again. Russian River Vineyards, with its successful Corks Restaurant, has experienced the cloud of bankruptcy hiding their sun of success, and are now standing in full light. How did they pull that off? Through persistence and personal commitment to their vision...
...Chris O’Neil has much to smile about as they head into spring with the wind at their back and confidence that they can follow the plan to pay back all creditors under the 5 year plan. Life is good, once again, in Forestville.

Read full article in the Sonoma County Gazette

Backyard: Forestville's Newest Fare

Backyard, a local sustainable restaurant located in Forestville, will be opening the first week of November in the old Sarah’s Forestville Kitchen location.  With their motto of highlighting the backyard of Sonoma County, the menu will feature meats from local ranchers, vegetables from local farms as well as wine and beer from Northern California.  Their style is rustic Sonoma County cuisine, with a bit of Mediterranean flair, prepared with amazing techniques...

Read full article in the Sonoma County Gazette

People Power STOPS Forestville Timber Harvest

River Drive is a small neighborhood at Hacienda Bridge in Forestville. What we came to call the “Hacienda Timber Harvest,” without intervention, would have been a redwood clear-cut on two lots going down to the river on both sides of Hacienda Bridge. This brought many in our neighborhood and community together in outrage over what Clear View tree service was doing with a Cal Fire “exemption” permit and little oversight.

Read full article ni the Sonoma County Gazette

Forestville gets a Downtown Park?

The Forestville Planning Association (FPA) has some great news to share. The FPA has retained Joan Vilms as a real estate broker to negotiate on our behalf the purchase from Summit State Bank of approximately 7.9 acres of vacant land in Forestville, to be used primarily as permanent open space and plaza for the downtown area. We see this as a long term process. Come to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors' meeting on September 18 for their possible approval on the Forestville Town Square project.

Read full article in the Sonoma County Gazette

Forestville Celebrating 100 Years

On Saturday, September 15th from 1- 6 pm the Forestville Chamber & Friends will be turning downtown Forestville into an up close and personal celebration of our community – Think Forestville First for the Good Life.

 The day’s activities will include a Walking Tour from the Fire Department on Mirabel Rd. (the west side of town). This is a wonderful opportunity for townspeople of all ages to meet and greet their local firefighters and – don’t forget the trucks.

Read full article in the Sonoma County Gazette.

Forestville - The Good Life - August 2012

The August edition of the Sonoma County Gazette is online. The Forestville section's headings are:

• Town Meeting Report 
• Hollydale Events 
• Youth Park 
• Claudia McDermott 

Read full column at the Sonoma County Gazette.

Forestville - The Good Life July 2012

The July edition of the Sonoma County Gazette is online. The Forestville section's headings are:

• Youth Park Still Needs Your Support! 
•  “Forestville First” 
• Express Your Ideas & Opinions 
• Candidates Forum 
• Youth Park Parade Winners

Read full column at the Sonoma County Gazette.

Forestville - The Good Life - June 2012

The June edition of the Sonoma County Gazette is online. The Forestville section's headings are:

• Youth Park BBQ June 9 & 10 
• Town Meeting, June 27, 7-8:30, Oddfellows’ Hall 
• Town Clean-Up, June 2 
• Going Out With Music 
• Attention Golfers 
• Green Valley Creek 
• Bits and Pieces 

Read full column at the Sonoma County Gazette.

Calling All Angels

The May 2012 issue of the Forever Forestville column from the The Sonoma County Gazette is online. Including:

• As reported here last month, there is a real chance that the “Town Square” area (the field across from the Quicksilver Gallery) can be acquired by the community.  
• Youth Park BBQ!
• Town Meeting / Supe Candidates Forum
• Community Fund Grants
• Bits and Pieces

It's GOOD to be a Forestvillian!

The March 2012 issue of the Forever Forestville column from the The Sonoma County Gazette is online. Including:

• “Forestville, the good life” 
• Volunteering
• Roundabout
• Community Fund
• The Bunny Is Coming!