Balloon classic 2016 final

A Supplement to

The Windsor Times, The Healdsburg Tribune, The Cloverdale Reveille and sonoma West Times & news Special Shape Balloons - Tether Balloon Rides- Food & Craft Booths - Kids Play Land and so much more Main Sponsors: Blue Star Gas, Sonoma Media Group, Summit State Bank

2 • Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016

Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016 • 3

A Chair With its Own Cooling Fan The perfect perch for balloon watching

Sonoma County H OT A I R

BA L L

N

CLAS SIC

THANK YOU TO OUR 2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CHAIRMEN

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4 • Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016

Message from the President of the Board

Welcome to the 26th Annual Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic our 25th Anniversary last year, was a huge success due mostly, but not limited to our new board of directors. it was a “Learn as you go kind of year” for most of them and they made it all work.

This year, with a successful event under their belts, they came to the first board meeting with lots of ideas on how we can make it better. ideas like moving people through the gates more smoothly, adding more special shape balloons and adding more tether ride balloons. my first thought was to say “Good luck with all that, it’s been tried before without much luck.” But i decided not to discourage them and instead said “sounds great, go for it.” And go for it they did, with great success. due to their efforts getting into the park should be quicker, you will see exciting new special shape balloons and

have a better chance to take a tether ride. so come enjoy the 26th Annual sonoma County hot Air Balloon Classic; the beauty and spectacle of dawn Patrol, the amazing special shape balloons, the splendor and excitement of the main Launch (with almost 30 balloons) and experience a balloon ride for yourself in a Tethered

Balloon.

And don’t forget to notice that special look of wonderment on a child’s face, as they see all this for the first time. in closing, i’d like to dedicate this year’s Balloon Classic to: marsha Gaswirth, Board member, friend and simply a wonderful person. We love and miss you marsha.

Sincerely, Steve Henricksen, President Board of Directors Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic The Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic is an independent, nonprofit entity, not part of, or affiliated with any other organization.

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Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016 • 5

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS SATURDAY, JUNE 18 5:00 am, Dawn Patrol Tether Rides following 6:30 am, Main Launch— (Approximately 30 balloons)

SUNDAY, JUNE 19 5:00 am, Dawn Patrol Tether Rides following 6:30 am, Main Launch— (Approximately 30 balloons)

GATES OPEN AT 4 AM

This is an advertising supplement to the June 16, 2016 issue of The Windsor Times, The Healdsburg Tribune, The Cloverdale Reveille and Sonoma West Times & News.

Many thanks to our 2016 Balloon Classic advertisers and festival sponsors.

Publisher: Rollie Atkinson Graphic Design and Production: Denee Rebottaro, Jim Schaefer Advertising Sales: Paula Wise, Carol Rands, Glen Lurie and Cherie Kelsay

The Star Spangled Banner performed by Danielle Noble, singer with the Court ‘n’ Disaster band! ®

Danielle Noble, the CnD “Momager,” sings lead and backup vocals and plays percussion. Away from the band she works as a substitute teacher in Santa Rosa's public schools, has a teaching credential in Physical Education, speaks French, and sings regularly in French for French Clubs in SF. Danielle is also raising two preteen bilingual kids and is married to an attorney/judge pro tem.

6 • Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016

Meet the Pilots David Dunrud is piloting the Flying Purple People Eater Balloon. The Flying Purple People Eater was named for a popular song written in 1958 by Shep Wooley. Shep gave his permission to use the name on the balloon and the one eyed tradition lives on. The "Eater" is 80 feet tall including his ears. The arms are 25 feet long.

David is one of the youngest pilots in the “Classic” at the ripe old age of 29. As he puts it, “As soon as I could walk I have been striving to achieve my goal of becoming a Commercial Pilot, and have now made it.” The first Sonoma County Classic in 1989 was the first rally David attended, that would have made him approximately 4.

When he was 12, he started working for Adventures Aloft in Napa, CA. with his Aunt Donna, who is one of the pioneer women balloon pilots. She got him started by letting him inflate the balloon. On his 14th birthday he received his student certificate and started flying with friends and family at rallies. In the summer of 2001 he met up with Mike Kijak with Up and Away Ballooning and started crewing in Sonoma County. Soon thereafter Mike took him for a training flight and at age 17 he bought his first balloon.

He earned his private pilot certificate at 20 and commercial rating at 21. He has flown commercially for Up & Away Ballooning in Windsor and has travelled across the country to fly for numerous hot air ballooning companies, sharing a true life dream of ballooning with the folks that come to fly with them. His goal now is to keep flying and completely explore the world of ballooning.

Don Heisig flies Mariposa 2. He lives at Roberts Island Aerodrome in Holt on the California Delta and he has flown events in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Leon, Mexico besides many here in the Golden State. His wife Linda is also a pilot and his crew chief. They have been active in ballooning since 1997 crewing and then getting their first balloon in 2004 and then their pilots certificates together in 2006. Don is an instructor and meteorologist for the Jr. Balloonist High Sierra balloon camp in Reno.

Jimmy Long is a local Santa Rosa resident. He has been a fixed wing pilot for nearly 20 years and has been flying hot air balloons for eight years. He is flying his balloon “Sonoma Star.” As a son of a pre-war biplane barnstormer, aviation has always been an interest. Jimmy is a great friend of the Balloon Classic who helps us out with pre-event volunteer crew training.

Gary Michalek is from Lafayette, California. His first balloon ride was his first lesson flying. Gary bought his first balloon at a garage sale. He has been a pilot for over 20 years and has only flown off with the keys in his pocket one time. Gary will be flying his balloon, Asses Aloft Peter Pierre is flying Magic Moments 6. Peter is from Fresno, California, He has been flying balloons since 1984. He has flown several times at the Albuquerque Balloon fiesta, 10 years at the Great Reno Balloon Race, and the last 4 years at the Festival Del Globo in Leon, Mexico. This balloon, Magic Moments, is the sixth edition for this design.

Jay Schuler’s balloon is called Pencil Boy, the biggest and greatest flying pencil ever. From question marks, to commas, to exclamation points, his big eyes will start your imagination and his lead will spark your fire for learning.

Start to finish, pencil boy will truly help you write a great story! Jay is from Reno, Nevada. Jay has been flying balloons since 2003, but his family started flying balloons in 1985. He and his wife and children live in Reno, Nevada where he flies both for fun and commercially in the Reno/Truckee area. Jay flies in many balloon events each year, including Albuquerque, New Mexico where there are over 700 balloons.

Greg Taggart is from Citrus Heights, CA. He is flying a balloon called Coyote Moon. He took his first balloon ride at the 1979 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. After that, he helped out as crew for Sacramento and started training with them. He got his pilot license in 1982 and purchased his first balloon in 1983. In 1986 he was the Nevada State Balloon Champion and has had luck competing over the years in Reno and Albuquerque. A most epic flight was over the Grand Canyon in Arizona and four years ago a flight over the Sierra Nevada mountains north of Lake Tahoe.

Dana Thornton, a pilot since 1980, made his first hot air balloon ride as a passenger in 1978 and his first hands-on burner when he was 18 years of age. Dana and his older brother, Ron, started the Great Reno Balloon Race Dawn Patrol in 1984 and Dana has been a part of the early Continued on page 7

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Meet the Pilots morning balloon team since then. GRBR is just one of the events he attends yearly but is among one of his favorites. Based out of San Jose, Dana and his wife Denise travel primarily along the west coast to ballooning events throughout the year. Sonoma County, and more specifically, Windsor, is a frequented spot for the couple as they enjoy their time share while wine tasting with friends and family and feel it's a beautiful place for hot air ballooning. "Free Spirit" is the name of their balloon and can be distinguished out of the balloon crowd with its noticeable yellow pennants flowing on the side and the smiley face design on the very top.

Dave Wakefield is from Sacramento, California and is flying the ReMax balloon. Dave was first introduced to ballooning in 1999 when he was asked to crew for a local balloonist in his area. He was so captivated by the sport, that he bought his first balloon, Cheers, four months later.

He received his private pilot certificate the next year, and his commercial pilot certificate a year after that. During that training time, one of the crew people made a hit with Dave, and in August of 2002 he married Shelly. (It’s good to keep your crew in the family, so to speak). Dave has flown in balloon events in California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona.

Gay James is from Orland, CA. She will be one of the tethered balloon pilots today. She is the pilot for a balloon called “The Wanderer."

Jim Abell flies a balloon called Kiphaven. The name Kiphaven comes from the name of Abell's property in Santa Rosa, CA, named after Jim's son, Kip. The balloon design was inspired by the Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and is the only balloon like this. Jim has been flying in our event for 11 years. Jim will also be one of our Dawn Patrol pilots this year.

John Cavin is flying a special shape balloon called “Yellow Bird.” John is here from Georgia. John has flown Spunky and Purple People Eater in our past events. He will be flying at over 18 events this year in the U.S. and Canada. He has been flying balloons for more than 26

years and was involved with NASCAR for 10 years.

Gale Mott has been a hot air balloon pilot for 28 years.

He fell in love with ballooning after his first flight as a passenger. He enjoys every aspect of the sport: the camaraderie, traveling to different areas (even out of country) and especially meeting new friends. He has flown mostly in California and is looking forward to flying in the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic!

Katie Griggs is the pilot for the Sushi balloon. Katie is from Dayton, Nevada. and has been flying balloons for 24 years. Katie and her crew chief husband, Forrest, take Sushi to numerous balloon rallies all over the United States. "Sushi” is a giant goldfish living on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe...fishermen beware, With a volume of 90,000 plus cubic feet, her tail is 36 feet tall and her (Marilyn Monroe) lips are 13.5 very kissable feet wide.

She stands out in the skyline with her huge blue eyes and orange fins. Sushi is the inspiration of Clare Harper, graphic designer and Lindstrand Balloons and was built at Lindstrand Balloons USA. Her owners, Katie and Forrest Griggs, have been balloonists since 1987 and Sushi was a perfect fit for their whimsical nature and desire to "go fishin."

Brenda Hungerford is from Dayton, Nevada. She is flying a balloon called Hot Flash. In 2000 she and her husband Jay were offered their first balloon ride, they weren’t going to go. Having never seen a balloon up close, they decided to go and watch. Long story short they took the balloon ride, and fell in love with ballooning. It literally changed their lives. After that flight they began crewing for the balloon every chance they got. In 2002 Brenda took her first flight lesson and in July of 2003 earned her private pilot certificate. As a new balloon pilot all she wanted to do was fly. The only problem was that she didn’t own a balloon. To remedy that situation she and her husband sold their house to buy a balloon and moved from California to Dayton, Nevada which is near Reno. Brenda says ”So ballooning really did change our lives.” Since learning to fly and buying a balloon, Brenda has earned

her commercial pilot certificate and had the opportunity to fly in lots of places throughout the west, including the largest balloon event, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and the Oldest balloon event WHAMOBASS in Coalinga, CA . In 2006 she flew a long distance flight covering 74 miles across the Sierra.

In memory of Marsha Gaswirth A few months ago we received the most tragic news. One of our board members and her husband were killed in the crash of their plane on the way home from a vacation.

Marsha loved aviation of all kinds and this love of flying is what attracted her to our event and soon after became a very important member of our board of directors. She had boundless energy and took on responsibility with enthusiasm.

With this tragic loss we have not only lost a valued member of our board, but more importantly a wonderful and cherished friend. We love and miss you Marsha, and will never forget your friendship, contributions, accomplishments, and beautiful spirit.

8 • Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016

This year’s event announcers

Tony Landucci

Courtney

Steve Henricksen

Tony Landucci is a Wine Country native who moved with his family from napa to santa rosa when he was 15. Tony attended santa rosa Junior College and sonoma state University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of becoming a multimedia journalist. After almost six years in radio news, Tony moved to print journalism, writing hyper-local news stories for sonoma West Publishers. Tony enjoys snowboarding and bicycling whenever he gets a chance. his favorite stories to cover are city council meetings and the sonoma County hot Air Balloon Classic. if he had his way, city council meetings would be held in hot air balloons.

You can hear Courtney mondays through Fridays from 10am to 2pm and saturdays from 10am to 3pm on hot 101.7, sonoma County’s hit music station!

Courtney has been in sonoma County for almost seven years now and can’t imagine ever leaving. she began working for hot 101.7Fm right before graduating from sonoma state University. she bounced around doing various jobs at the station before finally landing her dream job of being on-air, ultimately landing the coveted mid-day slot. When she’s not on the air, you’ll find her at a concert or out being active; anything from crossfit, to hiking, to soccer.

in his tenth and last year as president, steve has been on the mic along with our guest radio hosts for the last nine years. steve is the owner of Precision sound Craft and can be seen (if not heard) at many events and festivals throughout California, including summer nights on the Green concerts in his home town of Windsor, Bodega seafood Art & Wine Festival, Valley of the moon Vintage music Fest, July 3rd at Keiser Park and July 4th Petaluma rock and Boom, just to name a few. steve has been a member of the board since the year 2000.

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Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016 • 9

Restrooms 5

Tether Rides

Vendors Tether Rides

Hot Air Balloon Tether Rides — Your chance to ride in a balloon only $10 per person

By Karen Brown, Pilot After Dawn Patrol you will notice some balloons setting up and starting to bob around at low altitude over the field. These are the tethered balloons.

This is your opportunity to ride a tethered balloon. Tethered balloons are tied off by three or more lines to objects on the ground, usually vehicles, to restrict their flight. The tethered balloon will launch, go up approximately 50 feet, float and land.

As a passenger, the feeling you experience with tethered flight is the same as with a free, un-tethered, flight of 1,000 feet. The only difference is the view. For the balloon, pilot and crew, it involves a bit more work.

Although the balloon fabric is chemically treated to protect it, heat can reduce the life of the balloon. More heat is needed for the repeated liftoffs and landings of tethering than with non-tethered flight. This repeated heating of the balloon not only must be closely monitored by the pilot, but

it also subjects the pilot to a constant barrage of heat, with each burner blast. With each passenger exchange, the pilot must mentally calculate the total weight for lift temperatures to keep a slow, steady launch and prevent jerking the balloon and passengers when the balloon reaches the end of the tie off line.

Normal launch speed would be about 200 feet per minute. While tethering it needs to stay around 25 feet per minute. Pilots that tether also have to be prepared to answer questions at the same time they are managing the flight. Sometimes the same questions get answered over and over and over, so patience and personality are a must. (No shy guy and gals here!)

Pilots also need a great crew, preferably five, to help tether. As hard as tethering is on the balloon and pilot, it is even harder on the crew. In traditional flight, after the balloon is

inflated, crew will typically help a pilot launch and land once. This involves providing “weight on” for launch (adding extra weight to the basket until the pilot has the balloon stabilized with passengers) and stepping back when told, and repeat the process again for landing.

For a tethered operation, this must happen dozens of times, while passengers are loaded and unloaded.

The crew must also monitor the tether lines, manage safety and crown control, collect money and/or tickets and help with passenger weight distribution.

All this must be done, while also proving a constant supply of water to the overheated pilot! Crew must also be prepared to answer frequent questions and provide public relations for the pilot and the balloon show. Again, patience and personality is very helpful.

Even though tethering is hard,

there are pilots and crew out there who love to have this opportunity to share their love of ballooning with the general public and give the experience of balloon flight. So get in line early to get your tethered ride.

Standing in line will not guarantee a tethered flight. There are a number of reasons why the tethered rides are over early in the day. Weather conditions (the wind picks up), low fuel and time constraints are just a few reasons why a pilot will take down the balloon. Most pilots and crew do not want to take the balloon down while there are people in line, but sometimes it is inevitable. If you see another balloon still tethering, get in that line and hope for the best.

Now that you know about tethering, go experience balloon flight, sign up to be a volunteer, crew member or sponsor for next year’s balloon event.

Maybe next time you will have that view from 1,000 feet up.

10 • Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016

Just a Little Bit of Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic History It has been 28 years since I first gave my heart to the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic. People have come to the event to watch, to work, and to take thousands of pictures.

Some of those folks are still here some are gone, the event has had quite a life and many changes, but the purpose for the event has remained the same. I’d like to share with you a little of the history of the event.

My name is Earleen and I was a new member of a newly formed Rotary Club back in 1988. The Rotary Club of Windsor was looking for a signature event and fund raiser. It was decided that Sonoma County would be a spectacular place to have an event centered around hot air ballooning and the new Rotary Club were just the people to start it.

In those days the event happened just next to Shiloh Road in an undeveloped area next to the Windsor Golf Course. We were really fortunate that the owners of the land allowed us to use it for 10 years.

Many wonderful things happened through the donations that came into the Rotary Club via the event. I can remember school projects funded, a tractor for the humane society and a score board for little league, just to mention a few. The best thing that came of those years was an absolutely spectacular annual event for Sonoma County.

As will happen – things change, the site was needed for new homes and the Rotary Club could not find a suitable spot for the event in 1998.

That was not the end for either the Windsor Rotary Club or The Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic. The Rotary Club has gone on with new fund raisers and is doing wonderful things in Windsor. But, this piece is about the history of “The Classic.”

It was 1998; Windsor was a struggling newly incorporated town. A few Windsor folks were sitting around discussing the needs of Windsor and the then president of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce said “What we really need is a really great event that will attract people from all over Sonoma County – maybe even the Bay Area.” I replied “We had one – the balloon event.” We took a close look at possible sites and decided if the town would let us we could do it at Keiser Park and the new Windsor High School.

The next challenge was the “we.”

Darth Vader Pilot: Benoit Lambert

Pencil Boy Pilot: Jay Schuler

Puddy Cat Pilot: Charles Edwards

Purple People Eater Pilot: David Dunrud

Special shape balloons

Pepe The Skunk Pilot: Gred Miller

Sushi Pilot: Katie Griggs

The event had been done by the Rotary club and there was not another single organization that would try to do it.

That was when The Classic developed into its own incorporated nonprofit organization. The Rotary Club allowed the new organization to take over the name and even helped to get the new Board on its feet. The Board of Directors was made up of representatives of several nonprofit service organizations. The Town offered suggestions and Sam Salmon stepped up to attend board meetings.

It was a crazy new beginning to an established event. Just like a preteen

Yellow Bird Pilot: John Cavin

child our Board suffered through some tough times. During those first couple of years we didn’t make any money and it was only through some very tenacious people that we survived. At this time I would truly like to thank the Town of Windsor for its support.

It did survive and it had to change some to do it, but the important things, like being a completely volunteer run event, designed as a spectacular special event and fund raiser has not. We have volunteers that come from all over California and some from out of state.

Some of them do it because they know that the proceeds will be going

Master Yoda Pilot: Dave Albin

to some very special nonprofit organizations and educational needs in Windsor and in Sonoma County, but most of our volunteers just love this event.

I still get a lump in my throat when I stop what I am doing at the event, hear the music, gaze up at the rising, colorful giants and see the wonder and excitement on a stranger’s face as they take in the spectacle unfolding before them. I am happy to have been a part of the history of The Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic and I hope that you too will share a part in the making of this year’s most spectacular event.

Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016 • 11

Asses Aloft Pilot: Gary Michalek

Hot Flash Pilot: Brenda Hungerford

Puddy Cat Pilot: Charles Edwards

Pepe The Skunk Pilot: Greg Miller

Coyote Moon Pilot: Greg Taggart

Kiphaven Pilot: James Abell

Purple People Eater Pilot: David Dunrud

Sun Dancer Pilot: Brann Smith

Darth Vader Pilot: Benoit Lambert

Magic Moments VI Pilot: Peter Pierre

Dream Catcher Pilot: Jeffery Buchman

Mariposa II Pilot: Don Heisig

Re/Max Pilot: David Wakefield

Sushi Pilot: Katie Griggs

Wanderer Pilot: Gay James

Shadowdancer II Pilot: Gale Mott

Yellow Bird Pilot: John Cavin

Freedom II Pilot: James Gibson

Pencil Boy Pilot: Jay Schuler

Sonoma Star Pilot: Jimmy Long

Master Yoda Pilot: Dave Albin

12 • Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016

Dawn Patrol Sponsored by: The Town of Windsor

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because of the way the balloons light up. Seven stories high, these balloons shine in the dark by igniting raw, non-preheated propane. This is accomplished by using a specially-equipped “fire two� valve.

Each balloon must be equipped with battery operated lights which are suspended from the

t 5 am on both Saturday and Sunday, five specially equipped balloons will ascend just before sunrise. Choreographed to music, these balloons will produce a spectacular sight as they light up the skies with a multicolored glow.

This is an event worth getting out of bed early for!

The sight of Dawn Patrol is memorable

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basket. Dawn Patrol balloonists may not take off any earlier than two hours before sunrise.

For safety purposes, Dawn Patrol pilots always fly a previous daytime flight to familiarize themselves with hazards of the area and locate possible landing sites.

Enjoy this spectacular vision!

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Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016 • 13

sonoma County hot Air Balloon Classic

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14 • Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016

Scenes from past Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classics

Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016 • 15

Read your hometown paper...

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SWMC to River residents want action on homeless celebrate Town Hall meeting full of few solutions; %.3 .* -/,0!3 ,!-% !).- *) $*1 .* /-! . hospital emotions, next steps unclear 08-0=> :1 ?30 $@>>4,9 $4A0= reopening ) ? 3 / >>:.4,?4:9 ,//=0>>0/ Enterprise & Scimitar

6

|Homeless| continues on page 8 ;@-74. $ &+ * $ * + / ,*

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d e e F r e t s b ck

Club of W Windsor in

AND THE

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Thank you for making this event such a success!

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16 • Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic 2016

WINDSOR ROTARY COMMUNITY FOUNDA OUNDATION TION

gO p en dso Success for Win

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OUR SPONSORS

M MAUREEN AUREEN MERRILL

Communications Consultant

6DOHV 0DQDJHU , 6HQLRU /RDQ 2IÀFHU 6DOHV 0DQDJHU , 6HQLRU /RDQ 2IÀFHU 707.591.0573 OXDQQ# WKVWUHHWÀQDQFLDO QHW OXDQQ# WKVWUHHWÀQDQFLDO QHW NMLS# 321938 I BRE# 01232204

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SSTREET TREET FFINANCIAL INANCIAL TH TH

MORTGAGE COMPANY I NMLS#340644

OUR DONORS Jerry and Christine Topolos Topolos

American Ag Credit

Dennis Harris

Back Shed Red

Dr George Schneider

Diane Brabetz

Jim Scally

Mantorana Family Winery

Windsor Fire Department

Dr Kurt Mitchler

Bill Bolster

Vineyards DeLoach Vineyards

Pegi Ball

Dan and Amy Tocchini Tocchini

Vineyards Foppoli Family Vineyards

Korbel Winery

Doug Williams

LLynn ynn Hunt

Mike and Maureen Merrill

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Turner Ed T urner

Pacific Coast Air Museum

Dr William Conklin

Lombardi’ Lombardi’ss Catering

Steve Klick

Dr Pat Seely

Bear Republic Brewing Company

W arin Parker Warin

Windsor Golf Course

Windsor V ineyards Vineyards

Ken Moulton

Bill Carson

Thumbprint Cellars

Windsor Rotary Club

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Dr Paul Steigerwald

Ken Molinari

Three Sticks Wines

Napa Smith Brewery Florian’s Brewing St. Florian’s

BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY To T o lea learn rn more more about Windsor Rotary and futu future re events, go to:

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