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Introduction and Table of Contents As our downtown corridors get filled with twinkling lights and decorated trees, laughter and Santa Claus greetings, we’re sure the holiday season is here. Everyone has a different way they like to spend the holidays — whether you spend your time with family, with friends or helping out in your community, ’tis the season for togetherness. Throughout the month of December, people can share the spirit of giving by making donations to local food pantries and to the various toy drives going on in Cloverdale,
Healdsburg, Windsor, Geyserville, Sebastopol and Guerneville. For our small communities in north and west Sonoma County, it’s also a time for getting out and supporting the businesses that prop up our local economies. From plant nurseries to bookshops to your favorite clothing boutique, our local shops offer a bevy of items and services to help carry you through the holidays. We hope you have a happy holiday season. — SoCoNews
Local holiday gift ideas Pages 4, 5
Where to take your tree after the holidays Page 11
December 2021 A special supplement to the Dec. 2, 2021 edition of The Healdsburg Tribune, Cloverdale Reveille, The Windsor Times and Sonoma West Times & News
What’s Inside Local holiday gift ideas Sebastopol offers a quirky way to shop local Shopping local is key to Healdsburg Experience Cloverdale’s locally-owned businesses Gifting Christmas trees for the fire zone Windsor businesses have gifts for all Art, gifts and more available along the river Holiday dates and traditions
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Advertising Index Vanguard Buddies Nichibei Potters Windsor Golf Club Sebastopol Gallery Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce Amy’s Wicked Slush Costeaux French Bakery Prickett's Nursery Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce Bolt Fabric + Home Estate on the Boulevard Cloverdale Nusery SoCoNews Windsor Chamber of Commerce People 4 Parks Himalayan Restaurant Hush Up Clothing Toyworks Sonoma County Regional Parks Second Chance Bookstore Sebastopol Downtown Association
Marketing & Advertising: Rachel Genthe, Teresa Mangiapani, Laura Tew Editorial: Rollie Atkinson Zoë Strickland
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Production: Katharine Cameron Office & Administration: Jan Todd, Jamie Harrington
All contents are copyrighted by ©Sonoma County Local News Initiative, Inc. PO Box 518, Healdsburg, CA 95448 POSTMASTER: This mailing is made under Periodical Class Permit 238-460 USPS. Periodicals Class postage paid at Healdsburg, CA. 95448. Send address changes to: Sonoma West Publishers, PO Box 518, Healdsburg, CA. 95448
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Local holiday gift ideas
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Center for the Arts has unique, one of a kind gifts made by the areas local artisans. It’s the 1 Occidental perfect spot to enjoy some amazing art and purchase a holiday keepsake. all need a little aroma therapy during this holiday season. A diffuser that speaks to the soul is the perfect 2 We present. Pictured at Estate on the Boulevard in Cloverdale. Looking for a present for the coffee drinker in your life? Local ceramicist Vince Montague creates ceramic 3 pieces that are perfect for the holiday season. Pictured at Plank in Cloverdale. Not bothered by the cold? Pick up a slush, or treat the slush-lover in your life to an Amy’s Wicked Slush gift 4 card, located in Healdsburg. Put a little holiday magic in your life with the festive gifts and home décor at Prickett’s Nursery & Garden 5 Center in Healdsburg.
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Holiday Open Ho O House Decembe e 18th & 19th er 10am m - 4pm
Visit our showroom by appointment or shop online anytime
nichibeip p tters.com po 4 Holiday Gifts & Lifestyle 2021
locally for jewelry on the Windsor Town Green. From artisanal to traditional 6 Shop designs, Mark Shimizu Jewelry Design can offer gifts for your loved ones. into a candy wonderland at Cravin's Candy Emporium in Windsor. A special place to shop 7 Jump for stocking stuffs or classic candies to bring back childhood holiday memories! Gift Favorites at Buddies in Sebastopol. Bold colored accessories are all the rage this holiday 8 Holiday season. Buddies has a unique selection of jewelry perfect for the fashionista in your life. Music in Sebastopol is the local place to shop for quality musical instruments for all skill levels. 9 People’s They carry a great selection of ukulele’s which are a perfect gift for beginner musicians. Poet’s Corner Bookshop in Duncans Mills is a charming, curated bookstore with new and vintage 10 books, journals, novelty gifts and collectibles.
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Sebastopol offers a unique way to shop local The Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center can assist you in your treasure hunt to shop local. We have many shops in our wonderful quirky town from bath bombs to toys for your special fourlegged friends. Our town is blessed to have some of the best spas in west county, wouldn’t it be wonderful to give a gift certificate for one of your favorite people knowing they have a great opportunity to relax and just enjoy the moment. Have you thought
about your “foodie friends”? There are many locally sourced restaurants to choose from in Sebastopol. From children’s toys to beautiful art, Sebastopol has exactly what you need for the special people on your list. No waiting for shipping, just shop and take your favorite items home with you. Cheers and Happy Holidays to all. — Linda M. Collins Executive Director, Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
Photoa SoCoNews Archives
Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce director Linda Collins (far right) presided over the 2019 Sebastopol Tree Lighting in her Santa gear. Pictured left, a band plays during Sebastopol’s 2018 tree lighting.
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Shopping local is key to Healdsburg
Photo Rollie Atkinson
Rabbi Mendel Wolvovsky is pictured lighting a menorah in front of Oakville Grocery during a 2019 Hanukkah celebration.
Shopping local supports the entire economic ecosystem. It supports the place we live, work and love by putting sales tax back into our infrastructure. Every dollar spent fuels a local initiative and maintains our parks, plaza and other city
beautification projects. It also helps our public safety initiatives. This year the hotel tax dollars collected by a selfassessment of 2% on our local hotels made it possible for us to host a large tree lighting celebration for all on Dec. 3 ,as well as a local
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sip and shop event. Spending local is key to supporting your neighbors and keeping Healdsburg the magical place it is. Our retailers have some of the most unique products that will suit everyone on your list
— Talia Hart, Executive Director, Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce
Photo Rollie Atkinson
Santa rides in on an old firetruck for Healdsburg holiday celebration.
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Experience Cloverdale’s locally-owned businesses The holidays are a perfect time to discover or re-discover the unique Cloverdale businesses owned and operated by people who are your neighbors and potential new friends. They contribute to the character and the economy
of our small town. Please support them this holiday season. — Neena Hanchett, Executive Director, Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce
Photo Zoë Strickland
Community members gather for the Cloverdale Senior Multipurpose Center’s 2019 holiday tea.
Photo Zoë Strickland
santa hugs a young attendee of Cloverdale’s 2018 Winter Festival.
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Gifting Christmas trees for the fire zone Nurseries throughout Sonoma County are participating in the “Gifting a Tree” program, which, after Christmas, takes back living Christmas trees and gives them to people who are rebuilding their lives — and their landscaping — in the fire zones of Sonoma and Lake County. The program, which began in the aftermath of the Valley
Fire in Lake County in 2015, is now in its seventh year. In 2017, after Sonoma County’s October firestorm, the Blair family, which runs the program, expanded it to include the newly scorched areas of Sonoma County. Here’s how it works: instead of buying a cut Christmas tree, Continued on page 15
Photo Laura Tew
Prickett’s Nursey in Healdsburg is one of a small handful of nurseries participating in the Gifting a Tree program.
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Windsor businesses have gifts for all Wine, books, jewelry, beer, great restaurants, home goods, pet items, gourmet foods, chocolate, clothing, accessories and gift cards for all — stay local and support your friends and neighbors! Windsor businesses have everything for your gifting needs, plus hassle-
free parking throughout the Town. Join us for the Holiday Tree Lighting on Dec. 2 on the Town Green! — Beth Henry, Executive Director, Windsor Chamber of Commerce
Photo Janet Perry Photo Heather Bailey
The Town Green is adorned in lights for Windsor’s annual holiday tree lighting.
* * THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9th * 6-9PM $45/person * ONLY 250 TICKETS AVAILABLE
WWW.WINDSORCHAMBER.COM 14 Holiday Gifts & Lifestyle 2021
In December 2016, a pilgrimage to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe was held from Saint Rose Church in Santa Rosa to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Windsor 8.5 miles away.
Gifting Trees: Continued from page 11 you buy a living tree from a participating nursery to decorate your house for Christmas. When Christmas is over, you take it back to one of the nurseries, which then gives it to Gifting a Tree. In January, Kathy Blair and family come and pick up the trees from the nurseries and take them to a central location where they create a free pop-up nursery for families who’ve lost their homes in the fires and are starting to rebuild. Blair said that for 2021, Harmony Farm Supply will be doing the giveaway part this year at Harmony Ag Supply on the corner of Fulton and River roads. The giveawy has been held there for the past two years.
Editor’s note: This article was originally written in December 2018 and was updated in November 2021.
Where to Take Your Tree As of press time, the following nurseries were participating in the Gifting a Tree program:
Prickett’s Nursery 12950 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg 707-433-8904
Harmony Farm Supply & Nursery 3244 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol 707-823-9125
Urban Tree Farm 3010 Fulton Road, Fulton 707-544-4446
— Laura Hagar Rush
There’s no place like local for the e holidays!
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WOMAN’S, CHILDREN’S & INFANT APPAREL
Extended holiday hours sta arting November 29th Monday-Frid day 10-7 Saturday 10-5 Sunday 10-4 1
hushclothingboutique@yahoo.com www.hushupclothing g.com @hushupclothing @hushupclothingbou utique @hushkidsboutique
Hush Up Clothing Boutique 9077 Windsor Rd. Windsorr,, CA 95492 707-620-0518 Hush Kids Clothing Boutique 830 Mclelland Dr. Windsorr,, CA 95492 707-657-7346
Join us for a Toy Drive with Santa & Hot Coco oa! 6-8:30 p.m. on Decemb ber 2nd
Holiday Gifts & Lifestyle 2021 15
Art, gifts and more available along the river This is the year to be merry and shop local for the holidays. Friends of Stumptown, the Russian River Chamber of Commerce and River Arts and Media are partnering to bring the community the Nights of Lights on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 in downtown Guerneville. We hope to include specials and offers from Russian River businesses, as well as encourage everyone to stay open late on those nights for holiday shopping. The River Arts and Media organization is encouraging the galleries to stay open late. — Bob Pullum, President, Russian River Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center
Photo SoCoNews archives
Guerneville’s 2019 lights up downtown.
Enter Our Holiday Coloring Contest Open to children Ages 3 to 12 Prizes! Gift Certificates 1st place - $20 2nd place - $10 3rd place - $5
Photo SoCoNews archives
Santa meets with a child during Forestville’s 2019 tree lighting.
GGive a Parks Memmbbershhip
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Age Groups: 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years Pick up the coloring contest entry ffo orm at The T To oyworks in Sebastopol and return your completed masterpiece to them by December 17th.
Three people in each age group will win a
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Sponsored By:
Sonoma County Regional Parks Gift Memberships available at REI, Oliver’s Markets, Sebastopol Hardware, Sonoma Outfitters s, Garrett Ace Hardwares, Petaluma Copperfield’s Books, Trek Bicycles and Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.
SonomaCountyParks.org 16 Holiday Gifts & Lifestyle 2021
Holiday dates and traditions Christmas Eve - Friday, Dec. 24 Christmas Day - Saturday, Dec. 25 Christmas traditions include a variety of customs, religious practices, rituals and folklore. Many of these traditions vary by country or region, while others are universal and practiced in a virtually ubiquitous manner across the world. Traditions associated with the Christmas holiday are diverse in their origins and nature, with some traditions comprising an exclusively Christian religious character with origins from within the religion, while others are more cultural or secular in nature and have originated from outside the realm of Christian influence. Christmas traditions have also changed and evolved significantly in the centuries since Christmas was first instituted as a holiday, with celebrations often taking on an entirely different quality or atmosphere depending on the time period and geographical region.
Winter Solstice 2021 The winter solstice of 2021 in the Northern Hemisphere will be on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Here are some customary ways to celebrate the solstice: • Build a Yule Altar.
• Make an Evergreen Yule Wreath. • Burn a Yule Log. • Exchange Nature-Based Gifts. • Give Back to Nature. • Celebrate in Candlelight.
There s no place like our There’s T h hometown for the holiday ys ys, a Sebastopol Downtown and n A Association invites you to o T Throw Back Thursdays.
What happens each day of the Mexican Christmas season? • December 12: Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Dia de la Virgin de Guadalupe) • December 16-24: Las Posadas • December 24: Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) • December 25: Christmas Day (Navidad) • December 28: Day of the Sainted Innocents (Dia de
los Santos Inocentes) • January 6: Three Kings Day (Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos) • February 2: Candlemas (La Candelaria) The poinsettia originates from Mexico, and like the evergreen tree, it is a plant that thrives during the winter and symbolizes new life.
Hanukkah Sunday, Nov. 28 - Monday, Dec. 6 Hanukkah (also spelled “Chanukah”) is an eight-day winter “festival of lights,” which begins each year on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. Because the Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle, the dates of Jewish holidays, according to the Gregorian calendar, change from year to year. For this reason, the beginning of Hanukkah can range from early November to late December. In short, Hanukkah
commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and of spirituality over materiality. When is Hanukkah? In 2021, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, Nov. 28 and continues through Monday, Dec. 6. The first candle is lit on the Chanukiah (menorah) on the first evening of Hanukkah.
Celebrate the holidays C w with our local merchants..
DEC 9
- MEET & GREET BIZ OWNERS S
DEC 16 - HOLIDAY WINDOW CONTES ST DEC 23 - GIFT SHOP LATE HOURS
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