July 15, 2002

BEFORE ANOTHER WEEK goes by, I've just got to share event chairperson Lisa Harper's list of fabulous Exploration Day presenters. The event, held in May at Sunol Glen, was a terrific success, mightily enjoyed by the students, teachers, parent volunteers and presenters. A huge Sunol round of applause for the following programs and their presenters:

"Street Wise" - Alameda County Sheriff's Department Technician Dorothy Kerr and Deputy Dan Castro; Ceramics - Shirley Abraham; Journalism - Barbara Egbert; Computer Fun - Lorri Vargas; Native American Crafts - Norm Kidder; California Department of Forestry Fire Safety Program - Ken McGeever, Tol K. Gavett, and Douglas Michael Ferro; Radio - Steve Fox; Mountaineering - Gary Chambers, Graham Barnes, and Mike Brown.

Also, Watershed Education - Jackie Shick and Amy Bastone; Fish Habitats - Pete Alexander; Video Email - Judy Bettencourt; Train Transportation - Al McCracken; Dreyers Ice Cream - Doug Strach and Shane Gonsalves; Horsemanship - Michele Ulrech, assisted by Sarae Van Dyke; U.S. Army - David Flenner; and Karate - Jessen H. San Luis and Lillian Duck

And a very, very special thank you to the Alameda County Sheriff's Department for the generous donation of the fixings for a terrific barbecue lunch for all, cooked up by Sunol Grandpas Ario Ysit and Wayne Zimmermann.

WINNING WINES: All three of our Sunol-owned wineries did us proud at the San Francisco Bay Wine Competition at the Alameda County Fair last month. Fran and Lanny Replogle's Finestra Winery took home silver medals for their 1999Petite Sirah and Zinfandel and nine bronzes for everything from a 1997 Port to a 2001 Chardonnay. Sandi Bohner and Bill Webster's Little Valley Vineyard won a silver medal for their White Rabbit Cabernet Sauvignon, and bronzes for their 2000 Tempranillo and Zinfandel. And another bronze went to Donna and Keith Flavetta's Elliston Vineyards for their 2000 Sunol Valley Vineyard Chardonnay. Congratulations to you all!

SUMMER FUN AT SUNOL REGIONAL: There are numerous events and programs for all members of the family at Sunol Regional Park. You can find out about all of them, as well as activities at other East Bay Regional Parks at www.ebparks.org. There is also info on EBRPD's new phone registration system - programs with numbers in parenthesis after the date require registration. Here are a couple coming up in Sunol.

Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m., children 3 to 5 and an adult are invited to join in "Outdoor Discoveries" and enjoy summertime wonders of nature. There will be different topics each week with a naturalist as your guide. The cost per session for each child is $5 (non-resident $7). Call 925-862-2601 for space availability for summer programs.

Naturalist Cindy Taylor Gateno will lead two Science for Tykes programs in August for children ages 4 to 8. On Sunday, August 25 (#2341), from 1:30 to 3 p.m., aquatic insects and other creek critters will be the subject of "Wet and Wild." On Saturday, August 31 (#2343), Cindy's "Fun in the Sun" event will include making solar ovens to cook up a snack. Parent participation is mandatory for this one, because sharp cutting tools are involved. The cost per session for each child is $5 (non-residents $7). Call 925-862-2601 or follow the on-line directions to register.