August 18, 2003

CONCERNED ABOUT TRAFFIC through Sunol? Yes, there have been numerous attempts to calm the storm of traffic flying through Sunol at rush hour, but so far, the problem is still with us. The issue has come to the attention of the California Highway Patrol, and they're anxious to meet with townsfolk to discuss what might be done.

Representatives form the Dublin CHP office invite the residents and businesses of Sunol to voice their traffic complaints, concerns and ideas Thursday, August 28 at 6 p.m. at Sunol Glen School. Officer John Soto at Dublin CHP is our contact and he can be reached at 925-828-0466.

WINE LOVERS WEEKEND: The Livermore Valley Wine Country 22nd Annual Harvest Celebration takes place Sunday and Monday, August 31 and September 1. Little Valley, Fenestra, Chouinard, Westover and Thomas Coyne will be presenting Blues in the Vineyards both days. The Westenders - those wineries here in Sunol, owned by Sunolians, or on Palomares Road in Castro Valley - will be offering food, wine and blues for your enjoyment. Elliston plans "a weekend long extravaganza filled with wine tasting, barbecue lunch and live music."

All 24 wineries in the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association will be participating in the Harvest Celebration festivities. There will be great food and wines, live music, local crafts and warm wine country hospitality, so get your tickets early. A two-day ticket costs $35 in advance or $40 the day of the event and includes wine tasting, a logo glass and transportation between wineries. There is also a non-drinking tour ticket available for $5. The hours of the tour will be noon to 5 p.m. both days and you can call 925-447-wine for tickets and more information.

FLEA MARKET REPORT: The fabulous Sunol Glen Flea Market exceeded its goal of raising $4,000 for the school's arts, music and computer programs! Co-chairs Nancy Davis and Lori Nielsen send a great big thank-you to the generous folks who donated items, the happy shoppers who shopped 'til they dropped, and of course the incredible volunteers who put it together, worked through it and cleaned up afterward. All that in record hot temperatures - way to go!

THE PARK AWAITS: Don't let your summer end without a visit to Sunol Regional Wilderness. There are two very cool events still to come this month, combining outdoor fun and education. On Saturday, August 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. there's a new workshop from the Educator's Academy series. A Day in Pre-Columbian California, led by historian and naturalist Norm Kidder, is an all-day workshop exploring "life as it may have been before crowds and modern technology replaced direct contact with nature."

The day will be spent hunting and collecting and finding resources to accomplish a variety of tasks. After the day's adventures, the group will gather on mats under a shade shelter to cook, eat and practice the skills needed for daily life in the Stone Age. You will re-enter the modern world with a friction fire set, basic stone tools, a bone awl, an appeased appetite and an understanding of house construction, fire, tracking, hunting, fishing, foraging and more. This workshop is for adults only, and offers a personal, meaningful context for teaching about California Indians or early man.

The fee for the workshop is $45 for Sunol residents and $51 for non-residents. Financial assistance is available for low-income families. Please call 510-636-1684 to reserve your spot.

Families looking for an afternoon of fun and high quality shared time, the Science for Tykes series is having an "End of Summer Splashdown" on Saturday, August 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. Naturalist Cindy Taylor will take four- to eight-year-old budding scientists and their families on a very special stream walk. "We'll become water droplets in the Alameda Creek watershed and enter the river," Cindy explained, "following the streambed back to our starting point."

Cindy said to prepare for a possible head-to-toe drenching, slippery algae, and other obstacles, so wear closed-toed shoes and keep a change of clothes in the car. Participants will meet at the end of the picnic loop near Camp Ohlone Road gate. The fee is $6 for residents and $8 for non-residents and registration is required (925-862-2601).