June 28, 2004

It was a touch of Tuscany as members of Sunol's new Bocce Ball teams assembled in the Sunol Depot Gardens last week. Located in the east end of the park, volunteers have built a wonderful site for the Bocce court. Gathered this evening for the game were, Vicki and Tom Harland, Lucille O'Laughlin, Solveig and Bill Shear, Mary Ann and Gary Canaparo, Pat and Jim O'Laughlin, Jaqui and Norm Tornoe and Dan Reasor. The teams gather before each game at a very intimate, yet casual and beautiful picnic area near the Bocce court to share a meal and refreshments and this particular evening's delicious fare included grilled corn on the cobb, watermelon and of course, pizza. Organizer Tom Harland says, "The good thing about this game is that it doesn't take a lot of physical strength. We would like people to come and learn and use the court". The group meets on the 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month. All ages are welcome and if you are interested in joining or just learning the sport, please call Tom at 925-862-2915.

Yes, I'm sure most of you Sunolians have noticed the recent bustling of activity downtown at the building that once housed the General Store, the Sunol Lounge and more recently Little Valley Vineyards and Bistro.

The downtown area was a little dim after the closing of Bosco's Bones and Brew and the relocation of Little Valley Vineyards, two popular places to enjoy a bite to eat or just a place to visit your friends and neighbors, but Main Street just got a little brighter. Partners, Skip Hinsley, owner of Girasole Restaurant in Pleasanton, Big Horn Grill in San Ramon and the Pampered Palate Catering; Billy Speer of Imaging Business Systems, Inc. and Gerarda and Bosco (yes, there's another Bosco in town) Stocking of Stocking Reality in Livermore have joined forces to bring a fresh new face to downtown. The "Sunol Town Hall and Event Center" is just sparkling inside and out. The facility consists of a large, spacious and elegant banquet/meeting room and a smaller café type of room with hardwood floors and a long bar that runs the length of the room. Beautiful landscaping has also spruced up the front of the building with the addition of flowers, shrubbery and trees. And my favorite is the hunter green awnings that frame each entrance.

Skip says, "We have remodeled this to be an event center for weddings, banquets, meetings, town usages, all different kinds of things. Of course our intention is to rent the facility just like you would rent a facility at a winery, etc."

"There should be a natural connection between the Little Brown Church for weddings, they can get married there and then can walk here for their wedding reception. You could also get married in the park and walk right across the street or even with the train station, there are groups that are looking for a place to meet after they do the train."

The partners are looking forward to working with the non-profit groups in the community and the school district. Skip also adds, "That's why we called it "The Sunol Town Hall, we want the town to look upon this as a focal point for some of their activities".

But the big rush to complete this facility soon was to host it's first event, the wedding reception of Skip's daughter, Nicole Hinsley and new son-in-law Jeff Tschorzewski of Olympia, Washington. The couple was married at the Little Brown Church on Saturday and then enjoyed their special day at Sunol newest gathering spot, "Sunol Town Hall and Event Center".

If you are interested in using the facility please call 925-862-2000.