December 13, 2004

The downtown area of Sunol sure looked alive with the holiday spirit on Saturday, Dec.4. There were more cars and visitors in town than I have seen for a very long time, especially with the grand re-opening of Bosco's Bones and Brew and the Niles Canyon Railway's holiday train of lights.

Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty hosted his annual Christmas Party at Sunol's very own Event Center that same afternoon. Over two hundred guests were served a delicious meal provided by Sunol resident Skip Hensley's Pampered Palate catering.

There was a surprise visit from Santa who arrived via Alameda County Fire Department's fire truck stationed at the California Department of Forestry in Sunol. The Youth Jazz Choir provided entertainment. Led by instructor Gloria Zweers, this youth jazz choral group is a class offered by Amador Valley Adult Education and is open to all elementary age children in the valley. Gloria, a music teacher for the Pleasanton School District was born and raised in Sunol and has been teaching in the area for many years. In fact Gloria also happens to be my former Sunol Glen School 1st grade teacher. Oh, put those fingers and toes away. Yes that was a very long time ago. "The children enjoyed so much being Sunol. We were delighted to be a part of it. It was great fun", says Gloria.

Usually held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, Scott choose the Sunol event center because he said, "The ambience of the town of Sunol cannot be replaced. Having the party here is a good way for people to know the event center is available, it's a retreat like setting; a Norman Rockwell type setting." He adds that choosing the event center was a great choice because it sits in the middle of his district, which includes Livermore, Pleasanton and Fremont. Up until a few years ago Sunol was a part of Supervisor Haggerty's District 1 but he says he really does miss representing Sunol. He says, "Sunol is a great town."

While attending Supervisor Haggerty's holiday gathering, I had the opportunity to chat with Mark Martin and Donna Flavetta of Elliston Vineyards. Before Donna's mother Amy had passed away in June 2002, Amy's 10 brothers and sisters had started planning a new winery in Hawaii called "Wines of Kaui". With Donna's help the new winery is scheduled to open in mid 2005 as a small production facility but she says they will have a large visitor center for wine tasting and possibly an event center.

Besides the winery in Hawaii and Elliston Vineyards, Donna also owns and operates vacation rentals in Kaui on Naimea and Poipu Beach, Kapaa Mountain Cottages and a Kahuna Springs Estate located on Makaleha Mountain near Kapaa. Donna also has her hands in the spa business and her Pleasanton Spa offers facials, body care and massages. For more information on the winery, vacation rentals or spa, please log on to www.elliston.com or call 925-862-2377.

Don't miss Sunol Glen School's annual holiday musical program this week. This year's play is a musical adaptation of Tom Sawyer. Wednesday's program will include the kindergarten class, 1st-2nd grade combo class, 2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade combo class, and 6th grade class. Thursday's program will include the 1st grade class, 3rd grade class, 5th grade class and 7th grade. The 8th grade and advanced band will be performing both nights. All performances begin at 7:00 p.m. in the school's auditorium.

No time for dinner before the play? The eighth grade class will be selling tri tip or barbeque pork sandwiches and a bag of chips for $5.00 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria before the holiday musical program.