July 16, 2007

Congratulations to Little Valley Vineyards for winning a prestigious Best of Class award for their 2004 Tempranillo from the California State Fair Wine Competition held in June. Owners Sandi Bohner and Bill Webster were equally thrilled to be able to pour their signature wine at the state fair’s annual California Grape and Gourmet charity event held on July 12.

Billed as the “granddaddy of American wine competitions” and first held in 1855, the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition is the oldest wine competition to be held in the United States and is limited to California wines that are designated for retail distribution and whose grapes are grown in the state.

Sandi will also be pouring their Tempranillo, and my favorite, California Raspberry Champagne at fellow Sunolian’s Ken and Veronica Horton’s Day Spa, A Touch of Health, on Thursday during Pleasanton’s annual Wine Stroll.

Fran and Lanny Replogle’s Fenestra Winery also placed in the competition, winning several Best of Class Awards as well. Congratulations to you all.

Sunol’s old-fashioned fence raising turned out to be a wonderful community effort by several volunteers on June 9. Coordinated by the Friends of the Park group, approximately 16 adults and several of their children installed 447 of iron fencing and gates along the south perimeter of the park adjacent to Sinbad Creek.

The previous barbed wire fence was not sturdy enough to keep the kids off the bank and out of the creek and I must say this group did an outstanding job erecting the new fence. Some volunteers came prepared with tools and others used their own muscle to help dig holes, pour cement, set posts and attach panels. They even shared a delicious potluck lunch. But after a long day the work was complete and the crew headed home by 5:00 p.m.

Niles Canyon Railway is running a special mid week train called “Kids Summer Fun Train” this Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Call 408-249-2953 for more information.

Who needs reality TV when you can attend the 9th annual Niles Dog Show being held on Saturday at the Niles Community Park? Better yet you can enter your pooch in any one of the outrageous categories such as Most Unusual Mix, Best Performer, Prettiest Female, Best Costumed, Best Rescued or Most Handsomest Male. Yes, we’re still talking about dogs here. Pedigree dogs are allowed but the event’s coordinators say “No Pedigree? No Problem!”

Demonstrations will be running throughout the day and Sunol’s own Happiness Country Kennels will be demonstrating an agility course designed to teach dogs and their human handler’s ways to navigate obstacles safely.

If you are looking for a dog to adopt, this might just be where you’ll find your new pet. The event will also include an adoption parade and also on hand will be the Tri City Animal Shelters Mobile Adoption Center.

Food and drink booths for both dogs and humans will be available as well as canine gift items, supplies and art work.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and entry fee for participants is $20. The dog show will begin at 10:00 a.m. and general admission is free. For more information please call 510-742-9868.