December 5, 2007

Congratulations to the 110 Sunol Glen School students who will be receiving an award for perfect attendance on Friday at the schools First Trimester Awards Assembly. That represents 97% of the school’s average daily attendance and more than last years perfect attendance average.

In my last column I erroneously announced auditions for Sunol Repertory Theater’s 2008 melodrama, “Wagon Wheels Are Rollin’” as December 9, but please delete that date from your PDA’s because the correct date is this Thursday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sunol Glen School auditorium. Co-Producer, Sandi Bohner says, “Come out of the shower and let us see your hidden talent”. “Try out and be a part of an exciting SRT year”, adds the other Co-Producer, Kathy Morris.

Sandi, who also owns Little Valley Vineyards, invites you to a book signing at Elliston Vineyards on December 15 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The book, “Images of America: Sunol” and authored by me, includes a heart-warming collection of photos from years past and astonishing historical facts.

The Niles Canyon Railway’s Holiday Train of Lights on November 20 looked like a who’s who of the local political arena. On board for a private holiday party was Alameda County Supervisors Gale Steele and Scott Haggerty, his children and staff; California State Assemblyman Guy Houston and his family; California State Assemblyman, Alberto Torrico; Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, Pleasanton City Council member Cindy McGovern; Fremont Mayor, Bob Wasserman; Fremont City Council member Anu Natarajan; California State Treasurer, Bill Lockyer and his family; Alameda County Deputy District Attorney, Michael Nieto; Alameda County Fair Board of Director Vice Chairman, Anthony Pegram.

Thank you to Sunol 4-H and Dale and Holly Scroggins for once again making the downtown area sparkle with brightly colored holiday decorations and for hosting the annual Tree Lighting ceremony last week. You do a fabulous job year after year.

Keeping up with that holiday spirit, Sunol Regional Park has quite a few old-fashioned holiday inspired craft activities this month beginning with an old fashioned quilting bee on Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. This project is open to all ages. On December 15, its basket making, yes folks, I did say basket making. You will learn to make a small berry basket from native tule.

The very next day, on December 16 the park is offering a holiday gift making and wrapping paper project where you will learn how to make a homemade gift, card and wrapping paper. Finally, there is a Home for the Holidays hike on December 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. There is a fee for most of these activities and all of the activity programs except for the hike require reservations, so please call 925-862-2601.

Lifelong Sunol resident, Steve Gronley passed way on November 17 and funeral services were held November 23 at Graham Hitch Mortuary in Pleasanton. Attending the services were several longtime Sunol residents as well as his siblings Lorry, Eric, Johna and Andrea Gronley. Steve owned Gronley Floors and also Sunol Corners for a few years before recently until poor health forced him to retire in 2006.