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August, 2025 In this issue: |
8/13/25: FoVG Board Meeting 8/23/25: FoVG Members House to House Party 8/30/25: Ham it Up Talent Show 8/31/25: Wiffle Ball Tournament Fish-Wood: A tale of 2 wild birds Suburban Propane/New Contract Meet the New Board Members Patterson Point Preserve Grant
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'Only in Villa Grande' House to House Party Saturday, August 23, 2025, 4 p.m. (Members & their Guests)
Please join us at the 2025 Friends of Villa Grande house-to-house party! It’s a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors while you eat, drink and enjoy the hospitality of the hosts who are opening up their three homes for the party.
We’ll travel from house to house, enjoying wine, delicious appetizers and more! Open to FoVG members and their guests.
And what would a Villa Grande party be without a theme? This year’s theme is Villa Grande coincidences. If you've got a story to share, maybe even some props or photos to go along with it, we'd love to include it at one of the three houses. Please email andreabuffa2006@gmail.com with your story! We know there are some amazing "Only in Villa Grande" coincidences out there that should be shared.
Tickets are $35 for each FoVG member and guest, and the money raised will support our work restoring the Patterson Point Preserve. Please register at 2025 Friends of Villa Grande house-to-house party (member login required) and reach out to Andrea Buffa, andreabuffa2006@gmail.com if you run into any problems registering.
Sign up soon! Reservations are limited to the first 40 people registered. We can’t wait to see you there! |
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13th Annual Ham it Up Talent Show
Saturday, August 30th 7:00-9:00pm
Villa Grande's unique, home grown talent show produced by Ez-Pz Productions. Featuring the unique and creative talents of Villa Grande residents, locals and friends. Always fun and entertaining! To sign up or for more information, contact Nancy Lopes: nancybellalopes@gmail.com (415) 350-6083
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Wiffle Ball Tournament SUNDAY, AUGUST 31st 10:00am
We invite you to join this blast from the past. As historic as Villa Grande itself, town square baseball games were played by boys and girls when the town was accessible primarily by train. In recent years, the tradition has been revived by the Girot family. The annual Wiffle Ball game will be played Sunday at 10:00am of Labor Day weekend. Children over 6 and adults are welcome to play. Meet at the town square by the gas pump in front of the old Villa Grande store. For more information contact Erik Nelson: 831 515-8567 |
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Thank you and Farewell, Linda and Leah |
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Linda Fisher and Leah Norwood met in 1980, drawn together by their mutual interest in Renaissance & Baroque recorder music. After canoeing the Russian River for the first time on July 4th, 1982, they fell in love with the river, vowing to retire here. They purchased a small riverside getaway on Moscow Road in December, 1982 and began collecting postcards and Villa Grande memorabilia, now part of the Russian River Historical Society archives. In 1987 they bought the historic “Windmill House” at Russian River Avenue and 5th St. While Linda and Leah were canoeing in 1986, the appearance of a beautiful Green Heron on the Russian River inspired their life-long fascination with birds. Since then, their peripatetic bird-watching adventures have taken them around the world to virtually every continent and many exotic locations, most recently Ghana & Uganda.
In many ways Linda and Leah are responsible for the creation of FoVG in 2007 and Patterson Point Preserve in 2009. During the writing of the Open Space District’s (SCAPOSD) grant to fund the acquisition of the Preserve, they drew up a list of birds around the Preserve that was a major factor in helping secure the grant and matching funds for purchase. Their largess (along with several other FoVG members) began with an unsecured loan to match SCAPOSD acquisition funds, and they have continued to be major donors to FoVG, including annual funds to match other member donations dedicated to restoration of the Preserve.
Together with Victoria Wikle, the Preserve’s first volunteer manager, Linda and Leah helped develop the Preserve’s Master Plan that created the guidelines for restoring and maintaining the Preserve. When Victoria Wikle retired as the Restoration Committee Chair and Preserve Manager, Leah took over this critical and time-consuming job. After five years of dedication, she trained her successor, Kaya Halpern, to assume these duties. Linda also served on the Restoration Committee, invested hundreds of hours weeding invasive plants, planting native plants, and watering. At least half of the Redwood sorrel in the preserve was planted by Linda.
Much of the public information about the Preserve is due to Linda and Leah’s work. The amazing bird information kiosk in the Preserve lists many of the birds of Patterson Point based upon Leah’s observations and Linda’s photos. The bird checklist brochure gives details of the birds in the Preserve, and the monthly “Watch For / Listen to” notice on the entrance sign updates visitors of what to expect as they walk through the Preserve. Linda and Leah have also hosted bird watching tours and created public education programs about the Preserve for FoVG members and the public. They also created pamphlets and informational brochures on a variety of Preserve-related topics and published a book, We Bought an Ivy Jungle, the first 10 years of Restoring Patterson Point Preserve (you can order here for $15).
Their personal relationship with Point Blue and STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed) program resulted in two five-year stints (now in year six) of schoolchildren, teachers and naturalists who donated many hours of restoration work, contributed plants and taught community members about restoration, planting natives and sprigging willows all of which has been extremely beneficial for the Preserve.
While we are sorry Linda and Leah have moved out of Villa Grande, the community should always be grateful for the legacy of their important work, which will continue to guide and support FoVG and the Preserve for many, many years to come. |
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Discount Propane Contract Has Been Renewed for FoVG Members
We are happy to report that FoVG will continue to offer discount propane to our members through a group contract with Suburban Propane. We canvassed various propane providers before selecting Suburban for another 4-year contract, giving our members access to discounted propane and other services.
The price per gallon, under this agreement, is set at a refinery cost plus 90 cents per gallon. (This is an increase of 5 cents per gallon over prior years, but still a significant discount off of retail.) Annual leased tank rent is also at a reduced cost from retail, and Suburban provides 24/7/365 on-call service by trained service technicians and drivers.
If you now are a Suburban customer, you simply renew your contract with the company whenever your contract is up. You will start paying the slight increase in per gallon rate, and several other standard fees, after September 1. You can contact the company or us to find out more about those fees. If you are not yet enrolled in the group discount program but are interested to become a member, please let Roberto Esteves or Patty Thayer know. We will send you a document explaining the exact steps to take to establish a Suburban account, including filling out a lease agreement, credit application, tax exempt form and will-cal agreement (if applicable). Suburban will then schedule a site visit to ensure that they can set a tank safely (if a rental tank is required) and service the FoVG Member.
Patty Thayer (415) 312-2855 Thayer.patricia@gmail.com
Roberto Esteves (415) 282-1800 esteves@comcast.net |
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Welcome New Board Members |
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Brian Perloff Brian is a seasoned general contractor, entrepreneur and artisan with over 40 year of experience in construction and project management. He is the founder of Sonoma Timberworks, managing large scale construction projects and winery renovations. He blends craftsmanship with creative vision, builds trusted relationships with customers and vendors, and thrives on bringing complex visions to life. He and his partner, Kellee Kessler, are owners of the new Wonderland Pizzeria (previously Lucy's), currently under construction, which will open in Monte Rio in 2026. Beyond his work, Brian is committed to being present, loving life and deeply grateful for our community in Villa Grande. His practical and proactive problem solving skills will be appreciated by FoVG and everyone in VG. |
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Susan Corley
The Corleys are long time Russian River folks. In the mid 1980's Susan and her husband, Bob, worked at different summer camps in Occidental. They met in 1991 at a fundraiser in Santa Rosa and were married in 1992. Over the years they have made the river a vacation destination, and rented many cabins in the area. In 2022 they purchased “Here Tis” cabin (21899 West St) and last year purchased the “3 in 1” (21897 West St) and expect to be full time residents soon.
Susan calls herself a “professional volunteer”, and has volunteered for many organizations since she was a teenager, including fundraising for the American Cancer Society, PTA president, Band Board Member and President of her current HOA in Georgia. As a VG resident and Board member, Susan will be bringing new, refreshing energy to FoVG. |
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GRANT in honor of Henry and Barbara Nelson
The three children of Henry and Barbara Nelson have given a significant donation to honor the memory of their parents. As Barry said “Our parents loved our cabin and Villa Grande a great deal. My father spent weekends and summers in Villa Grade for his entire life, as did his mother from the age of 10. As they grew older (and visited less often), we gave our parents regular reports about our visits and new developments around town, In my father’s last year, his childhood and our visits 'up to the country’ were an increasingly important part of our conversations. My parents were grateful to FOVG for saving the beach, restoring the Preserve, and building a sense of community. To honor their parents, FoVG will be replacing the Town Square bench that was destroyed by a falling redwood branch two years ago. They have also requested a “Henry and Barbara Nelson Matching Fund” be established to match others’ donations to the Preserve. As of now, any dedicated donation to the Preserve or its restoration will be matched up to $3,000 from the grant. You can donate today to the Nelson Patterson Point Preservation Fund here. Link: https://villagrande.org/donate
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