The Windsor Certified Farmers Market opened Sunday along Market Street at the Town Green.
Market Manager Tina Castelli said there will be 60 vendors once the market is up to capacity. Certified organic farmers will be located on the east side of Market Street separate from processed food vendors in compliance with California Department of Food and Agriculture regulations
New vendors this year include Biotic Beverages, which sells Kvass, a fermented probiotic beverage said to aid digestion; Rawlicious, a fresh fruit and vegetable juice and smoothies business; BurtoNZ Bakery that sells meat pies and New Zealand-style pastries and breads; Hilltop Honey, with lotions salves and cleansers made from honey and natural skin care products from Eden Glow, and Starting From Scratch bakery and catering.
At the north end of Market Street, the Farmers' General Store information table sells hard-to-find kitchen gadgets and Windsor Farmers Market T-shirts.
The Community Corner at the north end will have local newspapers, magazines and printed material with information about nonprofit organizations and fundraising events.
The newly constructed roundabout on Old Redwood Highway and Market Street is expected to open in early May.
The Farmers Market extends from the front of the Windsor Regional Library to the intersection of Market Street and Windsor River Road.
As many as 3,000 people are expected at the Town Green between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today for the Earth Day and Wellness Festival, Farmer's Market and the Windsor Garden Club's Spring plant sale and Teddy Bears' Picnic at the Community Garden.
James Lanaras
CLOVERDALE
Papa's Pizza Café changing location
After nearly 28 years on East First Street, Papa's Pizza Café will soon be moving to a larger and more visible location. Owners Mike and Denaire Nixon have leased the building at 105 N. Cloverdale Blvd. that most recently was home to a tasting room and art gallery.
Following what is being deemed 'a major transformation,' owners say, the restaurant is expected to open sometime in June.
In the meantime, Papa's Pizza Café remains open for business at 117 E. First St., 894-4453.
Mary Jo Winter
Windsor
Postal clerk gets pleasant surprise
Marc LaMantia was working at the counter of the Windsor Post Office one Friday when Merrie Dickinson, customer service supervisor, said he was wanted on the phone, by U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahue.
'There was a long line at the counter, and I had too many customers,' La Mantia recalls. 'I said don't punk me. I thought she was pulling my leg because I like to joke around.'
It wasn't a joke. Donahoe had been at a luncheon in southern California several months earlier to commemorate the Hot Rods Forever U.S. postage stamps issued in June 2014, one of them based on a 1932 Ford Roadster built by Sonoma County master mechanic Vern Tardel.
Tardel told Donahoe at the luncheon that La Mantia consistently provided him with good service at the local post office and suggested the Postmaster General give the friendly retail clerk and sales and service associate a call.
Dickinson said, 'I answered the phone, and he said, 'This is Patrick Donahoe, the Postmaster General. I said, 'good afternoon, how can I help you?'
'He said was calling to thank Marc for his good service,' the first time she had heard about the top boss calling an employee.
'I heard he does go out and visit some offices, and that he was vacationing around here a few years ago,' Dickinson said.
La Mantia, 56, of Windsor, took it all in stride.
'We chatted a little for about four or five minutes. He said I was doing a good job,' La Mantia said. 'It was a fun and shocking experience.'
Naturally, his co-workers joked about him likely 'using his clout' after the call.
La Mantia has worked for the U.S. Postal Service on and off since 1977, and has been at the Windsor branch 18 years. Although he is eligible for retirement in January, La Mantia said 'I really enjoy my job. I'm getting paid to have fun.'
James Lanaras
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: