Geyserville Fire Department's wine marks 100th anniversary

GEYSERVILLE: Wine marks 100th anniversary

Bottles of a specially made zinfandel are being sold to commemorate the 100th anniversary of a Geyserville institution. The Geyserville Fire Department Centennial Zinfandel 2013, crafted from Dry Creek Valley grapes grown by current and former Geyserville volunteer firefighters, is priced at $28. Profits from its sale will be used to support the fire department and its firefighters.

Since 1915, volunteer firefighters with the Geyserville Fire Department have served the Geyserville Township and the surrounding areas, which includes more than 120 wineries and thousands of acres of vineyards. A large percentage of the area’s population also is involved in the wine industry or work in businesses that support the industry.

Fred Peterson, owner of Peterson Winery and a longtime volunteer firefighter, thought it was fitting to celebrate the Fire Department’s centennial with the commemorative wine. His zinfandel blend is made from grapes grown in the northern part of the Dry Creek Valley in the Peterson, Bernier and Borkow vineyards.

Bottles are available for $28 at Peterson Winery, 1791 Dry Creek Road, 431-7568, or by email from jan@petersonwinery.com.

Other Geyserville news:

Artist Linda Schroeter received first place for her painting from Retired Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey at the Earth Day celebration at the Montgomery Village Shopping Center.

The Free Bookmobile of Sonoma County will be in Geyserville 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19. Look for it on Geyserville Avenue across from the Visitor’s Plaza.

Deborah Rust

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SONOMA: Writer honored for story

C of Sonoma has been awarded the 2015 Waterston Desert Writing Prize for her submission, “The Oasis This Time,” a story about California palm oases and their role as barometers of the effects of falling groundwater in communities around the American West. Judges cited its quality of writing and meaningful contribution to the body of desert literature.

Lawton will receive $1,000 and a four-week fellowship at PLAYA in Summer Lake, Ore.

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SANTA ROSA: Rotary Club donates

The Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary Club has donated $2,000 to the Ecology Center in Berkeley and has pledged $2,000 more every year for the next two years, according to club president Harry Coffee.

The money will support the Ecology Center’s Market Match program, a healthy food incentive program that provides fresh fruits and vegetables for the financially destitute by matching federal assistance programs such as CalFresh or WIC at farmer’s markets.

The Market Match program is part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, starting in 2013 with 11 partners at 130 farmer’s markets. It has since expanded to 30 partners and 234 outlets, including Santa Rosa Community Farmers Market on Maple Avenue and Southwest Santa Rosa Community Farmers Market on Standish Avenue.

The Rotary club annually makes contributions to community groups, meeting in January to review requests.

Alex T. Randolph

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WINDSOR: Windsor High debaters win

Sebastian Miller and Jackson St. Amant, two members of the Windsor High School debate team, finished first and second respectively in the national rankings of the National Speech and Debate Association.

The top two rankings are for the students’ four-year parliamentary debate careers at Windsor High School.

Miller and St. Amant, both 18-year-old seniors, reached the quarter final round of six high school teams at the California State Speech and Debate Championships held in Murietta April 16 to 20, said Bryan St. Amant, Jackson’s father and the volunteer debate team coach.

The team also made the quarter final round of six high school teams at the Tournament of Champions invitational contest held at Sonoma Academy April 17-18.

Miller and St. Amant tied for fifth place in both championships, Brian St. Amant said.

“During their senior season, they earned a winning record of 73-20 and reached the quarter finals or better in every tournament they entered. Clearly one of the strongest teams we’ve ever fielded.”

The state championship started with 300 teams from around the state and culminated with the top 48 teams.

Anna Skarr and Claire Ernest, both juniors, also participated in the contest at Sonoma Academy.

Thirty two-person teams from around the country, some of them from the East Coast, participated in the Tournament of Champions at Sonoma Academy. Once team members were informed of the debate topic, they had 20 minutes to research and prepare their assigned argument, whether pro or con.

Each round of debate is 45 minutes long, and there were 13 rounds leading up to the final debate for the championship at Sonoma Academy.

The topics on April 17 included whether the United States should take the lead among nations in colonizing Mars, and whether farm land should be given through a lottery to impoverished residents of South Africa.

Sonoma Academy debate teacher Brandon Spars said 60 of the school’s 270 students are on the debate team.

“It’s become a popular activity. Employers are looking for critical thinking employees,” Spar said.

James Lanaras