Cloverdale skaters take it to the streets

Most folks in Cloverdale know 47-year-old Monique “MoE” Hernandez-Evans as the hard-working co-owner of MoE’s Eagles Nest Deli, but may not know her roller derby persona, Ms. Kitty MAULHer.

Growing up in Petaluma, most of her friends enjoyed hanging out at the Phoenix Theater and dabbling in what she describes as “minor offensive teenage trouble.”

Hernandez-Evans, on the other hand, was happiest when she was roller skating at Cal Skate in Rohnert Park. Her grandmother often talked about her own love of skating and her fascination with roller derby, while fondly recalling skating dates with her dad as a youngster.

Shortly after she and her family moved to Cloverdale in 2021, Hernandez-Evans returned to school, earning an associate’s degree in science from Santa Rosa Junior College and a bachelor's in psychology from Sonoma State University.

For more than a decade, she led youth-oriented programs at Circuit Rider Productions, North Bay Conservation Corps and Social Advocates for Youth. Currently, she works with students at Cloverdale High School, helping them research careers and connecting them with job shadows and placements within the community to gain work experience.

“Last school year, 19 students from C.H.S (Cloverdale High School) were connected with job opportunities, work experience and job shadows,” she said.

Roller derby added to bucket list

While in college, Hernandez-Evans and a friend decided to create their bucket lists, with each picking one thing to start working on right away. Her friend chose getting a motorcycle license and buying a motorcycle. Believing the sport no longer existed, she half-jokingly said she would like to check out roller derby.

Much to her surprise, far from being extinct like she thought, there was actually a roller derby resurgence with a new league formed just two years prior.

She attended a newbie night in 2009 and drove nearly an hour to a practice on St. Patrick’s Day. Unfortunately, instead of skaters, she found a note on the door saying they skipped practice to drink at the local bar.

Undeterred, she continued returning weekly, successfully qualifying for the Sonoma County Roller Derby team at the end of September and then practicing scrimmages in a tournament called Red Red in December.

After earning a spot on the team, Hernandez-Evans bought her first pair of roller skates at the age of 35. It was almost like a rite of passage since owning her own had never been an option when she was growing up.

Her first official bout was for a combined Sonoma County Roller Derby and Mendo Roller Derby team on March 5, 2010. It was at that point she knew she was hooked.

“I loved the physical exertion, pushing yourself to the edge, dreaming about something and then finally achieving it with your body,” Hernandez-Evans said. “I loved the camaraderie of it all. I loved making enemies on the track and becoming best friends at the bar.”

She also loved traveling to far off places to play derby with another team and has traveled all over the West Coast and Southwest, including twice to Hawaii. In 2013, the team played their first "...United States Roller Sports Roller Derby Nationals and won third place.

Pivoting roles in the league

From 2011-2018, she skated for Resurrection Roller Derby in Rohnert Park and served stints on their board as director of media, secretary and president.

On top of roller derby, Hernandez-Evans was working 50 to 60 hours a week for a nonprofit in Santa Rosa. She also took a weekend job at the Eagles Nest Deli & Grill to make extra money for a home bathroom remodel. Before the remodel was completed, she found out the deli was for sale. At first, she considered finding a different part time job. Then, she reconsidered.

Since she and her husband, Jeff, both like to cook and have more than 10 years’ restaurant experience between them, they started researching ways to buy the business. Their efforts paid off and escrow closed in August 2017.

“We relished the idea to stay local as the two youngest of our three children were in high school and college. It would also be the first time in more than 15 years we could stay local,” she said.

Once they owned the deli, she retired as a skater and switched to announcing events until March 2020 when COVID-19 hit.

“It took a toll on all leagues across the United States, including ours,” she said of the difficult time. “As a result, Sonoma County Roller Derby and Resurrection Roller Derby recently voted to merge leagues. We will have a new name in 2024 but still skate under Sonoma County Roller Derby this season.”

Hernandez-Evans started attending practices with Sonoma County Roller Derby again in 2022, but says it has been a difficult road to get back into shape to train with them in 2023.

“Essentially, I started over as a newbie and built my way back up onto the team,” she said.

As if she was not busy enough, Hernandez-Evans is currently on the board of directors for the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce and serves as the financial and reporting secretary of the Druids Circle 81 and social club.

More women skaters join in

In 2001, Hernandez-Evans started skating outdoors with several of her closest derby friends on Monday nights.

“We usually skate at dusk in all sorts of places, including Cloverdale, at skate parks, on trails, and at Sonoma State University behind the Green Music Hall in Rohnert Park,” she said.

Wanting to skate with people in Cloverdale, Hernandez-Evans and her good friend, Colleen Shields-Lion, started Monday Night Skate late last year but their efforts were curtailed by rain storms and even snow. Earlier this month, they regrouped and organized Tuesday Night Skate in hopes of finding like-minded skaters locally.

Shields-Lion, 65, has practically lived on roller skates since she was a child. Besides skating up and down the streets of her Southern California hometown, she spent every summer afternoon at the local rink where enduring friendships were formed that continue to this day.

“I used to spend my birthdays at Cal Skate, including my 50th,” she said. “I took my kids there and we had their birthdays at Cal Skate, too. I got my grandkids on skates as soon as they could run, and I take them several times a year. They know how much I love it as they are always giving me presents with skate logos on them.”

Tammy Azcarate, 64, hasn’t skated for years, but was intrigued by the Facebook post. When three of her grandchildren got skates a few years ago, it triggered fond memories for her so she decided to give it a try.

“I started street skating 44 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child,” Azcarate said. “I really enjoyed skating around town in the hot summer evenings and I am super excited to get out and see what it feels like now.”

Tuesday Night Skate is open to all skaters no matter their age or gender. The youngest participant right now is in their 30s and the oldest is in their 60s. Anyone with wheels is welcome, however, safety gear, such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards is encouraged.

“In Cloverdale, we mostly skate at Vintage Meadows Park, although I have personally hill-bombed Clover Springs and downtown,” Hernandez-Evans said. “Outside of Cloverdale, we skate Healdsburg trail and skate park, Cal Skate, K Section and Sonoma State in Rohnert Park, skate parks in general, parking garages, parades, or any street with a good skating surface.”

Skating enthusiasts Hernandez-Evans and Shields-Lion are hoping to convince the Citrus Fair to open up for Family Skate Nights.

“It has a great floor and would be an additional money-maker for the Fair, not to mention a wonderful way for friends and families to connect,” Shields-Lion said.