75th Anniversary Celebration Events
April 18, 2009 - Launch Ceremony and Reception
May 9, 2009 - Human Race
June 5, 2009 - Golf Tournament
July 25, 2009 - Gourmet Hike
September 26, 2009 - Family Day in the Park
September 25 - 27, 2009 - Old Grove Festival
September 27, 2009 - The Great Feast
All Events will take place whether or not our State Parks should close.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Family Day in the Park - FREE event beginning at 11:00am
Join Stewards and State Park Staff for a cultural history day in the park. The event is FREE although usual parking fees apply. Donations will be accepted for some activities.
Plans include:
- Horse and carriage rides
- Kid activities including story telling
- Family entertainment
- Ice Cream sold
- Historic demonstrations
- Smokey the Bear
Old Grove Festival - September 25, 26, 27, 2009
The Old Grove Festival has its own page with details. Click above link.
Tickets will go on sale in June.
The Great Feast - The Annual Great Feast will take place immediately following the Don Neely show on September 27, 2009 in the Armstrong Redwoods Group Picnic Area at about 4:00 pm. This year we are featuring a Great Mexican Feast.
Event Sponsors: Russian River Getaways, Russian River Recreation and Parks District, PG & E, Fern Grove Cottages, KRCB, Bohemian, Sonoma West Times & News, Russian River Chamber of Commerce, Gene Gaffney Insurance Services, Guerneville Graphic, West County Gazette, Russian River Times, Sonoma Uncorked, 5 Seasons Resort and Spa, Lark Drugs Pharmacy, Sonoma Nesting Company, Arts Sonoma, Gregory Hayes Photography, Segway, KGGV fm, Johnson's Beach and Individual Sponsor Donna Roper.
Saturday, April 18, 2009 - Launch Ceremony and Reception
The 75th Anniversary of Armstrong Redwoods launched with a lovely event on an absolutely gorgeous day in the Grove.
The day started with an informative Redwood Ecology seminar presented by Senior Environmental Scientist Brendan O'Neil. Participants were eager to learn and asked some great questions that stimulated good conversation.
At 1:00 the ceremony began with Sector Superintendent Linda Rath acting as MC and opening and closing with some thoughtful remarks. Doris Dickenson read a brief summary from her and Carmen Finley's new book, Colonel James B. Armstrong, His Family and His Legacy. Armstrong Redwoods was honored with commendations from the United States Congress, the California Legislature, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and the California State Parks Foundation. Legislative speakers included Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Maddy Hirshfield for Assemblymember Wes Chesbro, and 5th District Supervisor Efren Carrillo.
We were inspired by our invited guests who each touched on different historic perspectives of our old growth redwood park. Gaye LeBaron took us back to the days when the redwood giants of Northern California were first discovered, and John LeBaron shared some insightful information about his great grandfather Harrison LeBaron. Retired Ranger Dale Haskins recounted times past in the 70's when there was still camping in the Grove and the concerts in the Forest Theater took place often. Gary Lathen shared about what life as a maintenance worker was like during this 27 years in the park.
Lizzie Armstrong Jones (aka Doris Dickenson) led a cultural history walk through Armstrong Redwoods after the ceremony. Also after the ceremony, guests and park visitors of all ages enjoyed complimentary birthday cake, champagne, sparkling apple cider and many bid on fabulous auction items. Special thanks to our event sponsors, Korbel, Barefoot Wine and Bubbly, and Russian River Getaways and our auction sponsors, Christopher Queen Galleries and the West County Gazette, and the many auction donors and bidders.
We are all fortunate to know the magic and reverence of Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reservce.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Human Race - 3rd Generation Armstrong
We thank the following members of our Human Race team:
Cameron Tully-Smith
Pete Larrett
Cindy Brennan
Michael Crittenden
Justin Lacy
Joy Schaber
Mike Prescott
Friday, June 5, 2009
75th Anniversary Golf Tournament
29 golfers had a lovely lunch prepared by board member Bob Caricato and volunteer Rob Dickerson. Volunteers Michele Sokol, Yvonne Kenner and Fred Luna helped with food preparation and service. Golf Chairperson Bill Dickinson again provided his expertise to make the tournament a success. Superintendent Linda Rath was also available to help and thank the golfers for supporting Stewards and State Parks. The golfers teed off under a cloudy sky, but warm afternoon. Although light rain was forecast, the weather cooperated and a good time was had all. The team of Schaber, Prescott, Regan and Doty came in with a net 59 to take team honors. Closest to the pin honors went to Mike Bray and Jan Heller. Special thanks to our Sponsors and raffle prize donors.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Gourmet Hike with Appetizers, Wine, and Entertainment - 1:00 - 5:00 pm
This ended up being a SOLD OUT event.
Guests meandered through Sonoma County’s largest old growth redwood forest for Armstrong Redwoods 75th Anniversary Gourmet Hike. They began their journey in the group picnic area and proceeded along the Pioneer Trail where they stopped to partake in gourmet appetizers prepared by local chefs and paired with Sonoma County premier wines. Entertainment provided by the Honeybees and Gretchen Belgrave and Pete, along the trail enhanced the magic through the towering, majestic giants. Docents, Lanny Keyston and Doris Dickenson shared some of the natural and cultural history of the park. The final stop was the historic Redwood Forest Theatre where a wonderful sausage dish was served as well as birthday cake and champagne as guests listened to the music of Edge of Town and socialized in a venue that has been used since the 1930s for treasured theatrical and musical events.
"Thank you for a great experience! Everyone loved it! It was a very classy job all the way around, and what a venue, wow! We heard your address from the stage and found it inspiring." Michael Houlihan, founder of Barefoot Wines
"I was at the Gourmet Hike yesterday at Armstrong Woods and it was a fabulous event. It was well organized, classy, well laid out and the food, wine and people were great. Thanks for this wonderful experience in the gorgeous spiritual redwood grove of Armstrong Woods. I hope this event happens every year. It was spectacular. Hats off to you and your team of volunteers and staff." Sincerely, A Happy Hiker Paula Pearce from Sebastopol
Food and wine sponsors included: Highland Dell, Applewood Inn & Restaurant, Coffee Bazaar, Chef Patrick’s, Korbel, Barefoot Wine and Bubbly, Harvest Moon, Clos du Bois, Helena's Kitchen and Moshin Vineyards. Additional Sponsors include Russian River Getaways, Russian River Recreation and Parks District, PG & E, Fern Grove Cottages, KRCB, Bohemian, Sonoma West Times & News, Russian River Chamber of Commerce, Gene Gaffney Insurance Services, Guerneville Graphic, West County Gazette, Russian River Times, Sonoma Uncorked, 5 Seasons Resort and Spa and Individual Sponsor Donna Roper.
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