Oakmont’s Semimonthly Newspaper
Oakmont’s Red Flag Warning Signs to Increase Awareness nNews Staff report
Fire officials declared June 6 as the start of fire season, a calendar marker for the time of year when fires are most likely to occur. This summer, Oakmont will be posting Red Flag Warning signs throughout the community to increase awareness on the day such a warning is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). Fire stations, including No. 7 here in Oakmont, also fly a red flag while the weather conditions exist. Red Flag Warnings are the highest level of alert issued by the NWS. A Red Flag advisory signals ongoing or imminent weather events which may result in extreme fire behavior that will occur within 24 hours. During these times extreme caution is urged, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire. Right below the Red Flag Warning level is the Fire Weather Watch advisory, which NWS issues when weather conditions could exist in the next 12–72 hours, but danger is still high. A watch means critical fire weather conditions are possible but not imminent or occurring. When warning signs are posted, Oakmont’s Map Your Neighbor team also urges residents to notify neighbors, particularly those who may not be aware of this alert and/or who may need help getting prepared. Have Go-bags (including ones for pets) ready, important documents collected and keep connected with local radio stations, SoCoAlert or Nixle to get the latest information on conditions. The Santa Rosa Fire Department encourages all City of Santa Rosa residents in and around the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), which includes much of Oakmont, to take steps to prepare for fire season, winds and potential Red Flag Warnings by following these steps to help limit the spread of fire and to help make the community safer: • Maintain defensible space and improve your home hardening by visiting srcity.org/WildfireReady. • Focus on maintaining a 0–5-foot free and clear zone around your home by cleaning all fallen leaves and needles, removing vegetation and wood chips/mulch. • Replace or retrofit vents if the screens have ¼” openings with vents designed to prevent embers from being blown into your attic or crawl space. • Learn more about weather alerts at srcity.org/ WeatherAlerts. • On hot and windy days this fire season, try and avoid outdoor activities that could spark a wildfire. The Fire Department advises against operating landscaping equipment after 10 a.m. or at all on excessively hot, dry and windy days.
www.oakmontvillage.com/news
At Last: West Rec. is Back nMarlena Tremont
Ten months after a sprinkler head malfunction caused substantial damage to the West Recreation Center, the building is finally opening in stages with locker rooms open on May 27, the lower level on May 31st and the upper floor on June 13. It’s been a long road with unexpected delays, unforeseen problems and permitting and licensing issues, but the result is a building with myriad improvements that members will enjoy. When the damage happened in August, 90% of the buildings’ sheetrock and flooring on both levels had to be removed as did parts of the ground floor ceiling and restroom partitions. National Response, a company specializing in damage remediation, was brought for moisture Troy Llopis, left, project extraction, demolition manager for Nordby and clean-up. Nordby Construction and Bill Wells, OVA maintenance Construction, the company manager, in the new that led remodeling of the ground floor, ready to East Rec., was hired to do return to use. (Photo by the repairs. Tom Tremont)
June 11, 2022 • Volume 60, Number 11
Car Show a Hit
nNews Staff Report
A good-sized crowd took advantage of an opportunity to inspect a car like one they once yearned for, actually owned—or would like to have in their garage today. It was the 19th annual Oakmont Car Show at the Berger Center parking lot on Saturday, May 28. A broad selection of more than 100 classic and exotic cars were on show for a Memorial Day weekend audience. People poked under hoods and peered through windows to inspect car interiors. Some munched on hamburgers, hot dogs and soda available from the Village Market. Photos by Keith Sauer
Mark Quam shows his pride in this 1930 Ford model A pickup.
See west rec. on page 5
Oakmont 2030 Conversations Start in July nJackie Ryan
Oakmont 2030 is a new initiative being launched in July to foster community-wide conversations about Oakmont’s future. A major focus is reaching consensus on a common vision about a variety of possible projects and services, chief among them the Central area, where most of Oakmont’s facilities are located. The initiative’s steering Learn more about Oakmont committee says Oakmont 2030’s initiative on the 2030 is an opportunity for community’s future by the entire community to attending a town hall forum engage with one another and define the vectors Wednesday, June 29 in the of an active retirement Berger Center, starting at community—a place 1 p.m. where buildings provide a broad and flexible range of rooms and spaces, an environment with walkable open spaces, sidewalks, benches and gathering places, access to businesses, and services that allow residents to be confident in the ability to live in their own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level. See oakmont 2030 on page 3 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA ROSA, CA PERMIT NO. 323
Rich Randolph with the paperwork for his 1919 Ford open touring car.
People lined up to peer under the hood of this circa 1940 Chevy.
Music on the Greens is June 12
nNews Staff Report
Music on the Greens returns on Sunday, June 12 with an afternoon concert cosponsored by the OVA and Valley of the Moon Golf Club. The concert starts at 3 p.m. Residents are invited to bring their own lawn chairs or blanket. Music will be by the Neon Playboys. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. No outside food or beverages will be allowed. A story on May 28 gave the wrong day of the week for the event.