Oakmont’s Semimonthly Newspaper
The Celebration of Art A full house turned out Feb. 6 to watch three artists whose painting process was projected on the Berger Center’s big screen. The day was a production of the Oakmont Art Association, funded by a grant from the Oakmont Community Foundation. Following a buffet lunch, visitors listened as the artists talked about their work and showed more works on the big screen. Artists taking part were David Lobenberg, Christopher Schink and Myrna Wacknov (pictured below), each working with a model seated in front of them. Visitors sketched and photographed their own depictions of the artists at work. Later, the Art Association plans an exhibit of works created by members of the audience.
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Red Cross May Operate Oakmont Emergency Shelters
March 1, 2015 • Volume 53, Number 5
OVA Election Final Weeks of Activity Before OVA Voting Closes
nAl Haggerty
nMarty Thompson
The Oakmont Village Association is working on a contract under which the American Red Cross would operate Oakmont facilities as emergency response shelters and assume all liability. Pat Barclay, co-chair of the Oakmont Emergency Preparedness Committee, told the OVA Board Feb. 17 that the Red Cross is proposing that OVA “give them the buildings and let them run the show” in case of natural disasters and other emergencies. He said the Red Cross would store necessary supplies at facilities here, including Berger and the East and West Recreation Centers, at no expense to OVA. The Red Cross would train volunteers, including Oakmont residents, and certify them as members of a Red Cross disaster response team. Barclay said the Red Cross’ $1 million liability policy would cover OVA. He said a Red Cross representative already has inspected and approved the facilities. The board decided to vote on the proposal at a special business meeting preceding its monthly workshop March 3. Director Frank Batchelor, who is working with Barclay and OVA Manager Cassie Turner on the agreement, called it win-win. Barclay said there are issues still to be resolved, but emphasized that he doesn’t consider any to be “show-stoppers.” An OVA attorney raised several issues, but said if they are resolved the agreement with the Red Cross would be a sound business decision. Liability questions have put operation of Oakmont emergency centers by the OEPC in doubt.
Ballots for the 2015 Oakmont board election go out today to all OVA homeowners, kicking-off five weeks of activity before the votes are counted on April 7. Ballots are being mailed to some 3,200 OVA homeowners. Each home is entitled to one vote. The ballots are part of OVA’s annual meeting packet. Six candidates are seeking four open positions on the sevenmember board that governs the Oakmont Village Association. Two candidates are incumbents, one was previously on the board and three are making their first bids to serve. The new board will face major decisions including a proposed sports facility at the Central Complex and whether to remodel the aging Berger Center or perhaps plan for its replacement. A public candidates’ forum on Feb. 26 was livestreamed on the Internet, and also recorded. A video is posted for viewing on the website www. oakmontvideos.com. Candidates submitted photos and biographies, which are published elsewhere in this edition of the Oakmont News and are also online. The candidates also responded to four questions posed by the OVA Communications Committee. Short versions of their responses, edited by the candidates, also are printed in this newspaper on pages 14 and 15. Longer answers are posted on the newspaper website, www.oakmontvillage.com/oakmont-news.
BERGER STUDY FUNDING
The reopening of a renovated West Recreation Center has been pushed back to May 1 because rain has delayed the stucco work, exterior painting and the addition of stone veneer around the building. Association Manager Cassie Turner also said that after Nordby Construction finishes its portion of the work, probably by March 1, a floor refinisher will come in and refinish the wood floors and install carpeting
The board approved a request by the ad hoc Berger Improvements Committee to spend up to $20,000 to hire an architectural design firm for help in estimating the cost of various aspects of remodeling Berger Center. Director Bob Giddings, a member of the Berger Committee, said: “We have to spend money to find out what needs to be done.“ He said the committee would ask board approval for any expenditure over $500. Turner recommended that the committee consider firms with experience in working with senior communities. Giddings said the committee is not ruling out anything. He noted that while Berger has 10,200 square feet of space, there is 10,400 square feet of undeveloped space between Berger and the Central Activities Center. He also said it would be heart breaking to many groups if Berger were shut down for up to a year for remodeling. He raised the prospect of borrowing money for a complete renovation of Berger, and noted that the loan to build the Central
Ballots can be deposited in a box at the OVA Office, returned by mail, or taken to the annual meeting, which starts at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 6, in the Berger Center. A vote-counting committee chaired by Nancy Caldwell will count the ballots starting at 8:30 a.m. in the East Recreation Center. Their session is open to the public. Results will be announced and newly-elected directors seated at the board’s reorganizational meeting that day at 2 p.m., also at the East Rec.
See west rec. on page 11
See ova board on page 3
See ova election on page 11
Photos by Kathy Sowers
Rain Will Delay West Rec. Reopening Until May 1
nAl Haggerty
Oakmont Village Association 6575 Oakmont Drive, Suite 7 Santa Rosa, CA 95409-5906
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA ROSA, CA PERMIT NO. 323
Election At-A-Glance Now—Candidates’ Forum, view online April 6—Annual Meeting, voting ends April 7—Ballots counted, results announced VOTE BY APRIL 6
Inside the Oakmont News Golf Club News.................................5-6
OVA Board Candidates.................12–13
Puzzle Contest...................................11
Candidates Respond to Q & A.......14–15