The second annual Fancy Farm to Table Dinner was a night to remember this year, thanks to all the volunteers, donors of local produce and supporters of the Laytonville Skate Park! Delicious aromas and magical feelings permeated the air, as patrons entered the event grounds; painstakingly transformed with hundreds of decorative lights hung from the trees, directly adjacent to the future skate park construction site.

Supporters were welcomed with a myriad of appetizers, freshly pressed apple juice made by local youth, wonderful local wines from Alder Springs Vineyard and beer donated by Lagunitas Brewing Company in the bar – decorated with vintage skateboards on loan from the Hansen Family Skateboard Museum.

Guests were treated to a recently completed three-dimensional image of the Skate Park, giving viewers a sneak peak of what the future park will look like. Hungry customers were treated to a wonderful dinner – prepared with locally sourced ingredients – by the amazing Beth Hogan & friends Nikki Wood, Jayma Spence and Mindy Slater. The food was served by high school students and volunteers: Jacob Peterson, Tony Tucker, Dominic Harrison, Saige Bickley, Mare Murphy, Traci Pellar, Tara Serkanic, Sheila Duffy, Dennis Hogan and Mollie Walsh.

Thanks to the local farmers and gardeners who hooked us up with their local produce: Casey and Amber at Happy Day Farms, Irene Engber, Nikki and Aaron Wood, Ella and Carissa of Forget Me Not Flowers, Lisa Rabbit, Jordan Celso, Shelley & Rinata, LHS and LES Gardens, Tim & Alison at Polcum Springs, The Hogans, Joann Sims, Healthy Start and all the other folks who dropped off produce. It was incredible to eat a dinner that was mostly sourced right here in Laytonville!

The evening was rounded out by a silent auction of great prizes, donated by Boomer’s Saloon, Geiger’s Long Valley Market, Kemmy’s Pies, The Mendocino County Observer, Bell Springs Candleworks, Deni’s Pottery, Jayma Spence, and Gloria Harrison. Special thanks to the O’Neill Family for the donated décor and dishes and Harwood Park and Laytonville Unified School District for the chairs and tables. Thanks to Jim Shields and The Observer for your generosity and space in the paper to advertise, inform (and thank) our community.

When all was said and done the event raised $3,600, which wouldn’t have been possible without the time and energy of our awesome crew of volunteers: Beth Hogan (Chef Extraordinaire!), Nikki Wood, Daniel Carse, Frank & Torrey Hansen, Jessica Diaz, Nikki Waldon, Jordan Celso, Dave Just Dave, Shelagh Deveney, Traci Pellar, Roland & Jayma Spence, Dennis Hogan, Mollie Walsh, Mindy Slater, Eric Gilster, Sheila Duffy, Mare Murphy, Tony Tucker, Jake Peterson, Dominic Harrison, Saige Bickely, Tara Serkanic, Ron Spence, people who stopped by to lend a hand and all the folks who came out and supported this great cause.

The Laytonville Skate Park project has officially submitted the building permit, we are now waiting on clearance from the County, then we can begin the building phase.

Every dollar that is donated to this cause goes directly to building the Laytonville Skate Park! There is no formal parks department for our community and if we want something positive done we have to do it ourselves!  For more information, to get involved or donate, please contact Healthy Start at (707) 984-8089 or wheelbite@live.com

By Roland Spence, President Laytonville Skate Park