WILSONIA TIMES

The Newslet ter o f Wilsonia Vi l lage Inc

Volume 17, Issue 1 June, 2018 ~early summer edi t ion~

www.wilsoniavillage.com facebook.com/WilsoniaVillage

Upcoming Events: June 9th - Saturday

WAT Presentation 10 am

June 16th - Saturday

Black Pot Cook-Off

June 23rd - Saturday

Wilsonia / NPS Community Clean-up 7:30 am - 5 pm

Lunch for volunteers at noon

June 24th - Sunday

WVI Meeting - 2 pm

Please check out the calendar on page 3

Wilsonia Centennial In just a few weeks we will be celebrating the 100th year of Wilsonia’s history. While the land-scape, creeks and some of the trees have been around longer, we mark this anniversary of the establishment of our area as a private, recreational community. Our little corner of paradise was homesteaded in the late 1880s prior to the estab-lishment of General Grant National Park. In the following 30+ years, the land changed ownership multiple times. In 1918, the land was subdivided and offered to valley residents, who bought small sites... from which rose the little cabins we enjoy today, in 2018!

————————————————————–—————————————————————————————-—

See the information about Wilsonia Week on page 2

Community Clean-Up After the positive response, great par-ticipation, and a very productive outcome, we are repeating a joint NPS/Wilsonia clean-up day of the Village. The NPS Fire Crew will work with Wilsonia volunteers to make our Village more fire-safe. On June 23rd, we are calling on able-bodied volunteers to join us in helping clean the Village in some identified “hot spots”. Bring your truck, trailer, tools, and gloves and meet at 7:30 am at the parking lot. Lunch for volunteers will be served. Please call Neal Mixter or Ty Parkinson 559-638-6176 with questions or to volunteer.

——————————————— The NPS slash pile (dump) is now open for disposal of yard debris. The NPS has removed the lock to the gate for the month of June. Please close the gate after you pass through to prevent Park visitors from entering the area. The only allowed items are natural yard debris, branches, leaves and needles. Disposal of trash or any other items is NOT allowed.

In Memory of

Laura Keiser, Jack Palsgaard,

Patricia Schumacher and

Ken Snelling

Wilsonia friends and neighbors

who will be dearly missed.

The 9th Annual Black Pot Cook-Off - June 16th. Registration at 10am - Cooking begins at 2pm - Dinner at 6pm

It’s that time of year, so pull out the old dutch oven and come over to the to Hazel Lane for the Black Pot Cook-Off. Don't be afraid to try cooking; some beginners have won. If you’re not cooking, there is no cost to eat, but please bring a small salad or munchie. Bring your own drink, plate and utensils. Come ear-ly, and watch the black pot chefs - they like your support. Rules for the Cook-Off :

1. NEW RULE this year: Registration will be at 10 am Bring your pot and sign-in to get your table. This is to give everyone a

chance to pick a space and not get crowded up. You don't have to bring ingredients until the cooking starts at 2:00 pm. Cooking ends at 5:45 pm.

2. All cooking must be done at the cook-off and not before. Remember you only have 3:45 hours to get your dish done, so don't make a dish that requires more time. You may use canned goods in your dish.

3. You will only be given one contestant number this year. You are responsible for it, so don't let it burn up in the coals. Pin your number on your shirt or apron.

4. Think of a fancy name for your dish that is appropriate for our centennial: 100 year stew, horse and buggy biscuits, homestead bread. Have fun nam-ing your dish (Ribbon for the favorite name) and don’t forget to post the name of your dish for all to see.

5. Ribbons will be given to 1st through 6th place in both the main course and dessert categories. 1st place winners names will be engraved on the plaque that is displayed in the Clubhouse.

6. HAVE FUN!!!

Wilsonia Advisory Team Presentation this Saturday The W.A.T., including its National Park Service members, will be giving an informational presentation this Saturday, June 9, at 10 am. Please come to listen and ask questions. NPS Superintendent Woody Smeck will be available for this annual Q&A session. Coffee and donuts will be provided.

PAGE 2 W I L S O N I A T I M E S VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1

WVI Memorial Weekend Meeting The WVI Board Meeting was held on Saturday, May 26th at the Clubhouse. Business discussed at that meeting:

• Wilsonia Advisory Team and WHDT Reports • Treasurer’s Report • Wilsonia Centennial planning and events • 2018 Calendar of Events • Update on the Clubhouse Restroom Fundraising and the

Design and Permitting Process. The next meeting will be on Sunday June 24th at 2pm at the Black Pot Cook-Off location.

Wilsonia's Centennial Celebration Please plan on celebrating with us during

Wilsonia Week, June 30th to July 7th. We have many activities planned for you, your family and friends to enjoy and participate in. Here are a few highlights; check the calendar for more details, and watch the bulletin boards and Facebook page for updates.

Kick-Off Potluck Sat. June 30th The Wilsonia DAR group will be hosting this patriotic gathering that Wilsonia does so well. Come dine with your Village family and friends!

Happy Birthday Wilsonia!! Sunday, July 1st at 2pm, come to the Clubhouse for the official Wilsonia Birthday party. We will have an official proclamation, be serving cake and gathering to pose for a once-in-a-Centennial group photo!

The Biggest Little July 4th Parade Our annual July 4th Parade will begin at 10 am, and we are coordinating with the NPS for a longer route. We are encouraging all Wilsonians to participate or come watch this great tradition. If participating, we ask that you consider the Wilsonia Centennial as a guiding theme for your decorations, costumes and signs. Let’s make this parade a memorable one!

Speaking of the parade, we are seeking photos from

previous parades to assemble into a Clubhouse story board.

Please look through your photos and contact Neal.

We can make copies.

WILSONIA Centennial Challenge July 5th Formerly the Wilsonia Amazing Race, this year’s fast paced event will be geared for ages 10 and up. We are planning a different activity for the younger Wilsonians for Monday, July 2nd. Still in planning… a W100 Horseshoe competition. Please contact us if you have an amazing set-up and would like to help plan this event.

July 6th & 7th: WILSONIA QUILT SHOW Come to the Clubhouse to see these amazing crafts that are a great Wilsonia tradition. (See the enclosed page for info. about the upcoming Quilters and Crafters retreat.)

Final Centennial Event- July 7th Food and Music at the John Wilson cabin

More information will be coming about this relaxing time of music, food, drinks and friends.

————————— Please contact the Centennial Committee with questions:

Sara DeJager 559-909-4135, Neal Mixter 559-246-7963 Jean Faszholz 510-910-2855, Katie Wilson 559-280-0480

Watch for Limited Edition WILSONIA Centennial Merchandise being sold at many of these events

Calling all volunteers: there are two opportunities this month to get involved and help our community. 1) Wilsonia Community Fire Clean-up. See the article on the

front page. We need workers and equipment.

2) Clubhouse floor refinishing. We are looking for a few able- bodied Wilsonians to apprentice on the Clubhouse floor refinishing that takes place every 3-5 years. We have tenta-tively scheduled this job for the dates of June 20-22. This is a two day job. Day one: clean, screen (sand) and mop the

floor. Day two: apply the finish. Please contact Neal at 559-246-7963 if you can volunteer or if you have any questions.

Clubhouse Museum We are excited to be forging ahead with the idea of perma-nently displaying some of Wilsonia's history on the walls inside the Clubhouse. Some of you have already volunteered to put together specific collections of photos and articles (called storyboards) and arrange them in frames which will then be attached to the walls. We hope to have some of these finished and up by the 4th. Frames are still available if you did not get one last summer. There will also be a secure display case add-ed on the Clubhouse wall. We will be asking you to loan small items from your cabin. We are making this a 2018 summer project and hope to have the Clubhouse Museum completed by Labor Day. We are grateful to Bob Hills who has offered to help with construction. Call Jean Faszholz at 510-910-2855 if you have questions or would like to volunteer to do a story-board.

Clubhouse Bathroom Fundraiser We are continuing to fundraise for the upgrade to the Clubhouse bathrooms, we need to stabilize them and make them accessible. To date we have raised $10,152. This has come through general donations, quilt and table ticket sales, and from donations in the memory of Doug Lawrence. Our goal is to raise $24,000. We are targeting the end of the sum-mer/early fall for the upgrade. Continued sales of tickets and sales of Centennial Merchandise will take us closer to our goal. Join the 100 club. If we can get 100 Wilsonians to donate $100 dollars each, for our 100th birthday, we will raise an ad-ditional $10,000 and be almost at our goal. You can donate online, mail a check, or donate in person at any event or by contacting a board member.

PAGE 3 W I L S O N I A T I M E S VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1

————————— now $50

PAUL FINCK - General Contractor License #414340

Carpentry, Plumbing, Repiping, Electri-cal,

Septic Systems, Submerisble Pumps, Hauling and Disposal

Cell 559-358-5797

finckwilsonia@gmail.com

paid advertisement

Wilsonia Village - Centennial Summer 2018 - Calendar of Events

All events at the Clubhouse unless stated otherwise

Sat. June 9 10 am Advisory Team and NPS presentation

M-W June 11-13 All Day Clubhouse Rental - EMS Training

Sat. June 16 2 pm Black Pot Cook-Off - Hazel Lane

Sat. June 23 8 am - 5 pm Community Clean-up - Wilsonia & NPS Fire Crew 12 pm Lunch for Workers - Hazel Lane Sun. June 24 2 pm Board of Directors Meeting

Sat. June 30 6 pm Potluck - D.A.R. hosts

7 pm Wilsonia 100 Kick-off event Sun. July 1 2 pm W100 Birthday Party & Group Photo Mon. July 2 W100 Horseshoe Competition & Kids Games Tues. July 3 W100 Event - to be announced Wed. July 4 10 am Independence Day Parade at the Visitor Center 1:30 pm Ice Cream Social & Patriotic Sing Along Thurs. July 5 2 pm Wilsonia Centennial Challenge - formally the Amazing Race Fri-Sat July 6-7 All Day Wilsonia Quilt Show Sat. July 7 8 am W.H.A.T. Hike #2 Sat. July 7 6 pm Evening food and music - at the John Wilson Cabin M-S July 16-21 All Day Quilters & Crafters Retreat

Fri-Sun July 27-29 All Day Clubhouse Rental - Moss Wedding Dinner and Reception

Sat. Aug. 4 8 am W.H.A.T. Hike #3 10 am Board of Directors Meeting 6 pm WVI Barbecue Dinner / Potluck

7 pm Annual General Meeting and Elections

Sat. Aug. 11 Half Day Clubhouse Rental - NLC

Sat. Aug. 25 12 pm Advisory Team / NPS community lunch - Location TBA

Sat. Sept. 1 6 pm Taco Night Dinner - WHDT hosts 7 pm Bingo Sun. Sept. 2 8–11 am WVI Pancake Breakfast - Adults $5, Children (12 & under) $3 1 pm Board of Directors Meeting Mon. Sept. 3 8 am W.H.A.T. Hike #4

Event schedule subject to change - Check the website and Facebook page for updates

WANTED: Cabins for Rent

Weekend of July 27-29 for Moss Family Wedding

Please contact Dick Moss if you have an available cabin

for this special event. 559-280-7410

rmoss@ppeng.com

A fanta

stic s

ouvenir

book for

Wils

onia’s Cen

tennial!

THE NEWSLETTER OF

WILSONIA VILLAGE INC C/O 1118 S. KLEIN AVE REEDLEY, CA 93654-3720

WILSONIA TIMES

SERVICE CHANGE REQUESTED

Bear sightings, problems or questions?

Please contact the KCNP

Bear Tech at

(559) 565-4258

Still getting your newsletter in the mail ? You can receive it by email

and save some paper and the cost of a stamp. Email your request to:

wilsoniatimes@gmail.com Type “subscribe” in the subject line

& provide your name and cabin address

- Please - Be a considerate neighbor and help protect the native wildlife in

Wilsonia and in the Park

Keep all pets on a leash or secure at your cabin at all times

Grant Grove NPS Visitors Center (559) 565-4307 (559) 335-2856

Ash Mountain NPS District Office www.nps.gov/seki (559) 565-3341

EMERGENCY ** CALL 911** and 565-3196 / 3197 NPS Dispatch

WVI Board of Directors 2017-2018 Contact information

Name Office Email Phone

Linda Montgomery President lindam@netptc.net (559) 855-2338 home, (559) 259-5960 mobile

Chad Fjeld Vice-President chad@angelredpom.com (559) 827-3461

Mary Anne Smith Secretary masowqa@gmail.com (909) 648-3446 mobile & Wilsonia

Neal Mixter Treasurer / Media nealmixter@gmail.com (559) 246-7963 mobile & Wilsonia

Chuck Burgin chuckpen@gmail.com (559) 332-2817 home, (559) 250-3670 mobile

Katie Wilson katwilson07@gmail.com (559) 280-0480 mobile

Freeman Stone fdstone@earthlink.net (559) 967-8234 mobile