Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor The California Highway Patrol was called to the scene of a vehicle accident around 5 a.m on Trenton Road and River Road near Forestville male black bear was struck and killed Tuesday by a vehicle near Forestville a California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson the California Highway Patrol responded to a call that a white Chevy pickup truck hit a bear near Trenton Road and River Road The driver was traveling River Road in the early morning darkness when he struck the bear the bear was alive and walking around before it eventually laid down on the shoulder and died CHP officers alerted the state Department of Fish and Wildlife which sent a wildlife biologist to collect the bear’s body adding that a necropsy would be performed on the animal Fish and Wildlife personnel also collected tooth and genetic samples from the bear that will help to determine the bear’s age adding that the necropsy will confirm the bear died from injuries related to the crash the executive director of the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue said the bear’s death highlights the need for wildlife crossings in Sonoma County She called the incident “tragic” and said she wants the organization to not only focus on rescuing animals but also on the “bigger picture” of conservation “Highways can be — not only a source of unnecessary wildlife deaths but they can also break up connectivity between wildlife habitats,” Kellum said Thursday in an email “This is where the need for wildlife crossings come into play and why we monitor the movement of collared wildlife roadkill incidents and other data to determine where placement of wildlife crossings will be most effective.” “We can’t put wildlife crossings everywhere so it’s important for motorists to always be alert and on the lookout for the wildlife that we share this state with as each species has an essential role in California’s unique ecosystem,” she said Contact Staff Writer Anna Armstrong at 707-521-5255 or anna.armstrong@pressdemocrat.com It's unknown exactly how many black bears live in Sonoma County but one had a fatal encounter this week near Forestville A four hundred-thirty pound male black bear was stuck and killed on River Road CHP Public Information Officer David deRutte told KRCB News the bear was hit by a Chevy pickup truck at 4:38 am Tuesday morning along westbound River Road at Trenton Road and the bear initially survived the impact “it was walking around his truck and even clawed at his truck apparently,” he said The truck was totaled and the bear eventually died along the westbound shoulder State biologists were called in to take possession of the bear Krysten Kellum is a California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson “we collected tooth and genetic samples and we'll use that in our bear database,” Kellum said That database monitors the size and health of California's bear population which the state agency estimates at 50,000 to 80,000 bears "There's a lot of bears in the North Coast up to the Cascade region," Kellum said "Between those two regions we've got almost half of statewide black bear population,” she said Despite those numbers, deRutte said it is rare to have a bear collision in Sonoma County an average male black bear grows to 150 to 300 pounds so the one killed this week was among the largest Regional Parks staff say they have documented bears across Sonoma County through wildlife cameras tracks and other signs like scat and bite marks on trees Agency staff also say despite the widespread documentation sightings of black bears in Sonoma County are incredibly rare - much rarer than mountain lion sightings the bear population seems to be increasing in Sonoma County so sightings and encounters may become more frequent Here are links to what's happening RIGHT NOW in Sonoma County Start your weekday mornings with the Sonoma County First News podcast bringing you the top local headlines and a detailed weather forecast to kick off your day Stay informed with the latest breaking news and stories from communities across Sonoma County—from Petaluma to Cloverdale Subscribe to the Sonoma County First News podcast through the NorCal Mobile App Get the latest updates on programs and events FORESTVILLE — The Hornets’ nest has a new young face helping lead its district into the future as the Forestville Board of Education has appointed Sophia Stewart as its first Student Board Member has attended Forestville schools since kindergarten Stewart is also an active member of the Envirothon Club and Stage Crew “We are looking forward to Sophia’s thoughts and input and welcome her as Forestville’s first Student Board of Education Member,” said Superintendent Dr Stewart’s first Board of Education meeting was especially sweet as the Board also welcomed Michele Dolce’s sixth grade class to present its maple syrup project Students Allison DeMarie and Ana Maria Andrews were included in the presentation received a sample of the syrup the students collected including the approval of three new contracts Director of Technology and Communications all had their contracts approved by the Board The Board of Education also passed a resolution regarding a proposed Capital Outlay Project including $100,000 of state-aided improvements The 2025-2026 school budget proposal includes a tax increase of 2.3% to support its total budget amount of just over $14.1 million Three propositions will be listed on the ballot including the budget itself (Proposition 1); allocation of $394,701 for gasoline bus purchase (Proposition 2); and a library tax increase of $42,540 to be collected on behalf of the Anderson-Lee Library (Proposition 3) One seat on the Board of Education is up for election The budget vote will be conducted by Carol DePasquale Poll Inspector; and District Clerk Melody Voigt The next meeting of the Forestville Board of Education is Thursday with a public hearing on the 2025-2026 school budget Kathy Hochul may have been a bit premature popping open champagne bottles when it comes to a final state .. Chautauqua County Judge David Foley is contemplating whether or not a second-degree murder charge should remain .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of New York | https://www.observertoday.com | PO Box 391 Join us to learn more about the future park site and provide your thoughts on the vision and goals for the park Raleigh Parks is excited to create a Master Plan that reflects the unique needs and desires of the community We welcome your input and look forward to collaborating with you This event is family-friendly and will include light refreshments and an art-making station for people of all ages Accommodations and translation services are available upon request. Please contact ForestvilleRoadPark@PublicInput.com for requests and assistance Learn more & participate in the planning process! Location: Marsh Creek Community CenterDate: Monday This feedback widget is not intended for customer service issues This feedback is reviewed monthly to help us improve our site. For immediate customer service please refer to our staff directory ForestvilleRoadPark@PublicInput.com A new spirit is taking root in Forestville though it maintains its sweet and lively west county charm who runs the front of the house chats with local Barbra Friedman at Forestville’s new restaurant Bazaar Sonoma Forestville’s new restaurant Bazaar Sonoma Toothpick Beef dusted with peanuts and intense aromatics served as a finger food or over rice from Bazaar Sonoma Customers wait in line outside Nightingale Breads An assortment of loaves are displayed at Nightingale Breads Pear crumble brandy cake with chopped walnuts at Nightingale Breads in Forestville Vanilla bean coconut and chocolate Nutella scones are displayed at Nightingale Breads Pasta from Canneti Roadhouse Italiana in Forestville Cannoli from Canneti Roadhouse Italiana in Forestville The Farmhouse Inn pool is the centerpiece to the Forestville compound's space The restaurant at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville At Farmhouse Inn restaurant in Forestville Breakfast choices include a seasonal Peach and Ham Strata with olives poached eggs and puffed rice from The Farmstand at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville Tuesday Wine is displayed and poured at a club gathering at Ryme Cellars in Forestville Taste wine outdoors in Adirondack chairs at Ryme Cellars in Forestville Cynthia Johnson gives a piggyback ride to her granddaughter Verona Mitchell along the West County Regional Trial between Forestville and Graton on Tuesday Sunshine Organic Coffee Roasters in Forestville continues to be a hotspot in the ongoing dispute over public access to privately owned beaches along the Russian River in Forestville Wayne Speer remembers decades ago when logging trucks would roar past his Forestville Club at all hours windowless dive bar is a throwback to another era But walk down Front Street (aka Highway 116) for a block or two, and you’ll see signs of a new spirit taking root in Forestville. Maybe it’s the trippy Ricky Watts mural in front of the Record Mill vinyl shop. Or the newly opened, Asian-inspired Bazaar Sonoma next door serving an addictively simple egg salad sandwich with yuzo mayo and crispy lotus on milk bread Leading the charge, Sonoma Pizza Co. opened shop across the street two years ago building an instant following with wood-fired pizzas stacked with everything from peaches and pork cheek bacon to mushrooms and fennel sausage Under towering redwoods and glowing paper lanterns the shop’s back deck is a great place to savor a night out “Forestville is kind of like the last area in Sonoma County to get gentrified,” says Brian Borchers, who owns Russian River Cycle Service, which makes custom bikes and rents to riders eager to get out on the 5.5-mile West County Regional Trail Connecting Forestville to Sebastopol and Graton Nightingale Breads owner Jessie Frost isn’t too worried about Forestville turning bougie but it’s also weird — and I mean that as in good weird Try naming a town “Forrestville” in the 1860s after an early settler named Andrew Jackson Forrester and then dropping the “r” and changing it to “Forestville.” True story where husband-and-wife owners Ryan and Megan Glaab have a thing for Italian varieties like Vermentino Forestville is one of those towns where everyone pitches in during the holidays A guy nicknamed “Falcon Mike” hangs the Christmas lights along Front Street Teaming up with the local chamber of commerce Record Mill owner Chris McDonald started a new holiday town fair last year that returns on Dec 7 with 30-40 local vendors and a roaming New Orleans brass band In the three years he’s owned the Record Mill McDonald has seen nearly every walk of life coming in and out of the redwoods that surround the town but blue-collar locals are still here,” he says “I feel like it’s one of those last west county towns that has a rural vibe that spans a full spectrum of people.” Loyal customers would probably riot if owner Jessie Frost discontinued her best-selling sliced seeded sourdough. For the holidays, Frost makes boxed panettone and a delicious gingerbread, adding Moonlight Brewing Company’s Death and Taxes black lager to the batter. 6665 Front St., 707-887-8887, nightingalebreads.com Try the wood-fired Pepperoni Nirvana pie prepared Chris’s Way with hot honey and ricotta, paired with local Joseph Jewel zinfandel. Or the “Italian Stallion” sandwich —  what more could you need? 6615 Front St., 707820-1031, sonomapizzaco.com Chef-proprietor Francesso Torre makes his own olive oil, focaccia and fennel salame, and his classic “Tuna of the Chianti” swaps pork shoulder for fins. 6675 Front St., 707-887-2232, cannetiroadhouse.com Last year, wine mogul Bill Foley purchased a majority stake in this exclusive luxury hotel (once bought out by Elon Musk for his birthday party) from siblings Joe and Catherine Bartolomei, who grew the 1873 vintage farmhouse into a world-class destination. 7871 River Road, 707-887-3300, farmhouseinn.com A budget-friendly option with a giant Paul Bunyan statue out front. Where else can you spend the night in a 1970s VW Bus restored with hardwood floors? 11820 River Road, 707-887-7662, riverbendresort.net This Italian-leaning boutique winery hosts appointment-only tastings and super-tasty BBQ pickup parties. 6450 First St., 707820-8121, rymecellars.com Crate-digger alert: Owner Chris McDonald’s Japanese pressing of Bobby Charles’ self-titled 1976 album is a pretty good score RANDOLPH — With Randolph having already pushed a run across in the bottom of the seventh inning 2 hitter Sadie Steward came to the plate as the potential tying run One swing of the bat could’ve tied Randolph with Forestville in their Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 3 softball game Hornets shortstop Carilene Sliwa had a different idea Steward lined Megan Gruber’s offering up the middle but Sliwa lunged to her left to make a diving catch and clinch Forestville’s 5-4 victory on Wednesday evening behind Gail N I knew it would be tough for us to hold them That was an amazing play she made,” Forestville head coach Brianne Hazelton said of Sliwa’s catch “She hung on to the ball and brought it home for us.” The win improved the Hornets to 4-0 on the season including 2-0 in the ultra-competitive Division 3 standings Randolph fell to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the league “We haven’t beaten Randolph in three or four years,” Hazelton added Forestville jumped on top 1-0 in the top of the first inning when Sliwa led off with a single went to second on Jade Work’s sacrifice bunt and scored when Emily Lillie’s fly ball fell in between Randolph’s left and center fielders She’s just so aggressive,” Hazelton said of Sliwa “She loves hitting and can’t wait to get up there and hit that ball.” The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the frame Aliza Hind led off with an infield single to third base and went to second on an error Hind advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Ryanne Bushey’s RBI single to left field An error on the play left Bushey at second base and she moved to third on Isabelle Syracuse’s single before scoring on an errant throw from the Hornets’ catcher back to Gruber in the circle This is only our fourth game,” Hazelton said Randolph tacked on a third run in the bottom of the third inning as Bushey singled with two outs and scored on Syracuse’s triple to right field She had the triple and led off with a base hit in the sixth,” Randolph head coach Geoff Olson said of Syracuse ” … She’s been solid all season … we’re going to keep leaning on her.” Forestville tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with some aggressive baserunning Lillie walked to open the frame and stole second before scoring on Gruber’s RBI single A bad throw to the plate allowed Gruber to get all the way to third base on the play a double play left Gruber at third with two outs but she was able to race home on a passed ball “We talk all the time about being aggressive baserunners You put that pressure on … that’s exactly what they did today,” Olson said “We hesitated a couple of times; you hesitate and you’re too late.” Sliwa singled to left field and went to second on a two-out wild pitch Lillie then walked and continued to second on a wild pitch As the Cardinals threw down to second base Gruber followed with an RBI single to make it 5-3 “They kind of just do it without me having to say it They’ve learned how to be aggressive and when to do it,” Hazelton said “I was proud of Emily taking that walk and running to second without us really telling her to do it.” “We’ve got to get better defensively playing against that and we need to be doing that ourselves running the bases.” Syracuse added her third hit of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning Randolph didn’t go quietly in the seventh either Quinn Pence reached on an error and ended up at second base on the play She moved to third on a groundout and then aggressively scored on Hind’s pop-up just behind second base But Steward’s lineout to Sliwa ended the final threat of the day “We just couldn’t put the hits on top of each other,” Olson said “Ryanne and Isa really came through a couple of times but we just couldn’t put enough together.” NOTES: Hind and Gruber both went the distance in the circle for their respective teams Hind allowed five hits and four walks while hitting a batter and striking out six Gruber allowed nine hits and one walk while striking out five … Work threw out two runners attempting to steal … Sliwa and Gruber each had a pair of hits for Forestville Bushey and Mallory Smallback each had multiple hits for Randolph BUSTI — Fredonia’s Sydnee Hoffman shot a 24 over five holes but Southwestern beat the Hillbillies 35-20 in .. | https://www.post-journal.com | PO Box 3386 from honoring our Citizen of the Year to the Easter egg hunt and the lively spring play We know we have survived the winter and witness new things sprouting all around — brilliant green grass Let’s start by celebrating our Citizen of the Year on Saturday will give us the opportunity to recognize this year’s awardees Also being honored are Sonoma Pizza Company as Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Scotty Brown promoter and tireless advocate for Little League Tickets are $55 and available through Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Flowers at 707-481-3565 The chamber graciously hosts this annual event It’s a wonderful way to come together as community members who care get involved and make a difference in our sweet town This year’s spring play is Disney’s “Dare to Dream,” a musical revue done cabaret-style giving our young students plenty of opportunities to showcase their talents All performances will be held at Forestville School is also the famous and fun Easter egg hunt at the Youth Park upper fields the event features more than 2,000 candy-filled eggs for children to discover so be sure to arrive early to avoid disappointment and rumor has it the Easter Bunny will make an appearance The event is structured by age groups to ensure younger children have a fair chance at collecting eggs Lucy Hardcastle is a proud longtime resident of Forestville. You can reach Lucy at bobandlucybh@comcast.net JAMESTOWN — Jamestown Community College has announced Forestville native Cherish Pope as the new head coach of Jayhawk volleyball “We’re delighted to have a new leader of our women’s volleyball team one that has a long history of passion and commitment to the sport,” said Athletic Director George Sisson “Cherish (Pope) joins JCC with an enthusiasm to guide the women’s volleyball team back to regional and national prominence My staff and I are just as eager as she is to work on returning the green and gold to its glory days.” “I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to share my knowledge of a game I love with the current and future Jayhawk volleyball players,” Pope said “We are going to get back to the basics and that will be the foundation of our success.” Pope has more than 20 years of experience in the game of volleyball She was a four-year captain for the Forestville Hornets where she earned all-Section VI honors in 2012 she played volleyball for the Fredonia State University club team and has stayed in the game through various rec leagues “It was a rather easy choice for us to hire (Pope),” Sisson said “You could tell from the minute we spoke during her interview that she has an infectious love for the game that is very important at the junior college level.” “I believe that my knowledge of the game will help the JCC student-athletes excel and achieve more We’re going to focus on clearly defined goals and strategies for achieving them,” Pope added we can productively work together towards success rather than going through the motions of showing up every day.” That early dedication to having clearly defined missions for her Jayhawks was obvious in Pope’s details in her notebook full of ideas before she even accepted the position “It is important to me to hit the ground running,” she said “I want to already get these women in the gym before they leave for their summer break we’d even be able to work together during the summer months.” not just their volleyball skill,” she said “A coach in high school sat me down to talk about character ‘Who you are when no one is watching is who you truly are,’ and that is something I want to instill in them.” Those traits from Pope weren’t just limited to the volleyball court She was also on the Hornets’ basketball and softball teams She even used those softball skills to become a volunteer assistant for her alma mater Pope is also a mainstay on the local volleyball scene “I am very familiar with a lot of the local tournaments and teams,” she said “I have a great relationship with the local coaches and will attack local volleyball and expand from there.” Pope looks to get to work filling out her roster and practice schedule as soon as possible The 2025 Jayhawks’ volleyball season begins in August ELLICOTTVILLE — Logan Ruff went 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs as Gowanda beat Ellicottville 19-0 in five .. SILVER CREEK — Leah Mays and Molly Shaw were both triple winners while also being part of winning relays as .. 3 ranking in Class C softball makes the Golden Falcons the highest-ranked local team in this .. A house located at 11551 Old River Road in Forestville has a new owner The $670,000 purchase price works out to $607 per square foot The lot of the property covers an area of 0.3-acre These nearby houses have also recently changed hands: This automated story was produced for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat using artificial intelligence and data science. Property information is compiled from municipal assessors in Sonoma County. For any errors email info@pressdemocrat.com A 955-square-foot two-unit house built in 1955 has changed hands The property located at 8109 Maple Avenue in Forestville was sold on April 16 The $653,000 purchase price works out to $684 per square foot The property is situated on a lot spanning 4,250 square feet According to a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office social media post the house was unoccupied and fell due to a mudslide A house fell into the Russian River in Forestville Tuesday amid an atmospheric river that brought drenching rain to Sonoma and Napa counties a house in the 12000 block of Westside Road in Forestville fell into the Russian River according to Redcom dispatch Supervisor Elizabeth Brodt Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt Juan Valencia added that part of the roadway where the structure fell into the river has also collapsed According to a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office social media post, the house was unoccupied and fell due to a mudslide. “Our deputies and Sonoma County Fire District's personnel conducted localized evacuations of homes affected or potentially affected by this slide,” the post read. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonoma County Sheriff's Office (@sonomasheriff) The home sat about 50 feet above the Russian River along a hillside opposite the Hacienda Bridge The bridge is a part of River Road and helps traffic get across the water The river on Tuesday flowed west toward the Pacific Ocean and debris from the home filled the water Among those surveying the scene was Petaluma resident Kevin Kelly who said he owns a home two doors down from the one that fell His son was staying at the home but not present Tuesday Kelly said he came to check his property and was concerned said he’s seen the Russian River rise to higher levels than it was Tuesday and that his home has a strong foundation but keeping my fingers crossed,” Kelly said as he stood on his balcony He arrived as other onlookers gathered along the Hacienda Bridge which crosses the Russian River and offers a full view of the damage Standing on the bridge was Forestville resident Mallory Harrod who lives off River Road along the south side of the river She said the water level didn’t appear high enough to affect her home Tuesday Harrod instead focused her concern on the fallen home She said part-time residents comprise the community and she hopes the home was empty when it fell “It’s sad and scary and I wonder about who was in it and about the other homes,” she said Harrod also observed a difference in the hillside where the home fell into the river Now that Forestville has another controversial issue looming with the upcoming completion of the Draft EIR for Canyon Rock’s asphalt plant I’d sure like to see us treating one another better than last time around with the community park When you care passionately about your town I wrote about how the town got four acres to create a community park right downtown for all to use many were convinced it would ruin the town As one of the people spearheading that effort I’d sure like to see us treating one another better than last time around Here is an excerpt from something she recently wrote about this issue: “I am advocating for informed decision-making devoid of fearmongering Let's await the study findings before passing judgment It's disheartening to witness some community members tarnishing the reputation of longstanding significant contributors to our small town based on conjecture The Trappe’s' forward-thinking technology and the county's findings will determine the next steps We are still in the beginning of the process And should the County decide it should proceed We have no idea what will happen as a result of the studies other people are conducting studies of their own civility and a desire for a sound resolution short for Bazaar Sonoma had finally opened their Asian inspired Café right downtown across the street from Sonoma Pizza Company They welcome folks looking for a hang out spot to access wifi too They are open Wednesday through Sunday with lunch from 11 a.m I hear their egg salad sandwich is amazing On Saturday, Sept. 21 is “On Board” a unique, one-of-a-kind Art Auction to benefit Forestville’s Skatespot. 20 artists will be showcasing their talents on skate decks. There will be music, refreshments, great fun art and a mini skate jam. 12060 Pocket Canyon (116) from 2 to 6 p.m. Email fvsk8spot@gmail.com or call Jacque at 707-8876-8260 for more information Remember the Forestville Farmers Market is now on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. Folks are asking about the old Electro Vector site It’s probably a first step towards cleaning up that environment but so far no request for a building permit has been filed It would be nice to have it turn into something useful but not until it passes rigorous testing to be sure it’s environmentally safe Thanks to the volunteers who turned up to help at the Pie in the Park event last month It was a great effort from all those who love our downtown park to raise money for its maintenance It was a fun event we should do every year for the Oaks Park get fresh air and enjoy our rural landscape We are lucky to live here and have two parks we can support The community is invited to enjoy Forestville's student musical production “Anastasia” from Thursday to Saturday at 7 p.m The Forestville Central School presents this year’s musical production “Anastasia,” from Thursday to Saturday at 7 p.m “Anastasia” is a Broadway musical based on the 1997 animated film of the same name The show takes place during the turbulent years following the Russian Revolution and centers on the story of Anastasia Romanov the last surviving member of the royal family and her journey to discover her true identity She’s discovered by a pair of con men who are searching for a woman who might be the lost Grand Duchess Anastasia They see her potential as the key to earning a reward from the Dowager Empress “Anastasia” is a heartwarming and captivating musical that blends historical drama with romantic adventure offering audiences a chance to experience the magic and mystery surrounding the Romanov family and the legend of Anastasia herself Maya Alvarez as Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch and Emma Ruffo as Little Anastasia BROCTON — Plans are set for the Brocton Central School Alumni Association Golf Tournament and Chicken & Rib .. The United Senior Citizens met April 14 at the Falcon Club eggs and a heartfelt fundraiser in Forestville We know we have survived the winter and witness new things sprouting all around If one didn’t know better one might think all’s right in the world And even though that is far from being true A special tri-tip dinner including potatoes salad and dessert will give us the opportunity to recognize this year’s awardees Also being honored is Sonoma Pizza Company as Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Scotty Brown who get involved and make a difference to our sweet town giving our young students plenty of opportunity to show us their talents It’s only one weekend this year so don’t miss out: Friday April 13 is also the famous and fun Easter egg hunt at the Youth Park upper fields who have prepared over 2,000 candy-filled eggs for your child’s entertainment so be sure to get there early so your young one won’t be disappointed and rumor has it that the Easter Bunny will make an appearance They separate age groups so the older ones won’t stampede the littles There are a few things to put on your calendar as we roll into May Order ahead at La Rosa for your celebratory feast They are in their 20th year of business this year Rosa reminds you to pick up dinner on your way home so you don’t have to cook tonight Register ahead for the May 10 fun run taking place at Forestville Downtown Oaks Park to raise money for the Skate Spot skate park Go to forestvilleskatespot.org for more information He is just $8,000 shy of getting the support he needs to proceed Please consider chipping in what you can for this lovely man SHERIDAN – A Forestville man who has been banned from possessing firearms was arrested Monday for both allegedly possessing a weapon and narcotics The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said 34-year-old Jesse Erhard was observed exiting his basement at 2772 S Deputies said they knew that Erhard is prohibited from possessing weapons and obtained an arrest warrant and search warrant Narcotics investigators from the Sheriff’s Office Dunkirk Police Department and Jamestown Police Department searched the residence and allegedly located and seized 55.4 grams of methamphetamine scales and packaging material for the distribution of narcotics Erhard was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon Erhard was transported to the Chautauqua County Jail where he was arraigned by the central arraignment program SHERIDAN – A Forestville resident has been hospitalized following a serious accident involving a recreational .. John O’Connor gave more than a year’s worth of notice that an increase to Forestville school taxes would be coming this year as the District is eyeing a 2.3% tax increase when the budget is finalized later this spring The District avoided a tax increase in back-to-back years thanks to substantial reserve funds saved up as those reserves have been drawn down to much closer to regular amounts the District deemed it necessary to request a 2.3% tax increase — the maximum the District could request without exceeding the tax cap a 2.3% increase amounts to an increase to the total levy of $93,853 bringing the total tax levy for 2025 to $4,123,697 The District expects a decrease of over $300,000 in State Aid from last year’s figure While the District expects an increase in Foundation Aid of $110,579 and an increase in Transportation Aid of $25,047 from last year’s figures Building Aid and BOCES Aid figures took a major hit The District expects a decrease of $378,724 in Building Aid and $74,835 in BOCES Aid this year the District’s proposed State Aid in 2025-26 is $8,093,649 That represents a decrease of 3.59% from last year’s total of nearly $8.4 million The increase of 2.3% from taxpayers will offset those figures a bit the District will be well shy of the revenue it had to work with a year ago Nearly $100,000 of additional reserved fund balance more than last year’s amount will be applied to the upcoming budget projected at a total of $737,657 to be applied this year the District maintained a total fund balance of $5,877,913 With the allocation of funds to account for increased costs and decreased State Aid the District’s unassigned fund balance will decrease to approximately 6% much closer to the State recommended amount of 4% The District’s expenses are still expected to increase especially when it comes to salaries and benefits the District knows it cannot just rely on its fund balance each year to make up for the increase “This is not a sustainable model over time,” O’Connor said Some of the figures discussed at the recent meeting by O’Connor and Business Administrator Kerrie Pelletter could be adjusted before the final proposal is approved and put out for a vote The District will discuss the budget proposal further at a workshop prior to its next regular Board of Education meeting on March 13 A federally-funded health center that has multiple operations in Chautauqua County has finally purchased one of its north county buildings after being there for more than a year The Post-Journal and OBSERVER have been analyzing real estate sales and recently looked at the transactions from Nov That is the location of The Chautauqua Center announced it was ceasing operation of primary care services at its Gowanda Urgent Care and Medical Center site Brooks-TLC agreed to sell its Forestville location to The Chautauqua Center located at Bennett State Road The Chautauqua Center officially began operations at the Forestville location on June 15 there were eight sales that were $250,000 or higher The full list of sales higher than $1 is as follows: Susan Kelemen sold 4054 North Oriental Ave. Ellery to the Thomas and Jan Murray Family Revocable Trust for $335,000 Portland to Eugene Principe and Daniel Domino for $155,000 Brocton to Marshall Hall for $16,000 and two others parcels on John Street for $16,000 Lakewood to Gregory and Yahn Heather for $309,000 Vincent and Mary Powall sold 3782 Lakeland Ave. North Harmony to Lawrence and Julia Mosca for $505,000 Carl Pillittieri sold a parcel on Woodlawn Ave. The executrix of the Estate of Mary Joanne M Daniel and Mahlon Byler sold 5919 Dean Road Chautauqua town to Eli and Lydia Byler for $79,500 Dunkirk to Gerald and Linda Rafan for $500 James Martin and Jean Jakubowicz sold 5533 Rt Portland to Andre Persaud and Deborah Briggs for $290,000 Richard Leone sold a parcel on Central Ave. Dunkirk to Frederick DiPalma and Michael Zebracki for $27,000 Jamestown to Matthew and Melissa McCheskey for $69,900 Nicholas Norton sold a vacant parcel on Mud Creek Road Poland to Eric and Samantha Vanstrom for $20,000 Busti to Patrick and Cheryl Goggin for $415,000 Stockton to Peter and April James for $17,500 The executor of the Last Will and Testament of Roger A Arkwright and one parcel in Villenova for $11,000 LLC of Portville sold 2219 Old Chautauqua Road The executor of the Last Will and Testament of Geraldine Szukala sold 170 King St. Fredonia to Vincent and Sally Incitto for $150,000 John and Mary Rachuna sold 1249 Norby Road Kiantone to Donald and Gwen Patterson for $199,900 Falconer to Arlie and Shelly Quackenbush for $24,000 Travis Wells and Andrew Scott for $267,500 The executor of the Last Will and Testament of Rodrick Delcamp sold 91451 Walden Road Gary and Julie Zaffalon sold 843 Jefferson St. Dunkirk to Wayne and Diane Watkins for $170,000 Thomas and Diane Dellapenta sold 537 Weeks St. Marlene and Gary Williams sold 9838 Round Top Road Charles Swanson sold a parcel on North Hill Road Ellington to Harvey and Katie Raber for $5,000 Carroll to John and Danielle Greenwood for $125,000 Graeme and Emily Beaton sold a parcel on Wigren Road to Nicholas and Jill Spitzer for $62,000 David and Donna Samlock sold a parcel on Mann Road Christopher and Susan Martin sold 2 Crescent Ave. Dale and Laurie Kozlowski sold 33 Maple Ave. Jamestown to Samuel and Mackenzie Stewart for $180,000 I’m really attracted to the tiny house scene but maybe it’s because when I was a little .. Sean Quan and Jenny Phan’s restaurant is inspired by childhood memories and a desire to treat Sonoma County to more innovative Chinese cuisine co-owners chef Sean Quan and Jenny Phan with chef Clayton Carter run Forestville’s new restaurant Zhong Dumplings with BaSo homemade chili crisp and sweet pork dumplings from Bazaar Sonoma char siu sauce and fried shallots from Bazaar Sonoma Co-owner chef Sean Quan tosses Toothpick Beef in a wok at Forestville’s new restaurant Bazaar Sonoma Wonton Noodle Soup with pork & shrimp dumplings from Bazaar Sonoma Co-owner chef Sean Quan carefully carries a bowl of soup to a customer at Forestville’s new restaurant Bazaar Sonoma greens and a hot infused oil table pour from Bazaar Sonoma Forestville’s Bazaar Sonoma (shorthanded as BaSo) reflects the couple’s desire to treat Sonoma County to more innovative regional Chinese cuisine and to showcase the food Quan always made for family meal a communal meal shared by restaurant staff before service “This is a 180 from what I used to do,” said Quan an alum of Healdsburg’s SingleThread and other Michelin-starred restaurants I would just whip up something I grew up eating and not have to overthink it.” For the past three years, the couple have run adventurous (and often very secretive) pop-up dinners that featured fried chicken at their late-night Second Staff restaurant takeovers; dim sum through the high-low concept FNCY + PNTS; and “traditional (Chinese) cuisine with untraditional values” through The Matriarch Many of The Matriarch dishes have reappeared at Bazaar Sonoma he and Phan are embracing an unapologetic menu of regional Chinese cuisine based heavily on dramatic and flavorful Szechuan recipes “It’s not exactly the kind of food we grew up eating but I’m rediscovering things I had as a kid … those recipes are a jumping-off point,” said Quan “But I’m learning there is so much more to explore.” Though it’s easy to call dishes like mapo tofu and Shanghai noodles “authentic,” especially when there is a dearth of Chinese food in Sonoma County that hasn’t been Americanized “It’s ‘unapologetic,'” he said they don’t make concessions to people’s comfort with the food And though you won’t find any bones or gristly bits in his cooking Quan says Bazaar Sonoma is not about making things more palatable for a larger audience “We respect your palate and your adventurousness,” he said $13: This classic Szechuanese water dumpling filled with pork is all about the sauce “It’s what cooks would call a perfect dish — it has everything but it’s so simple,” said Quan For the popular Chengdu-style street snack a collection of Chinese spices (Quan calls the mix his “mystery spice”) and Bazaar Sonoma’s chili crunch to an unctuous gravy-like consistency savory mess that surprises you with every bite “Every shop makes it a little different depending on what they put in their chili crunch but it’s irresistible … once you get it in your brain Additional steamed dumplings (all $13 for 6) including Shanghai Soup Dumplings and Shumai with pork and prawns arriving scalding hot but too alluring not to dive into despite any burned tongues “This is the season when people get together with family to make dumplings and bao,” said Quan who puts Phan and his visiting parents to work on a family project The couple plan to add more dumpling styles in November $12: Though it’s made with the simplest of ingredients — grated potatoes and carrots salt and a bit of sugar — this dish is complex in a way that’s hard to explain “It comes together in a way that’s unique and every family has their way of making it,” said Quan whose mother frequently made this dish at home Though the potatoes are quickly wok-fried to impart wok hay — which translates as the breath of the wok giving food a smoky flavor — they’re raw enough to have a bit of crunch still Garlic and rice vinegar play a solid supporting role but the biggest surprise is that it’s served as a cold salad It’s even better as leftovers the next day after the whole kit and kaboodle marinates in the fridge $15: Stewed tomatoes sit atop a soft egg custard Sizzling Black Cod for Two ($27): A large fillet (the fish will change seasonally) gently steamed just to flakiness without overcooking Quan pours boiling oil over the fish and accompanying greens primarily for effect but it adds intensity to the soy ginger pooled beneath the fillet — one of the best fish dishes I’ve had $25: Perhaps one of the most unapologetic dishes features small toothpick-skewered bites of beef encrusted with spices and peanuts It will bite back if you’re not careful enough to pull out the tiny toothpicks As an American constantly warned about fish bones it’s a surprising presentation (and I felt compelled to warn my dining partners dried Chinese chiles and roasted brown sugar is nutty slightly sweet and spicy with a kapow on the tongue $5: It’s in the same family as hibiscus tea hibiscus root and red dates that are simmered strained and chilled into a juice-like consistency $20: I rarely warn anyone off a dish because I can’t tolerate the heat but this one comes with a two-chili pepper warning notice on the menu this roiling pot of silky tofu with broad beans “It’s a mix of dishes because mapo tofu is usually made with pork or ham to boost the umami It’s bold and still bubbling at the table because Szechuan food is so dramatic,” said Quan Pair with jasmine rice to cool down the heat $18: Starchy noodles are topped with pork and sweet bean “Bolognese” sauce It’s the most uncomplicated street food that bursts with flavor once the ingredients are heartily mixed — another next-day favorite Vegetables: Gai Lan (Chinese broccoli) with sesame and garlic and steamed bok choy are great side dishes $18: This dish is based on Phan’s memory of eating this soup with her dad egg noodles and a perfumed broth are a loving tribute 6566 Front St., Forestville, 707-614-8056, bazaar-sonoma.com You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats Caltrans opened State Route 116 at the Jones Creek Bridge at 1:00 PM on Monday 2024.  The highway is now open to traffic in both directions Read the full advisory Three Day Closure of Route 116 in Forestville  To Strengthen the Jones Creek Bridge As part of an emergency project to strengthen the Jones Creek Bridge on State Route 116 (SR-116) in Forestville Caltrans will close the highway between Packing House Lane and Kay Lane for 72 hours from 7:00 PM Friday two-lane Jones Creek Bridge needs to be shorn of excess weight to comply with current standards and regulations Years of asphalt paving have produced excess asphalt overlay that should be removed to lighten the bridge's static load.   Caltrans will detour traffic onto Mirabel Road The Jones Creek Bridge has one lane in each direction and much of the strengthening work must be performed in the middle of the bridge factors that make it nearly impossible to do the work without fully closing the bridge by installing precast concrete girders that will rest on the bridge's abutments These girders will be topped with concrete panels the asphalt layer will be added over the panels to produce a smooth driving surface Motorists traveling the detour will log an extra 5.2 miles and can expect to add about seven minutes to their trip under typical weekend traffic.  In any case travelers should allot extra time if planning to travel through this area during the closure weekend Motorists traveling west on Route 116 can either take the detour onto Guerneville Road or continue on Route 116 however they can only travel as far as the closed bridge motorist traveling east on Route 116 may take the Mirabel Road detour or continue straight on Route 116 but only as far as the closed bridge.  is Caltrans' contractor on the project.  Thanks to the success of the Unified program at Silver Creek with Forestville students joining in on the fun Forestville hopes to bring part of what makes Silver Creek’s program so successful back to its own district Unified Coach Brenda Kerstetter and two Unified athletes addressed the Forestville Board of Education to request the District’s support in forming a Youth Advisory Committee to further the message of inclusion throughout the school Kerstetter spoke to the Board just over two weeks after Silver Creek Unified Coach and Youth Advisory Committee Advisor Janet Decker made a similar address at a Town of Hanover Board meeting to discuss the impact of the Unified program Decker requested the Town declare the month of March as a month for inclusion the Board adopted a resolution doing just that Kerstetter hoped her voice and the voices of her students would be heard by the school board just the same Kerstetter cares deeply about the district and its students but it is the impact she has seen through the Unified program that motivated her to address the Board “The kids are just all happy to be there and to be included,” Kerstetter said Kerstetter spoke of how Unified sports provide students an opportunity who would not otherwise be able to play or would struggle to feel included in a traditional varsity sports setting “If you’ve got somebody who struggles or has a disability that prevents them from being able to dribble a basketball they may not be able to get out on that court as much as they can through this program,” Kerstetter said Forestville participates in Unified basketball and bowling with Silver Creek Kerstetter assists Silver Creek’s coaches — Decker in bowling Kerstetter hopes Forestville can host a Unified basketball game on its campus this season The Unified sports program has offered Forestville and Silver Creek students many opportunities such as a trip to the Buffalo Bills practice facility to play flag football; a chance to play on the court of the University at Buffalo Bulls during halftime of a game; and participation in the Polar Plunge fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Silver Creek-Forestville raised over $13,000 this year at the Polar Plunge where students braved chilling temperatures to dive into Lake Erie to support the Special Olympics Forestville students also accompanied Silver Creek to the Special Olympics Youth Leadership Summit at SUNY Fredonia where students learned how to be more inclusive through workshops focused on unity and developing activities to better include students of all abilities Youth Advisory Committee would provide students an opportunity to be more involved in their school’s efforts to celebrate all students and promote inclusion throughout the district Through the Youth Advisory Committee and similar clubs at nearby schools and Fredonia have each achieved National Unified Champion School status with a banner from Special Olympics of New York a Forestville varsity athlete and member of the Unified program spoke to her motivation for wanting to form a Youth Advisory Committee “Something that would be important to me is trying to teach more of the younger children more about Unified and our program,” Muck said “… Doing a Unified Week and trying to get more kids included is important to me before I graduate.” Muck referenced Dunkirk’s efforts to expose students of all ages to the Unified program “I think it’s important to teach those kids why we do this and that when they come to the High School they can be included in Unified sports,” Muck said John O’Connor thanked Kerstetter and her students for their presentation He credited Kerstetter for building the Unified program at Forestville into what it is today It’s hard to truly comprehend the hurdles a disease can present without a first-hand account to speak at the Capitol as part of the American Diabetes Association’s Call to Congress The American Diabetes Association is covering the cost for the trip to advocate for support at the federal level Luke was selected for the honor through an application process I’m really excited,” Angela Bittinger said Luke and Angela will get to tour the Capitol and meet with members of congress throughout an entire day full of activities on March 4 following advocacy training and a welcome dinner on March 3 “It gives us a chance to tell his story about being diagnosed,” Angela Bittinger said I wish I had known the signs of Type 1 Diabetes He would’ve been diagnosed a lot sooner if I would have known the signs of it.” Luke Bittinger is a 13-year-old student in eighth grade at Forestville Middle/High School Angela started to notice that Luke was losing weight and drinking more frequently Angela felt closely and could feel his spine from all the weight he had rapidly lost Angela then scheduled a doctor’s appointment for Luke with a pediatrician tested Luke’s blood sugar and recognized that he was diabetic Angela received the news over the phone at work as she had arranged for Luke’s appointment ‘You need to take your son to a children’s hospital immediately.’ Then they said he’s a diabetic,” Angela Bittinger said she immediately took their recommendation and admitted Luke to a hospital Luke was hospitalized just prior to reaching a state of diabetic ketoacidosis as he arrived at the hospital with a blood sugar level of over 500 Luke managed the disease with injections by monitoring the insulin dosages with every meal he wears an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor which is enabled for digital monitoring with an app to give alerts to Angela’s phone and at their home His levels are also tracked and monitored by doctors at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester through the app so I’m very thankful for that,” Angela Bittinger said If Luke’s blood sugar ever dips too low which has led to several late nights where he has been woken up to consume snacks or juice boxes usually in the form of juice boxes or Smarties candies Luke carries sources of sugar with him throughout the day “It’s been a rough disease to try to live with It never goes away,” Angela Bittinger said “… It’s a very hard disease for a child to have.” Angela spoke to her son’s dedication to managing the disease She credited him for having a “very mathematical brain” and mentioned his love for science and health Despite all the hurdles presented by the disease Luke manages to be an honor roll student with good attendance in school Luke hopes someday to become a veterinarian “He knows what he wants to do in his life and he’s not willing to let diabetes be a road block for him,” Angela Bittinger said As tough of a journey as it was to get there not many 13 year olds get to visit the U.S Capitol and address some of the most influential members of the nation Luke and Angela hope that the trip will not just be a memorable experience “It’s exciting that something positive can come out of this and we can advocate for other people,” Angela Bittinger said NY – A now confirmed EF-1 tornado damaged several homes in northern Chautauqua County on Wednesday afternoon.  County Executive PJ Wendel described the event as “tornadic activity,” with heavy winds and rain primarily impacting Prospect Road before dissipating into the surrounding wooded areas "I believe the findings will confirm what we already suspect," stated Noel Guttman Chautauqua County Emergency Services Director Forestville Fire Department Chief Kyle Barthel reported that at 12:22 p.m his department responded to reports of downed trees in the Town of Arkwright creating a ‘snowball effect,’” he explained as reports of fallen trees and downed power lines flooded in the Forestville Fire Department received support from the Silver Creek and Sheridan Fire Departments as well as assistance from the Hanover and Arkwright Highway Departments in clearing the roads One resident reported that the roof was torn off her house on Prospect Road Barthel discovered significant damage to several buildings One individual was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries after their vehicle collided with a downed tree Another resident on Prospect Road sustained minor injuries but declined medical attention In addition to several local fire departments and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office; the Department of Environmental Conservation assisted in cleanup and observation efforts deploying a drone to survey the damage and determine the storm's exact path Wendel expressed relief that the damage did not result in more serious injuries.  “Considering the extent of the destruction it’s surprising there weren’t more significant injuries Chief Barthel praised the community for its resilience and urged anyone in need to contact the Forestville Fire Department at (716) 965-4106.  “If anyone has issues resulting from the storm that we haven't addressed We will come and check everything out for you,” he assured Following today’s severe weather, we encourage everyone to download Chautauqua County Emergency Service's app You can use the "Damage / Safety Report" feature to submit reports directly to us This information will help us in our efforts to secure recovery funds National Small Business Week Kicks Off in Chautauqua County County Executive Wendel Tours Chautauqua Lake with Local Leaders, CLA Officials Public Meeting Set for Vineyard & Millard Fillmore Complete Streets Project Chautauqua County to Host Annual Workers Memorial Service Corps to host virtual public meeting for Chautauqua Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project CCIDA CEO Once Again Named to Regional Publication’s ‘Power 250’ List County Planning Board Capital Project Presentations Public Meeting: Vineyard & Millard Fillmore Complete Streets Project County Planning Board Capital Project Presentations Directory      How can I view the County Executive's Monday Morning Memo? How do I look for Civil Service Employment Opportunities? How do I find Property Tax Information? How do I find out about the County's Privacy Practices? Employee Access Site Map Documents Center Accessibility Copyright Notices Website built in Western New York by Orbtist LLC the District holds the Bald for Bucks fundraiser to raise money for cancer research it is the volleyball program’s turn to fundraise With the 13th annual Spike Out Cancer game on Oct the Forestville volleyball program raised more than $4,700 Athletic Director Scott Hazelton told the Board of Education that this year was the third highest total in the event’s history Forestville boasted 89 student athletes in the fall season including 26 football players and 16 cheerleaders The Silver Creek-Forestville Unified program raised more than $13,000 at the annual Polar Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics returned to the District as a coach this year after leading the Silver Creek program in recent years the varsity team has found success with a 5-0 start through the first two weeks of the season Hazelton credited coaches like Jackson and varsity volleyball coach Sarah LoManto among many others who are Forestville staff or alumni for the impact they have Hazelton believes it makes a difference to have a hometown Hornet leading the District’s teams “Some of the reasons why things are going well are the people we have in the building … Having them work with our kids and see them every day They get them on the field and make sure they are doing the right things in the classroom I think that’s a huge thing,” Hazelton said “When our kids can make that connection to their teacher or to know that their coach was a former athlete here at Forestville it gives that type of awareness that they are here for a reason I think that is a huge reason for some of the successes we’ve seen so far.” Middle/High School Principal Dan Grande highlighted recent recipients of the Hornet Awards Grande was particularly impressed with the senior class He highlighted instances of students helping others with after-school tutoring talking with younger students on tough days and sitting next to students who were sitting alone as examples of how the senior class is proving itself to be a group of high character students “I just love these little gestures that these kids are making in helping younger kids,” Grande said “… It is a special group of seniors.” leadership is a focal point of the District Elementary Principal Shauna McMahon noted that several students have embraced the Principal for a Day reward It gives them a good opportunity to be a leader,” McMahon said is relinquishing her role to take over for Irwin as Secretary to the Superintendent beginning on Feb Voigt will have a one-year probationary period on her appointment set to run through June 30 The District also approved the hiring of Raquelle Moores Laura Lisa was permanently appointed as Food Service Helper following a successful probationary period A memorandum of agreement with the Forestville Teachers’ Association regarding the school’s musical was also approved as was an agreement to continue an agreement with Silver Creek to host the combined football program next school year The next meeting of the Forestville Board of Education is scheduled for Thursday At their ambitious new Sichuan restaurant in Forestville Sean Quan and Jenny Phan serve exquisite handmade dumplings and spicy mapo tofu — and work to change a difficult industry A variety of dishes from Forestville’s new restaurant Bazaar Sonoma chef Sean Quan fills an electric kettle for tea behind the counter of Bazaar Sonoma the rural Forestville restaurant he co-owns with his wife It’s the couple’s only day off from running their increasingly busy operation and filling the pot with roasted corn kernels with most of the dim sum dishes crossed out Bags of roasted chicken wing and crayfish-flavored Lays potato chips dangle temptingly from a hook above the cash register “Asians have a great snack game,” says Quan who moved to Sonoma County from Chicago for Quan to take a position at SingleThread have created a series of adventurous (and often very secretive) pop-up dinners: fried chicken through their late-night Second Staff restaurant takeovers; dim sum with the high-low concept FNCY + PNTS; and traditional Chinese cuisine “with untraditional values” at The Matriarch just a few months after taking over the perfectly imperfect space that’s been home to a nostalgic lineup of restaurants Quan and Phan have embraced an unapologetic and ambitious menu of regional Chinese cuisine based heavily on Sichuan recipes Creating their own restaurant on their terms is the goal “BaSo needs to be exciting and show that it’s different Quan and Phan met in law school in Chicago before they both were absorbed into the world of high-end restaurants — Quan in the kitchen and Phan working front of house (and in the kitchen as needed) considered one of the best restaurants in the world Quan’s first chef mentor was a tough but wise “Mr Miyagi” type who guided him through the nearly unendurable quest for perfection Quan took a position at a restaurant populated with fine dining “refugees” battered by abusive chefs then was on the opening staff of a celebrity-fronted Los Angeles restaurant overly obsessed with stars He ultimately became disillusioned with the situation “It’s easy to create a place people want to eat but hard to create a place where people want to work at,” says Quan He cringes at the memory of watching a fellow cook kicked to the ground by an executive chef and stepped over especially at high-end restaurants where the pressure for perfection is crushing “It can be such an abusive environment,” he says “I would never let something like that happen in my kitchen.” Quan and Phan realized they could create the culture they longed for and explore a variety of concepts they wanted to fry chicken for their industry friends who worked long It was all promoted by word of mouth and Instagram posts The pop-ups were purposefully tricky to find “We wanted to see who would actually make it not people who were coming as a ‘bucket list’ thing to do We wanted a restaurant that punishes you for being a tourist and not a local,” he says It’s not exactly exclusivity — more natural selection — and Quan insists there’s a logic to it Growing the business organically and with community input allows BaSo the ability to adapt and grow family-run Chinese and Korean restaurants in the suburbs of Los Angeles they’re aimed at local communities rather than food tourists “They’re not meant to be comfortable or user-friendly and you’re lucky to taste that food — to be part of it for just one day,” he said “Going out of your comfort zone is what makes it good.” “We don’t want you to plan your whole day around coming here we’re flattered… But we’re not trying to create some narrative-driven experience,” he explains And while BaSo’s menu of blazing-hot mapo tofu and handmade dumplings seems “authentic,” especially when there is a dearth of Chinese food in Sonoma County that hasn’t been Americanized they don’t make concessions to people’s comfort with the food That makes the food feel real.” Though you won’t find any gristly bits on his menu “We respect your palate and your adventurousness,” he explains This classic Sichuanese water dumpling filled with pork is all about the sauce “It’s what cooks would call a perfect dish — it has everything a collection of Chinese spices and Bazaar Sonoma’s chili crunch into an unctuous but it’s irresistible … once you get it in your brain the couple plans to serve a buffet of regional Chinese dishes Stressing their staff during the holiday just isn’t the point it’s easy to be perfect — to make a remarkably fast car like a Lamborghini But long-term sustainability and comfort are more nuanced — like a Toyota “What’s important is that you’re at a pace to keep you engaged but not strained,” says Quan The couple strive to find that balance for their staff and create a safe The couple and their team continue to innovate Quan and Phan plan to flesh out a new concept called Ugly Dumpling where diners can bring frozen dumplings home or send them to the kitchen to be steamed onsite they hope the restaurant will become a “third space” for the community It’s a new-old idea gaining more traction among restaurateurs who want their restaurants to serve more than just a meal and to be in a place that isn’t home or work Quan turns on color-changing LED chandeliers that bathe the restaurant in blue as an undulating green mural of west county hillsides and vineyards reflects the light “Come back for some tea sometime,” says Quan warmly Hot and Sour Potato Stir-Fry: Though made with the simplest of ingredients — grated potatoes and carrots salt and a bit of sugar — this dish is complex in a way that’s hard to explain Potatoes are quickly wok-fried but left with a bit of crunch Silken Egg and Tomato: Stewed tomatoes sit atop a soft egg custard Sizzling Black Cod for Two: Quan pours boiling oil over gently steamed fish and greens adding intensity to the soy-ginger broth beneath — outstanding Toothpick Beef: Small bites of beef encrusted with cumin roasted brown sugar and a dusting of peanuts this roiling pot of silken tofu with broad beans Old Beijing Noodles: Starchy noodles are topped with pork and sweet bean “Bolognese” sauce for an uncomplicated street food dish that bursts with flavor Wonton Noodle Soup: Light pork and shrimp dumplings and egg noodles in perfumed broth are a loving tribute to Jenny Phan’s father Read dining editor Heather Irwin’s first review of Bazaar Sonoma here Bazaar Sonoma Restaurant & Konbini, 6566 Front St., Forestville. 707-614-8056, bazaar-sonoma.com Bazaar Sonoma will host a Lunar New Year Party from 6–9 p.m. A buffet of regional Chinese dishes will be served from 6–8 p.m. followed by a dance party featuring music from DJ Kevin West The menu includes such dishes as whole roasted pig chicken dumplings and egg fried rice — plus The trucks start rolling in and out early each morning from the Canyon Rock Quarry on Highway 116 just about a mile west of Forestville’s main drag or as the industry calls it 'aggregate,' has been coming out of the site since the 1940’s Canyon Rock has been owned and operated by the Trappe family since the 1970’s Now it's led by brothers Jonathon and James "There is a need now in West County," Jonathon Trappe said "Our customers are asking for something in West County because of the travels going all the way to town just to come back and driving right past us where the rock came from." Of Sonoma County's 1,300 miles of county-maintained paved roadway The idea of an asphalt plant at the quarry has been floated on and off for decades most of what's needed to make asphalt already comes out of Canyon Rock's quarry The plant is closer now to reality than it’s ever been That's even while it’s still in the planning phases at the county level on top of regulatory hurdles at the regional Canyon Rock may need to seek approval from seven separate agencies like the Regional Water Board and Army Corps of Engineers Trappe said he’s hopeful the plan will get over the line and make Canyon Rock the county's third asphalt supplier and then two operating in Santa Rosa and that's it in Sonoma County," Trappe said there’s been push back from some in the Forestville community Winemaker Darek Trowbridge has vineyards near by the quarry there's just more questions," Trowbridge said "We're not finding so many concrete answers at the moment." Trowbridge noted a 2009 lawsuit attempting to block an expansion of the quarry and says the latest plan has brought the opposition back together now as the group Russian River Community Cares "Is an asphalt plant a good thing to have in a place called Pocket Canyon on the scenic corridor right near Forestville in a zone that's labeled as an extreme fire danger," Trowbridge said Trowbridge said besides concerns over fire danger and potential accidents at the plant he and Russian River Community Cares are concerned about the level of truck traffic on the rural highway That's in addition to worries about potential impacts to nearby Green Valley Creek chemical and natural gas storage at the site potential impacts to nearby property values Trowbridge also questions if it's the right place for an asphalt plant with 75-foot-tall silos this is food and wine country and I don't enjoy the smell of asphalt while I'm consuming food," Trowbridge said but it certainly seems like it could be an issue." Trappe said Canyon Rock is all ears for community feedback the company has a website dedicated to the project outlining what they say will and won't change if the plant is built It includes visual impacts from the potential future silos when viewed from the road which Trappe pointed out on a tour of the quarry they're right around 70 feet," Trappe said you just get that natural tiny little peak at the top...and as the trees grow...it'll pretty much and our goal is as we go north," Trappe said "Is we'll leave a buffer to the east and a buffer to the west So we're kind of going between two ridge lines." Trappe said the company is committed to building an efficient with as low an emissions foot print as possible We're looking to add more solar and that's where we're trying to use green energy we're actually a Sonoma Clean Power customer." The Canyon Rock Asphalt Plant proposal is currently awaiting environmental documents from Permit Sonoma Further on the horizon for the Trappe's and Canyon Rock is the future of the company's Pocket Canyon quarry itself FORESTVILLE — The annual First Day Hike in Forestville has been cancelled due to a storm warning The event is scheduled each year in conjunction with the National State Parks’ celebration of hiking trails and historic sites throughout the state Forestville’s event is organized by Imagine Forestville There are other locations across New York and throughout the country that celebrate First Day Hikes The walks and hikes are family-friendly and typically range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions Hikes are planned at state parks and historic sites Department of Environmental Conservation lands The Forestville Hiking Trail is located at 11014 Walnut St approximately a quarter-mile from Route 39 in the hamlet of Forestville The trail is approximately one mile long and takes about 45 minutes to complete FORESTVILLE — Carilene Sliwa scored 26 points and grabbed 13 steals for a double-double in the Hornets 44-26 win over North Collins Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 4 play Elizabeth Case also provided a double-double for Forestville (2-1 1-1) was led by Zoe Kreinheder and Jenna Sickau with 7 points each FALCONER — Claire Price hit four 3-pointers to lead Maple Grove past Falconer 29-19 in nonleague action Price finished with a game-high 16 points to pace the Red Dragons (4-0 while Addison Calimeri made five steals and both Sydnee Snow and Brynn Helms had three steals SILVER CREEK — Gracie Williams scored 16 points grabbed seven boards and made seven steals as Silver Creek downed Chautauqua Lake 44-34 in Division 2 six boards and four steals for the Black Knights (4-0 Maddy Blair had six rebounds and five blocks and Gracelin Stevens hauled in seven rebounds 0-2) was led by Eden Ludwig with 15 points Kaylee Tarr made four steals and seven rebounds and Brina Jacobson added seven boards CLYMER — Naomi Ottey scored 14 points and Westfield held off Clymer 52-43 for a Division 2 victory Sydney Hotchkiss and Mackenzie Schumaker both added 8 points and Mahalia Douglas scored 7 for the Wolverines (1-2 Ava Nyweide scored a game-high 16 points for the Pirates (1-2 1-2) and added five rebounds and three steals Elli Bodamer had five boards and four assists and Alyssa Pratt made three steals and three rebounds SOUTH DAYTON — Sandy Ivett scored 20 points with five triples as Pine Valley downed Franklinville 56-32 in Division 4 Paige Hohl added 14 points and five rebounds for Pine Valley (2-1 Sarah Kruszka made seven assists and six boards Danica Farnham had seven rebounds and two blocks and Danielle West made five steals Franklinville falls to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the league SPRINGVILLE — Maliyah Foster scored 8 of her game-high 13 points during a 24-8 third quarter as Salamanca pulled away from Springville en route to a 48-30 nonleague girls basketball win Saturday Skyla Dowdy added 11 points for the Warriors (2-1) Danielle Oakley led Springville (0-3) with 12 points With Westside Road still closed from a February mudslide some residents and business owners in the Forestville Healdsburg and Guerneville areas say the Wohler Bridge project’s timing couldn’t be worse Earthquake safety upgrades are slated to begin Tuesday on Wohler Bridge east of Forestville despite protests from community members who say that temporarily closing the trestle will leave them with just one viable escape route During the planned closure between April 1 and Oct. 15, the 103-year-old, single-lane span over the lower Russian River will get its steel truss and foundation reinforced along with other retrofitting that will help the bridge meet current seismic design standards While many Russian River-area residents say they’re grateful for the update as well as the project’s impact on traffic and commerce The lower stretch of Westside Road, originally expected to be available as a southern detour during the six-month closure, is also closed due to a mudslide near the Hacienda Bridge. That slide occurred during an early February atmospheric river, which caused a house to slide into the Russian River The closure means that residents living on Westside Road cannot access River Road a main east-west thoroughfare that connects to Highway 101 and Santa Rosa anyone living or working along Westside Road east of the Hacienda Bridge will have to drive on Westside Road past the Wohler Bridge to the southern outskirts of Healdsburg The nearly 8-mile trip — starting at the mudslide closure — can take upward of 25 minutes a Westside Road resident who also owns Gracianna Winery at 6914 Westside Road seven miles southwest of downtown Healdsburg Amador is part of a group of community members asking the county to postpone the Wohler Bridge construction until lower Westside Road reopens He says the road is a lifeline for the Westside Road community winery owners and West Side Elementary School there are health concerns and safety concerns to consider,” Amador said an ambulance has to come from Santa Rosa to Healdsburg he’s concerned about the economic impacts the closures could bring to the area Amador said he’s already had people cancel their reservations as a result of the mudslide He and others fear the closure of Wohler Bridge combined with the current Westside Road closure could reduce traffic and revenue by up to 50% “This added burden on local businesses not only impacts day-to-day operations but also endangers the long-term viability of our region’s renowned hospitality and viticulture sectors,” Amador wrote in a Feb With both lower Westside Road and Wohler Bridge closed tourists who flock to the lower Russian River area in Guerneville will be unable to easily access those wineries until the mudslide is repaired “People put together itineraries based on going from point A to point B “And Guerneville is a feeder to our wineries.” the county has evaluated three repair options for Westside Road temporary bridge or permanent retaining wall for long-term stability She said the county had approved $350,000 for a temporary Bailey bridge — a type of prefabricated steel bridge — to traverse the slide But since the Trump Administration added tariffs on certain goods the county has been unable to procure the steel needed for the bridge “The next solution was a temporary retaining wall to get at least one lane open,” Hopkins said “But that was going to cost $750,000 and didn’t seem like a good use of taxpayer money since we were going to tear it down eventually anyway.” So the county is now pivoting to a third solution Hopkins hopes will be a permanent fix with the Westside Road project likely to begin near the end of April after the Board of Supervisors approves a $5 million funding package for road repairs across the county on April 15 Because the county is under an emergency declaration from the last round of floods Hopkins said the county will be able to “hit go” with the project as soon as funding is available She expects the Westside Road project to take about two months “We’re really trying to minimize this horrible detour,” she said Amador and Alex Davis of Porter Creek Vineyards would like to see the Wohler Bridge project pushed back until Westside Road is reopened “Our hope is the supervisors will come to their sense about how to deal with this,” Davis said “It just really feels like the government failed us.” Hopkins said she pushed hard to delay the bridge construction but learned their permits for construction could expire Worse — the $17 million in funding county officials received from the state was a “use it or lose it” grant and if they didn’t start the project by April 1 “I thought we could delay it,” Hopkins said Amie Windsor is the Community Journalism Team Lead with The Press Democrat She can be reached at amie.windsor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5218 FALCONER — Augustine Krenzer posted a double-double with 14 points four assists and three steals to lead Falconer past Forestville 53-43 in nonleague girls basketball action on Wednesday five assists and four steals for Falconer (6-11) three assists and three steals and Brynn Helms added 11 points Forestville (7-8) was led by Carilene Sliwa with 23 points and three steals Ingrid Gibson and Olivia Valentine had five rebounds each WESTFIELD — Maddie Burgess hit five triples as she scored 17 points to lift Westfield over Chautauqua Lake 64-32 in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 action Mackenzie Schumaker added another 16 points for the Wovlerines (10-7 Sophia Wolfe and Olivia Wolfe both had four assists and both Nahlia Douglas and Sydney Hotchkiss had eight rebounds 2-11) was led by Kaylee Tarr with 13 points and five rebounds and Brina Jacobson had six rebounds and three assists SILVER CREEK — Gracelin Stevens posted a double-double with 24 points 10 rebounds and three blocks as Silver Creek outlasted Fredonia 48-46 in nonleague play four steals and a block for Silver Creek (11-6) four rebounds and four steals and Meadow Azzarella added two blocks FREDONIA — Danielle Palisin tossed a three-hitter with eight strikeouts and did not walk a batter as Fredonia .. Fredonia put together a four-run fifth inning and beat Salamanca 8-3 through a driving .. 2025Bazaar Sonoma is a cozy Chinese-inspired restaurant in Forestville offering authentic regional flavors crafted by co-owners Sean Quan and JFORESTVILLE Bazaar Sonoma offers a fresh take on Chinese cuisine rooted in tradition Co-owners Sean Quan and Jenny Phan share flavors from their childhoods inspired by nostalgia and culinary curiosity "The most important thing for this restaurant is the food," says Quan "Some dishes are what Jenny and I grew up with." The cozy Chinese-inspired eatery is designed as a casual spot between home and work Despite praise for their "creative" dishes "These are classic Chinese dishes," she says "I'm just bringing them here and making them a little more user-friendly." She loves how adventurous local diners are eagerly trying traditional regional flavors One standout dish is the steamed fish halibut when in season "This is food we cook for each other simple and comforting," says Quan The menu evolves based on customer cravings "So much of it comes from what people tell us they want to eat," Phan says What began as a quiet opening quickly became a hit I can't make enough dumplings," laughs Quan Their message to diners is simple: "Come as you are whether for a full meal or just a pot of tea Stay a while before your next destination." Two Forestville Central School graduates headed to New Jersey for Monday night’s Buffalo Bills-New York Jets tilt are hoping to score some air time on “Good Morning America” when the sun rises that day also will be taking an object that has become synonymous with Western New York football fans and Bills Mafia — a table painted by a Forestville art class that will be part of a charity effort Army veteran who served in Desert Storm and lives in the hamlet while working as a postal carrier On game days — and some other occasions — he has portrayed “Bills Squatch,” for the last 3 ½ years is “the handler” of Squatch and helps him navigate the tailgate with reduced visibility from the mask and hearing issues from his time in the Army Their love of the team has led to both being featured in an upcoming documentary on the Bills Mafia fan base “Just One Before I Die.” It is being filmed through this Bills’ season in the Meadowlands on Monday and later this season in Los Angeles The brothers’ commitment to the community is part of their “Brothers Breaking Tables” effort will be raffled off to all who donate to the cause after the Bills game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov Proceeds from the money raised will go to Chautauqua County Rural Ministry in Dunkirk and JFT a recovery and support agency for veterans in Harrisburg — where Mike Skelly resides one thing that I identified as is a Bills fan because I missed home,” Chuck Skelly said He says the plan is to jump through the table at the Chiefs’ game in Orchard Park Between now and then the brothers aim to collect donations raffle off the table and split the proceeds between the two charities When the brothers received word they were going to be included in the documentary while on vacation they workshopped the name and concept of “Brothers Breaking Tables.” In addition they kept a Forestville connection by reaching out to their alma mater “We wanted to get Forestville students involved because that’s where Mike and my stories started,” Chuck Skelly said “This will be a cool story that they can tell later too.” Senior Rowan Woodard in Kristin Britz’s independent art class has embraced the opportunity in their work on the table She created the Bills’ logo in the middle of the table and added “Bills Versus Chiefs,” “Brothers Breaking Tables,” “716/717,” and “Highmark Stadium While Britz and other students helped complete the table “I was most excited to be involved in helping people,” the Forestville senior said “There’s no way I could have predicted how big this would get.” A social media site set up for Brothers Breaking Tables is expected to be completed sometime soon the morning begins with a trip to MetLife Stadium where the Skellys will join the Water Buffalo Club 716 that will be featured on a “Good Morning America” segment Before kickoff that evening of the AFC East showdown the Skellys will be seated near one of the end zones with a “Brothers Breaking Tables” sign “We figure this is our 15 minutes of fame and we want to do something good with it,” Chuck Skelly said Skelly remains optimistic about the remainder of the season “Wouldn’t it be perfect if the documentary ends with a Super Bowl win?” he said He also cherishes the county and community he and his brother love but I always come home to Forestville,” he said “I want to bring attention to our small town and I want people to know that many great things can come out of small towns.” already knew he wanted to make a difference in his community following the death of his great grandmother his idea of how to do so became much more personal Mueller began to work on a project to improve the cemetery where both of his great grandparents were laid to rest and adding a rain barrel collection system the cemetery did not have its own water source Mueller met with Mark Woolley of Riles and Woolley Funeral Home for guidance to ensure that he was using the proper materials for his project a representative of Smith’s Mill Cemetery to seek approval for the project to proceed Mueller presented it to the project beneficiary Upon receiving all the necessary approvals Mueller was eager to start the fundraising process A GoFundMe campaign was established as Mueller solicited donations from family and friends Word got around on his plans and even complete strangers contributed to support his mission The main components of an Eagle Scout project are the planning fundraising and leadership required to turn a vision into reality The scout is tasked with leading a project that will have an impact Mueller scheduled several work days to complete the project before winter weather arrived He received help from his scout troop and family members to get it all done on time Mueller’s original goal was to repair five stones and clean another 10 to 15 stones he completed the project with five stones repaired He was also able to install a rain barrel water collection system Mueller stated that a gravestone is often all that’s left to remember and honor a person after they pass away Mueller said the project was rewarding to be able to honor so many others He hopes that his own great grandparents will be remembered a century from now through the work of his project expressed how humbling it was to watch Ralphie take on a project like he did “Ralphie honored the deceased who aren’t here to give thanks,” Carrie Ann Mueller said Mueller donated approximately $350 of the proceeds of his fundraising efforts to the cemetery to be used to further honor the deceased Pictured is Ryan Castellano who has committed to attending the University of Detroit Mercy FORESTVILLE — From the Class of 2026 to the Class of 2025 in a single year Forestville student Ryan Castellano is excited to start his future after high school Castellano has been doubling up on classes with the goal of graduating early in mind “This year I took English 11 and 12 at the same time Economics and Government,” he explained “It’s a lot of studying and a lot of classwork.” “Ryan had this vision and it’s amazing to see him see it through He has worked really hard to accomplish his goal of graduating a year early.” Castellano was also involved in Student Council and Envirothon during his high school career He has taken AP and college credit courses as well Castellano said he has found a lot of support in the staff at Forestville High School The teachers and administrators are very helpful,” he said English Teacher Frank Prinzi said Castellano is an impressive student He pushes past the initial thought and brings the conversation to an unsuspected Castellano has committed to attending the University of Detroit Mercy “I’m excited for a change and a little nervous I’ve never been to a city outside of Buffalo so I am looking forward to experiencing that next year.” Castellano will be participating in senior events like class night and his photo was added to the senior gallery in the Hornet Lobby at the high school He and the Class of 2025 will turn their tassels on June 28 Pictured is the Forestville Hornets boys bowling team was proud to tell the Board of Education that their efforts paid off “They finally got what they deserved.” The Forestville boys bowling team won the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Championships with a team score of 3,485 at the County Rolloffs at Lucky Lanes last month The Hornets topped second-place Salamanca by eight pins and finished 23 pins ahead of third-place Dunkirk The Hornets won the County Roll-Offs for the second time in the last three seasons and also claimed the division title Board of Education President Andrea Spengler said the boys’ season “was truly a team effort showcasing both skill and determination.” “If it wasn’t for the support of the parents we probably wouldn’t have this much success,” Frost said the Forestville Hornets girls bowling team won the Division II Championship for the third straight season The team had an overall record of 43-5 and a head-to-head record of 11-1 Girls bowling coach Brenda Kerstetter led a group consisting of Avalyn Kwilos Forestville earned third place in the class while improving their overall pin total by 361 pins over last year Emily Lillie had the high scratch game at the County Roll-Offs Lillie and Alexandra Kerstetter were selected as First Team All-Stars while Kaylee Adamczak and Megan Gruber were Second Team All-Stars “Their dedication reflects the strength of our student athletes and coaching staff,” Spengler said “We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments.” “We look forward to seeing these programs continue to grow and build upon their success in the years ahead.” Pictured is the Forestville Hornets girls bowling team the boys and girls soccer programs will continue to be shared programs hosted by Silver Creek through the 2025-26 season following Board approval of an agreement The Board also approved Ryanne Dugan and Allison VanVlack as volunteers for the volleyball open gym Scot Greenough was named Director of Summer Enrichment for the 2025 summer program Marv Cummings and Ashley Cross as chaperones for the Senior Class Trip The Board also approved three substitutes: Amber Giovene Uncertified Teacher/Floater Monitor Aide; Jasmin Accardo The District also received three more donations in memory of Teresa Cleary: Chautauqua County School Boards Association The District is discussing a way to honor Cleary’s legacy possibly with something pertaining to the music department The next meeting of the Forestville Board of Education is set for Thursday the Board is expected to finalize the 2025-2026 school budget Wet weather has prompted the closure of multiple roads Saturday these roads were listed as closed due to flooding or other issues in Sonoma County: Map of current road closures on Sonoma County-maintained roads For a complete list of county road closures go to pdne.ws/4g1eQAT the son of the late Pedro and Isabel (Gonzalez) Cervantes Ralph attended Unionville High School in Michigan and served in the Army during the Vietnam War Ralph became a shoe salesman after the Army and was transferred up to Buffalo He worked as a Production Worker at the Ford Stamping Plant in Woodlawn Ralph loved cars and enjoyed boxing in his younger years Survivors include two daughters; Tammy (Stephen) Hall two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews Besides his parents he was predeceased by his wife Sharon L 2017; a son Todd Cervantes who died on February 27 Logan Hunter Ferneza and Nathan Cervantes; a sister Carmen Cervantes and three brothers A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date The family suggests memorials may be made to Chautauqua Hospice & Pallative Care: The Star Hospice House – 20 W Arrangements are by Riles & Woolley Funeral Home To post condolences or memories go to https://rilesandwoolleyfuneralhome A woman was killed, and two men were injured in a DUI-related two-vehicle crash on Highway 116 in Forestville, Sonoma County According to the California Highway Patrol A man driving a Honda CR-V with a female passenger lost control of the vehicle while traveling eastbound veering into the opposite lane and crashing into a Lincoln Zephyr driven by a solo male driver All three individuals involved in the crash were transported to a nearby hospital The female passenger in the Honda sustained life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead at the hospital CHP officers determined that the Honda driver was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash He was arrested but remains hospitalized with major injuries The condition of the Lincoln driver has not been disclosed The CHP is actively investigating the incident Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is a serious offense that remains prevalent throughout California This reckless driving behavior often causes traffic accidents If you get injured in a crash involving an impaired driver reach out to our personal injury law firm immediately We will guide you through the legal process of seeking compensation for your damages and losses Get legal advice from our experts in DUI accidents, under the direction of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., who can help you assess your case. Additionally, they can assist you if obtaining further information or a police report proves challenging Our respected Sonoma County DUI accident victim lawyers will do everything possible to advocate for your claim and safeguard your rights. With over $750 Million recovered in settlements and verdicts our legal team has proven themselves capable of handling even the most complicated cases Accidents leave victims shocked and confused about what to do taking specific steps immediately following a DUI accident is crucial to protect your rights and maximize your chances of recovering damages Our DUI accident victim attorneys in Sonoma County highly recommend that you follow these steps: I HAD AN ACCIDENT According to the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis there were 11,654 fatalities resulting from motor vehicle traffic crashes involving at least one alcohol-impaired driver accounting for 30% of all traffic fatalities in the United States that year This marked a 14.3 percent increase in fatalities due to alcohol-impaired driving rising from 10,196 in 2019 to 11,654 in 2020 one fatality related to alcohol-impaired driving occurred every 45 minutes The age groups of 21 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years had the highest percentages of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes with each group representing 26 percent of such incidents in 2020 The highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes was among motorcycle riders at 27% followed by drivers of passenger cars at 23% Among the 1,093 traffic fatalities in 2020 involving children aged 14 and younger 21 percent (229 fatalities) occurred in crashes involving alcohol-impaired driving 67 percent (7,831) of the 11,654 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities involved crashes where at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of.15 g/dL or higher the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was 3.1 times higher at night compared to during the day in 2020 Six people were injured following a five-vehicle crash on the northbound 15 Freeway near Highway 138 in the Cajon Pass A bicyclist sustained serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Sacramento on Saturday evening According to the Sacramento Police Department and another woman and two children sustained injuries following a two-vehicle head-on crash in El Dorado Hills A motorcyclist was killed following a suspected DUI crash in Merced on Saturday afternoon Two young men were killed following a suspected DUI crash in Fresno on Friday night and two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries following a multi-vehicle collision in the Westlake community of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon California’s Powerhouse Accident Lawyers With a consecutively proven track record Disclaimer: Not every one of our firm’s attorneys has received the recognitions stated here Visit the attorneys’ specific profile page under the ‘Our Firm’ tab for specific attorney recognitions (888) 488-1391 Do I Have A Case? 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