Woodland Montessori School closing

Matt Hillis, executive director of the Woodland Montessori School on Cottonwood Street, sent out a notice to parents this past week letting them know the school would be permanently closing on May 31.

“This is an exceedingly difficult email to write,” Hillis reported. “My mother started this school in 1975 and I attended from ages two through twelve. I spent almost every day of my childhood at the school, whether as a student during the week or as a helper on the weekends with campus projects. All of my earliest memories involve this school and many lifelong friendships started and grew from my time at Woodland Montessori.”

Hillis said there are a number of reasons for the closure, but the primary problem is sustainability due to a decline in enrollment for its elementary program coupled with the coronavirus pandemic.

“This was not a capricious decision,” wrote HIllis. “I have been considering options for some time and, given the uncertainty over the past year with the pandemic, I decided to move forward with the closure. The school buildings have been listed for sale and we notified all staff earlier … We are now working to place staff in positions at our other schools, pending availability.”

Our daughter attended Montessori before moving on to Zamora many years ago in the late 1980s and enjoyed her time there.

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Raley’s Food For Families and The Food Front in Woodland are launching a “Love for Our Community” campaign.

People can support local families in need and local businesses by purchasing The Food Front products at Woodland’s Raley’s & Bel Air through March 14.

The 11 participating Woodland businesses, otherwise known as “The Food Front Partners,” are paying it forward by sending up to 5% of their revenue for each of their products sold at the city’s Raley’s and Bel Air locations directly to the Yolo Food Bank. In other words, simply by purchasing any of the 175 Woodland-crafted products, community shoppers will help generate funds for the Yolo Food Bank.

“We are excited to launch our very first ‘Love for Our Community’ campaign this year in partnership with The Food Front and Yolo Food Bank,” noted Becca Whitman, executive director, Raley’s Food For Families. “The synergy between local businesses and the local nonprofit sector is a crucial component in combatting the challenges our communities face every day.”

Shoppers can find The Food Front signage, including shelf tags, floor displays, and end caps to easily distinguish all locally crafted Food Front products throughout the stores. For those who prefer to shop online, a dedicated page with all products is available on shop. raleys.com. Woodland-crafted products such as almonds, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tortillas, salsa, craft beer, and a variety of canned fruits, tomatoes and sauces are included within this campaign.

“As demand for food access trends upward during the pandemic, this campaign creates a tangible way for our community to support the ongoing efforts of the Yolo Food Bank by simply shopping at our neighborhood stores,” said Woodland Mayor Tom Stallard.

Weekly social media posts will be shared from Raley’s, Yolo Food Bank, and The Food Front to tell the stories of each of the participating Food Front partners and highlight their locally crafted products.

The following Food Front partners in the campaign include Almond Lane, Blue Note Brewing, Bright People Foods, Cobram Estate, Hinode Rice, La Tourangelle, Matchbook Wines, Pacific Coast Producers, Seka Hills, Z Specialty Island of the Moon Honey and Micalela’s California Fresh.

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In related citywide news, Stephanie Burgos, Woodland’s business engagement and marketing manager, reports the city has awarded 42 grants totaling around $235,707 in federal CARES Act funds to local small businesses and independent contractors as a result of lost business due to the coronavirus pandemic. Results of some of the funding can be seen with the construction of new parklets in downtown, including those outside Main Street restaurants. Burgos reports that 60% of the small business recipients were restaurants. The remaining 40% were a mix of fitness studios, small retail, personal care services, and small hotels.

She also reported 42% of the total applicants received funding for outdoor use/winterization, which has resulted in partial funding for the creation of three new parklets for four businesses (House of Shah & Las Milpas — shared space; Main Street Lounge; and Fit Within), and partial reimbursement for two existing parklets at Las Brasas and Father Paddy’s Irish Pub.

Fit Within’s parklet was completed in early January, while construction for Main Street Lounge and House of Shah and Las Milpas parklets started last weekend.

Burgos also reported the city continues to offer outdoor use space permits free of charge to applicant businesses. To date, 21 permits have been issued, with an equal amount issued to businesses in and outside of downtown Woodland.

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And in another bit of downtown Woodland news, The Home Improvements Group is moving, according to a Facebook announcement by owner Chris Dreith. The business, which helps people in major home remodeling work has been located in the Hotel Woodland on the southwest corner of Main and College for more than a decade.

Sometime this spring, however, Home Improvements Group is moving into Tom Stallard’s building at 702 Main St., on the southeast corner of Main and Second streets. Work on the building is rapidly progressing.

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Beth Beaird with Be Home Realty Group reported to me this past week that she has what is reputed to be Woodland’s oldest home for sale in the Beamer Park Subdivision.

The home is located on Palm Avenue at Beamer Street on the northwest side of Palm.

The subdivision was reported to be sold in 1914 as 130 acres from the Beamer family to the Keystone Investment Company of San Francisco to develop a luxurious subdivision — “no home under $3k, barn, blacksmith shop, or warehouse will be allowed!” Built by Richard L. Beamer, a cabinet maker from Virginia, who promoted the planting of trees in Woodland and helped open Woodland’s first high school.