Inside Cloverdale

Turn here for a fresh and fun look at Cloverdale - the place to hear about the latest dish, from community events, to local business happenings, to city government updates, "Inside Cloverdale" has got you covered.

Follow along as I "live the Cloverdale lifestyle" - attend events, visit local shops, restaurants, etc., take advantage of our outdoor/recreational outlets, get together with local folks, keep up on local government issues and City projects, etc. Come on, join me, it'll be fun!

Nov 19

Feelin' the Burn

Posted on November 19, 2010 at 1:16 PM by Briana Herpst

I've always been in fairly good shape. And I've always been one of the "lucky ones" - if I decided I wanted to lose 5 pounds I would, without really needing to give it much thought or effort. Fast forward a few years and here I am, 7 months after having a baby and still hanging on to the extra "baggage." And my old ways are no longer working. Out are the days of deciding "oh, I think I'll lose a few pounds" and then just sitting back and watching the weight fall off, and in are the days of getting up early and forcing myself to go...err, happily going...to boot camp three mornings a week at Vintage Meadows park.

Cloverdale is lucky to have trainer Bobbie Combs with Bodi by Bobbie offering her personal training services to us Cloverdalians. You can find us there three mornings a week, a misfit group of some of Cloverdale's finest - local business owners, public employees, chamber board members, mothers and more, huffing and puffing and sweating as Bobbie pushes us all to our limits. If you spot some one walking down the street with a distinct limp to their step, chances are they are coming from boot camp. The series runs through the second week of December with some time off over the holidays and will start back up again after the first of the year. Email or call Bobbie if you want to join us.

Now that I require an awareness of weight loss methods, I am always on the look out for new opportunities. And, I've happily discovered that Cloverdale has a lot to offer!
There's the Powerhouse Gym for those that enjoy a more traditional gym setting.

For the ladies out there who are interested in a quick 30-minute circuit training work-out Curves would be the perfect fit.

If you're looking for yoga classes, we have that too! Mary Paffard offers yoga classes and workshop at the Grange Hall - you can check out the schedule of her offerings here.

And, while I haven't tried them yet, I just discovered that there are Spinning and Yoga classes happening upstairs in the Antiques & Uniques building!

Yoga is on Tuesdays (6-7pm) and Saturdays (8:30-9:30am) and is only $5! Call Marie for more info (707.894.2104).

If you're interested in the Indoor Cycling classes email Dr. Maria J. Alvarez (drmaria707@gmail.com) for more information. She offers classes four times a week (Mondays 6:15am, Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30am, and Saturdays 7am). These classes are also only $5!

Come on! Get out and sweat with me! Let's all get a jump start on those new year's resolutions and start shedding some of our extra baggage now.

What's your favorite way to get out and move in Cloverdale? Any other great exercise or weight loss options out there? Do tell!



Aug 22

"Green" girl gets a splash of reality

Posted on August 22, 2010 at 2:19 PM by Briana Herpst

I've often thought of myself as a pretty "green" person - raised a vegetarian by hippy parents I've always assumed that it was a part of my make-up to be environmentally conscious. So, when the online Water Use Calculator (WECalc) was mentioned at a recent Public Works Subcommittee meeting, I thought "Oh, I wonder how far under the average our house will rate?"

Well, after spending the few minutes it takes to answer all of the questions on the WECalc site, I was able to get my answer - although it was not the one I was expecting (you know what they say about making assumptions...). One gallon per day more than the national average! 35 more gallons per day than the efficient home?! How can this be?! We have energy star appliances and everything!

Fortunately, part of what the WECalc site offers is a list of suggestions to help lower your water and energy use - from free things, like shortening your showers by one minute, to things that cost a few dollars, like installing 1.5 gmp faucet aerators, to things that cost a few hundred or more.
We will be taking a serious look at some of their recommendations and putting them into place. And, I've even started to get creative with some ideas of my own (maybe the baby can take her baths in the kitchen sink instead of the tub...).

Curious to see how your house scores? Check it out and let me know!

Aug 10

Cloverdale. So hot, it's cool.

Posted on August 10, 2010 at 9:42 AM by Briana Herpst

I'm sure most of you have heard by now that the City of Cloverdale was voted into second place in Budget Travel's Coolest Small Town competition this spring. After a couple of months of heavy campaigning, Cloverdale pulled ahead and beat out nineteen other cities for the second place spot (check out the final results here). What is it that makes Cloverdale so cool? Well, to quote Chelsea, one of Cloverdale's biggest cheerleaders, it's that "...Cloverdale is the most genuinely friendly, vibrant, and philanthropic community I’ve ever come across after years of searching for a place like this...city officials, business owners, and townspeople intermingle in friendly and cooperative ways in this community..."
So, what does this mean for Cloverdale? For one thing, it gives us the opportunity to be featured in upcoming Budget Travel publications, both in print and online (check out last year's
Coolest Small Town article). For another, it gives us some serious bragging rights! And, proof that for each of us who love this town, there are thousands of others out there that feel the same - 74,399 votes prove that!
Cloverdale's Mayor, Carol Russel and Cloverdale Arts Alliance member Chelsea were reacently featured on Comcast's Newsmakers program to talk about the campaign, and Cloverdale's second place winning.
Watch the video here, and see for yourself just how cool Cloverdale is.