Newsletter – February 2025 – Ben Lomond Village Alliance

Welcome to the February 2025 edition of the Ben Lomond Village Alliance newsletter! We are excited to share the latest updates, upcoming events, and ways you can get involved.

Despite a soggy start to this month, the energy continues to grow and improvements are mounting in our Ben Lomond village! Some recent improvements include: Highway 9 has been resealed and striped, Henflings has completely refreshed its facilities and entertainment offerings, Mountain Feed has brought in some great bare-root fruit trees for sale, Scarborough Ace Hardware installed a snazzy new roof, and Spanky’s recently completed a fantastic interior makeover. Nice! Add in the new ‘Guild Kitchen Act III’ which is anticipated to open this month at the former Casa Nostra location, and all we can say is: “You go, Ben Lomond. You’re looking good!”

In addition to the well-appreciated physical and commercial improvements in the village, there is an awesome array of goings-on right here in town:

UPCOMING EVENTS 🗓

Henflings Tavern

Lots is going on at the newly reopened Henflings. Please visit https://www.henflingsbar.com/calendar for a full calendar of events!

Mondays – A new Open Mic Night is happening Mondays from 7 to 10 pm – Bring your axe, your voice, your music or comedy. All are welcome.

Tuesdays – Trivia Night – Join the fun and tease your brain.

Thursdays – Karaoke Night is back at Henflings Thursdays beginning at 8 pm with DJ Kurt Montgomery.

First Friday Art Tour – Friday, February 7

This month’s ‘First Friday’ event at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center serves as the opening reception for their annual judged exhibit from 5 to 7 pm. This year’s theme – WATER: Ebb and Flow – promises to be a watery exploration of artistic expression. Read all about it here: [INSERT LINK TO POST}

Mountain Feed and Farm Supply

Now is the best time to secure the best bare-root fruit trees to bring years of harvest joy to your home! Mountain Feed has perfect choices for our planting zone, from apples to walnuts and everything in between – unusual and unique to tried and true. Strawberries have arrived as well, browse their selection early to get your first pick of varieties. www.mountainfeed.com

“Tales of Ben Lomond” History Series Part 2 – Saturday, March 22 10am – 12pm

In this second installment of the “Tales of Ben Lomond” history series at Park Hall, local historian and Realtor Ronnie Trubek will explore the history of our town from 1890 to 1940. Trubek will follow the people and events that took Ben Lomond from a pioneer village to a thriving town. This informative and entertaining talk is not to be missed!. Tickets will be available soon.

Highlands Park Senior and Community Center

February’s schedule is jam-packed with everything from Movie Day to ukulele classes to exercise sessions. A new Grief Support Group will meet Monday, February 10 from 1 to 2:30 pm. The monthly Pancake Breakfast will return in April! See their full calendar here: https://www.highlandsparkseniorcenter.org/calendar

“Steel Magnolias” at Park Hall Community Center

Presented by Mountain Community Theater from March 21-April 13

The basis for the Academy Award-nominated film starring Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts, this bittersweet comedy explores the dynamics of life, love, friendship, and loss in a small-town Louisiana beauty parlor. Directed by Peter Gelblum. More info here: https://mctshows.org/current-show/

BLVA Supper Club

We’re launching a new event concept called the BLVA Supper Club. This will be a warm and inviting monthly gathering where community members host dinners in their homes or businesses, inviting other community members to attend. This is a great opportunity to connect, share stories, and enjoy great food together. Each month, a different host will open their home and curate a unique dining experience, often featuring seasonal ingredients, local flavors, or creative themes. The format is up to you: potlucks, fully catered meals, and other ideas welcome!

This isn’t just a meal—it’s a chance to foster meaningful connections, strengthen community bonds, and support the mission of the Ben Lomond Village Alliance (BLVA). Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to the area, the Supper Club offers a welcoming space to meet neighbors, share ideas, and celebrate the vibrant spirit of Ben Lomond. If you want to know more or are interested in being a Host, please email Ariel at secretary@BenLomondVillage.org or call 831-218-5172

GET INVOLVED

We are looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to join our team and help us move Ben Lomond forward and take our town from awesome to off the charts! Getting involved is a great way to meet/make new friends and make a huge difference in our community. All positions are volunteer, but we’ll pay you in smiles and pride! If you have the skills to contribute to one of the following positions or if you would like to be added to any of our Committee mailing lists, please email Ariel at secretary@BenLomondVillage.org

Volunteer Opportunities

Fundraising Committee Chairperson – We are looking for a person with a passion for fundraising and a love of Ben Lomond to take on leadership of this committee.
Treasurer – we are seeking nominations to fill this board position. The ideal candidate would have a background in finance and leadership experience with nonprofits.
Village Market Task Force – The BLVA is exploring the possibility of creating a regular makers/farmers type market in Ben Lomond. To examine possibilities, we’re creating a Task Force to determine feasibility and creating a master plan.
Committee Members – All of our committees – Economic Vitality, Beautification and Better Streets, Fundraising, Events, and Health & Happiness – are always welcoming more participation.

Spread the Word

Help us reach more people by sharing our mission and work with your network. Follow us on social media, share our posts, and invite friends to join our mailing list. Follow us on FACEBOOK Fave us on NEXTDOOR

Donate

Support the ongoing initiatives to improve the Ben Lomond Village by making a donation.

Click here to donate

RECENT IMPACT

With the support of members and volunteers like you, the BLVA has accomplished the following:

The “Let’s Revitalize Ben Lomond” Village Meeting was a great success. Thank you to all who came out to Park Hall on January 25th. The attendees learned about recent events, improvements, and ongoing projects for Ben Lomond, and discussed exciting plans for our community. From enhancing our village infrastructure to creating new local events and preserving Ben Lomond’s rich history, it is very inspiring to hear your ideas and see your commitment for achieving these impactful objectives together.
The Better Streets Committee did an inventory and assessment of all the streetlights in the downtown Village area. We counted 44 of them governed by three different agencies and discovered that more than 25% of them don’t work. As a result, we’re in the process of requesting fixes and replacements. Once we get the lights functioning properly, the next step is to refurbish the poles by cleaning and painting. We’ll keep you posted on this exciting and critical project.
The Beautification Committee is working on plans to revitalize the Ben Lomond County Park on Mill Street. After successfully planting nearly 100 native plants in the park last November, plans are now underway to add color and flair to the park gardens and to provide a much-needed paint refresh to the the bathrooms building. Stay tuned for developments and keep an eye out for beauty!

‘OUT AND ABOUT’ WITH BLVA

There is a great article about the BLVA in the 1/31/25 Press Banner. Read more here

Some BLVA members were seen sipping coffee and enjoying each others’ company last weekend. Women of the valley are invited to come for community & coffee on the 1st Sunday of every month – 10am at Coffee 9. For more information, search on NextDoor for “SLV Women’s Coffee Klatsch”

THANK YOU ❤️

We are incredibly grateful for your membership, engagement, and continued support of the Ben Lomond Village Alliance mission. Together, we are making a significant impact in our community.

If you have questions, would like more information about BLVA initiatives, or have Ben Lomond related announcements for us to share in our newsletters, please contact Ariel at secretary@BenLomondVillage.org. You can also visit our website.

Thank you for being a part of the Ben Lomond Village Alliance family.

Warm regards,

Ben Lomond Village Alliance