Swallows to Capistrano, Turkeys to Fair Oaks
by Tim Schooley
April brings a lot — fool’s day, taxes, showers — and in Fair Oaks, turkeys.
Fair Oaks is known for its chickens. But don’t be fooled, Fair Oaks is truly the domain of the turkey.
By the end of April, the turkey family groups appear, two or three prehistoric-looking adults leading as many as fourteen chicks. The chicks, cute and cuddly, will soon evolve into little thugs, as likely to peck you as to give you the time of day. At least one of those chicks will show up next year leading her own gaggle of cuties. The mama turkey is easy to recognize. She’s the one whose feathers have turned white, a great metaphor for the stress of motherhood.
Turkey authorities — there’s a job for you — tell us a group of wild turkeys is called a flock, while a group of domestic turkeys is called a gang. The authorities have that backwards. The toughest gangs in Fair Oaks are the wild turkey gangs. Turkey gangs have been known to attack cars, vandalize landscaping, and rumble with dogs.
One particularly aggressive turkey warrior laid waste to a friend’s home. Perhaps in search of a shortcut, he flew through a plate glass window. Surprised to find himself inside a living room, he clawed up a baby grand piano and mistook a white couch for a toilet. When my friend objected to the turkey’s ill manners, the turkey chased her out of her house. Soon an animal control officer arrived, who marched into the house, net in hand, only to conduct an about-face, announcing she’d have to “call for backup.”
Another turkey warrior attacked a friend as he searched for his golf ball on a local golf course. My buddy tried to ward off the attack with swings of his club, but the turkey bobbed and weaved better than Muhammad Ali. After recovering from the turkey rumble, my friend made his golf buddies view a website that explained the physics of the impossibility of striking a turkey with a club.
I hear you object there are wild turkeys in every neighborhood, what’s so special about Fair Oaks? I assert, based on my unofficial survey, that the turkey population of Fair Oaks per capita exceeds that of any other suburban environment in the state. But maybe it just seems that way.
Not all of our turkey gangs are malicious, of course. Some simply roam their turf, ignoring humans and their dogs, spreading their feathers in the turkey equivalent of a gang sign only when threatened. One turkey once trotted alongside me on my walk through Fair Oaks Village, keeping me company, gobbling as he went. Another once took up roost on my roof, watching as I mowed the lawn. I’m happy to coexist with the feathery fellas when they’re not scratching up the hood of my car or ripping bulbs out of my flower bed.
So, when you’re in the neighborhood, come on out to Fair Oaks for the chickens, but stay for the turkeys.
The Flower Shop
By Anonymous
Many people think that being a florist is a simple job, where you play with flowers all day. But being a florist requires a listening ear, a sensitive heart, and enormous strength. We don’t just arrange flowers; we listen to our customers’ stories — stories that most people wouldn’t say aloud to anyone. Over the years, we’ve learned more about our customers than they often intended. There are stories of new beginnings, incredible love, and heartbreaking loss.
Our stories could go on for days — from the people that send flowers to multiple lovers, to those who adore their loved one and order something special for every occasion with so much thought. There are the those who send flowers to themselves but signed by a made-up love, and some who have catfished lonely people.
But the ones who truly teach us about strength and enduring love are the couples we’ve weathered storms with. Like the gentleman who religiously ordered red carnations and extra baby’s breath for his selfless wife. He found joy in picking up the flowers himself, so he could see her face when she received them. After many years of pick-up orders, he called one day to place a delivery order. He explained that his wife had been battling cancer and, following her next surgery, he would be staying home to care for her. A few months later, a woman came in to order memorial flowers for her mother, who had always received flowers from us. The moment she asked for red carnations and extra baby’s breath, our hearts sank and tears filled our eyes. In those moments, we must appreciate the chance we had to witness years of love, honoring both of them with a special, heartfelt creation.
We also witness the sweetest stories of new love. One that comes to mind is the story of the cutest couple who started with a first date and a cake pop. A cheerful young guy came in, looking for flowers for a first date, but he wanted something more unique. He decided on an adorable, decorated cake pop. Over time, he continued coming in for a special treat or fun gift for each date, updating us on how things were going. Then one day, he stopped in to get a plant for her mom, choosing a handpicked frog pot. We could all tell things were getting more serious. Fast forward to today: they’re a beautiful couple with an even cuter little girl! He still comes in with their kids to pick out special tokens of love for his special girl. Every time we see them, it brings us joy.
As florists, we’ve seen it all — the beginnings, the endings, and the moments in between. We don’t just arrange flowers; we hold the stories of love and loss that blossomed in our shop. And in the quiet, fleeting moments, we know we are part of something much larger than ourselves
Kids Being Kids
By Anonymous
There was SO much for a kid to do in old Fair Oaks around 1958. One of the mischievous things we would do involve the old PCA plant (Pacific Coast Aggregate). The sorted, crushed, and sold rock from the myriad of piles left by the Gold dredges along the American River. That activity continued until 1962, making great little ponds where we speared giant bullfrogs and cut off the legs for a delicious snack at somebody's house later at night! Most of the gravel was washed, which created a large pit of slimy mud that had clay-like qualities and we could paste large quantities on our bodies and step out to scare the occasional passing car. We spent a lot of time around PCA, climbing the huge rock piles, exploring the roads, and even shooting out the light bulbs with our BB guns! Don't tell them it was us, please! We fished in the river, used the rope swing by the Old Bridge or even jumped off that structure- 34 feet to the water most times. Then there was Fair Oaks Auto Wrecking, where we'd wander for hours checking out the old and rusting hulks until we got run off. Life was a bunch of fun for a young boy in Fair Oaks and down by the river was only part of it!
A story about a chance meeting in the Village
by Rachel Griffith
In 2015, I walked into the BBQ Pro shop in the Village to ask for a donation for my Honorary Mayor campaign — a race put on by the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce, run with dollars, not votes.
The money raised would go to the Bella Vista Foods Program, and many of the village vendors were happily donating. While chatting about B.V.’s music program with the owner, I asked his name.
“David Hill,” he said with an outstretched hand.
“Hill,” I repeated. “I had a teacher named Mrs. Hill. Mrs. Jeanie Hill.”
“That is my mother!” he exclaimed with a smile.
I told David about how his mother impacted my life in an epic way. On my 8th birthday (Jan. 28, 1986), I sat in Mrs. Hill’s 3rd grade class, in front of the TV set wheeled in on a cart so the class could watch the Space Shuttle Challenger launch.
Our excitement turned to horror, of course, when it exploded right there on live TV, right there in my little classroom, right there on my birthday.
Mrs. Hill was not mean, but was a tough teacher. In that tragic moment, she cried.
Parents began to pick up their children early and my “after-lunch birthday celebration” was starting to dwindle. My mother couldn’t simply leave work to come get me, so I stayed.
After lunch, there were about 4 students left, including me. Mrs. Hill went to other classrooms to ask teachers if they and their students would join us for cookies and the blue Cookie Monster-shaped cupcakes my auntie Nora made for me to bring on my special day.
That day, Mrs. Hill did what she could to make sure I had a proper party. I never forgot her, nor her amazingly thoughtful gesture.
As I wrapped up my memory with David Hill, he said, “My mother spoke of you and that day. She never forgot either.” Now it was me who was crying. She had been gone for several years by then, but I felt that she had orchestrated that meeting. I got to thank her via her son; it was the warmest affirmation.
This may not sound like a story about Fair Oaks, but this has everything to do with our town. The people who make up Fair Oaks are special. Different. They take care of one another and keep the old stories alive, even as everything around us evolves. I felt even prouder that day to live in Fair Oaks than before.
PS: I won my campaign and became the 38th Honorary Mayor of Fair Oaks that year, raising almost $10,000 for the Bella Vista Foods Department to upgrade their kitchen for the kids to learn amazing cooking skills. I like to think that Jeanie Hill had something to do with that.
David Hill and I are still friends.
Newspaper
by Gary Bean
Fair Oaks had a newspaper! The original San Juan Record was published in Fair Oaks from 1933 to 1965 where Sunset and Winding Way would eventually be and some of the Bella Vista graduates even worked there! It was a typical small town newspaper, short and sweet, but with loads of interesting stories of local happenings.
I was featured on the front page on September 4, 1958! It wasn't really a story about me, but my neighbor, Bert Lundeen, had grown a watermelon of prodigious size and he kindly asked 13 year old me to pose with it! Right there among many columns of local happenings I was, balancing the huge thing on a stool and grinning ear to ear as if I had anything to do with the achievement! If I recall, it was about 61 pounds, though it may have grown over the years and the story's retelling! I had my 15 minutes of fame in good old Fair Oaks.
Newspaper
by Gary Bean
Fair Oaks had a newspaper! The original San Juan Record was published in Fair Oaks from 1933 to 1965 where Sunset and Winding Way would eventually be and some of the Bella Vista graduates even worked there! It was a typical small town newspaper, short and sweet, but with loads of interesting stories of local happenings.
I was featured on the front page on September 4, 1958! It wasn't really a story about me, but my neighbor, Bert Lundeen, had grown a watermelon of prodigious size and he kindly asked 13 year old me to pose with it! Right there among many columns of local happenings I was, balancing the huge thing on a stool and grinning ear to ear as if I had anything to do with the achievement! If I recall, it was about 61 pounds, though it may have grown over the years and the story's retelling! I had my 15 minutes of fame in good old Fair Oaks.
The Stuntman
by Deb (Botanica Village Apothecary)
That day we got out of 6th grade in 1980 at Fair Oaks Elementary School to line up along The Bluff above Historic Fair Oaks Bridge to watch Hollywood drive an old Model T Ford off the bridge to fall into the river below for the Peter O’Toole film, The Stuntman. For the longest time I thought the car was still at the river bottom there with fish and crawdads taking up home.
First Graduating Class
by Anonymous
I was part of the first graduating class of the new Bella Vista High School that was bussed in our freshman year to Encina High our freshman year because B.V. was not ready for us yet. Encina was a rich kid's school reminiscent of Hollywood High in the movie- snobby rich kids who looked down their noses at us 'hicks from the sticks'!
It was a bit hard on us, but our new school, still a long way from finished, made it all worth it as we were the upper class for three years! We really thrived in our new digs, but our athletic program suffered a little because we had no Juniors and Seniors and we were not on top for a couple of years. Today Bella Vista has a proud heritage in Sports with a full trophy case, adding a pool, and lights for the football field! We are proud to have been an important part of the beginning!
A Simpler Time
by Anonymous
“In 1957 when my family moved to Fair Oaks from Southern California, it was a population of 16,000- an idyllic small town with enough stores and services to accomplish daily living, but serious shopping at the start of school and for Christmas required going 21 miles into Sacramento or almost as far to Country Club Center or Town and Country Village.
We had three grocery stores, three service stations, a bank, Western Auto, a hardware store, a Rexhall, bakery and even a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer along with several other businesses!
But the best thing about Fair Oaks for a boy was the large park behind the Community Clubhouse! Many summer days I spent there with friends, playing baseball or football on the sprawling lawn. It was fun just to lie in the shade and watch the world go by.
The park also hosted the carnival during the annual Fair Oaks Fiesta Days. We had an occasional 'sock hop' inside the Community Clubhouse and the whole experience, with friendly people and the slow pace of life was ideal for raising kids!”
Dead Man’s Curve
By Anonymous
Most of it is gone now. On the corner of Fair Oaks Blvd. coming up out of town past Hanks Market and D.J.'s Drive-In there was a 90 degree curve. We called it Dead Man's curve because of the many accidents and near misses by traffic coming from Orangevale. The squealing brakes, usually at night, meant someone didn't see the turn in time and couldn't stop. If they were lucky, they went into the orange grove, but there was also a massive oak that stopped a few! There used to be a Jehovah's Witness building, then my house and my neighbor's, then a short street that connects with Winding Way and a pretty house whose roof burned while we watched as firemen stopped it in time. Across the street was Dan's Mobil Service, a small real estate office and the building where they used to repair bowling pins! But, it burned, my house and the neighbor's acreage became large Apartment complexes. Things have changed in Fair Oaks and it's true- I can't go home again…
Feathered Traffic Hazards
By Anonymous
Traffic would sometimes come to a screeching stop in front of my house and I knew I had to go out and round up the chickens again! We had a few bantams and odd looking Japanese Silkies who occasionally wandered out front and either because of their bizarre look or because they went scratching out into the boulevard, would stop traffic! I had to herd them to the rear acreage again and apologize to the drivers. Our chickens were the first to be celebrated or made a fuss of, long before the flock now soiling the plaza! Life was never dull in Fair Oaks!
