The Fairfaxian: 10 things I love about Fairfax

The Fairfaxian/Mike Ghiringhelli

We are so happy to bring you the new Ross Valley Reporter. Many of you have expressed your interest and enthusiasm that local news is back in our community. Please continue to spread the word. 

This new venture is just getting off the ground, and there will certainly be growing , development, and ongoing improvement made with each edition. 

Being a community paper requires important contributions to make it successful. This includes writers and photographers, and of course advertisers and subscribers. 

So initial big shout outs go to our original team of writers, Lew Tremaine and Lynette Shaw. 

Some of our letter writers and opinion columnists have not been able to fit on the print edition, so please follow us online as well, where more content is held. 

Because of the limitations of print space, I’ll be accepting guest writers for my column. Yes, we are all Fairfaxians, so send me your writing for consideration. 

I’ve known Lew since the late 80’s when he was writing and publishing his very own Fairfax newspaper, The Fax. That paper was simply fantastic, brave and on point, focused on this lovely town. Lew is an incredible writer and journalist. We served on the Town Council together as well. 

Lynette Shaw is a classic throwback – tough, timeless, compassionate, bringing her passion to the forefront everyday. She will not be afraid to tell us what she thinks. 

Who else in our community wants to step up and share their thoughts and stories about Fairfax? 

We will be expanding to San Anselmo soon, so come on board with your best game. 

We have reached out to Archie Williams High School for student journalists. That’s quite an opportunity. 

We expect to hear from our Fairfax Town Manager, and Chamber of Commerce as well. My email is below, don’t be shy. 

Now, without further adieu, here’s my top ten things I love about Fairfax:

10: It’s a quaint walking town, with a cool and vibrant downtown. It’s the absolute best in Marin. 

9: We have our very own movie theater, featuring first run movies. Thanks to owner Dave Corkhill, who saved this theater from extinction 25 years ago. 

8: Fairfax Little League Field – Rudy Contratti Park. Generations of families played little league there, dating back to the 1930’s. Yours truly had a phenomenal fastball, but unfortunately peaked at the age of 12. 

7: Caledonia Records. Owned and operated by Van Morrison’s parents, Violet and George.  This was in the 70’s and 80’s, back when records were all vinyl. Their service was impeccable and George smoked a pipe like a distinguished gentleman at the counter. 

6: The Fairfax Festival and Parade. I don’t think I ever missed one. I can remember in the late 60’s when the festival featured major rock bands on the ballfield. The scene became so wild, Hells Angels style, they had to shut down the festival for years, citing safety reasons. 

5: Fairfax Variety Five and Dime. I was shopping there as a young lad, 60 years ago — they always had the best candy, which was the most important meal of the day. Owner Polly Knox, is a hero for keeping that store’s history, and candy supply, alive and well. 

Ironically, the town dentist had an office upstairs. 

4: The Womens’ Club is high on my memory list. Not only did I do my first wedding gig there, (I was the five year old ring boy for a family wedding), I spent countless nights and hours serving our community on the council, and other commissions over decades. 

3: The Fairfax Police Department. We have had many great Chiefs over the years, and a couple of bad ones. But overall, having your own police department is so much better than the alternative. I didn’t always feel that way – that changed over some time.  Chiefs Andy Peri, Chuck Grasso, Ken Hughes, Chris Morin, and Rico Tabaranza, are my personal favorites. 

2: The Good Earth. Watching that business go from a small storefront on Bolinas Rd, to the giant of Natural Food Stores that it is today, was simply amazing. Congratulations to Mark Squire and Al Baylaq for their organic achievement. 

1: M & G’s Burgers. Wow – once again, businesses that remain the same are the backbone of a small town. The burgers, fries, and shakes have always been incredible since the early 60’s, and that holds true for today as well. Credit to local Mark Escobar on keeping this classic tradition alive and well.

I’m looking forward to hearing about the favorite things you love about Fairfax. 

I’ll be honest with you, this list, which included some of my past and present favorite things about Fairfax, could be twenty times larger. This may end up being like the Star Wars or Marvel Movie franchises, never ending sequels of Fairax favorites. 

Till next time my fellow Fairfaxians. We’re just warming up. 

(Mike Ghiringhelli is the associate editor of the Ross Valley Reporter and can be reached via email at mg@gfoods.net.)