Community Guide 2017
The Forest Knolls Doggie Olympics by Bob Baker
In 1983, my wife Cathy, 4-year-old Nick and I moved to Forest Knolls, and opened our Vet Clinic in the old post office on Montezuma Ave., across from the Forest Knolls Park. We didn’t know a soul in town, but soon found ourselves inte- grated into this unique little village. Mid-town Forest Knolls, at that time, reminded me of Steinbeck’s Cannery Row . It had an Asian-run grocery, The Little Store, a well-frequented bar, The Papermill Creek Saloon, a colorful band of wayfarers down on their luck, who often hung out in the aforementioned park, and now I was to be its “Doc.” Interestingly, the real Doc Ricketts’ granddaughter, Lisa, resided in Forest Knolls, too. The Forest Knolls Park originated, I believe, as a vacant lot that was handed over to the Forest Knolls Improvement Association, which turned it into a park with a basketball court, picnic tables and a children’s playground. Over the years, however, it had fallen into a sad state of disrepair, not having any funds for its maintenance. Every year though, the community would come together for a “Park Clean-up Day” in which we would do what we could to spiff the place up. One year we came up with the bright idea of having a fundraiser…and thus, the Doggie Olympics was born. Long-time resident Dan Giddings, who had bravely defended the park from hippie squatters (the infamous “Forest Knolls Trolls”) in the late ’60s, made us a great sign to advertise the event, and someone constructed an Olympics-style awards stand. We also hit up the locals for donations for a bake sale, and to be on our panel of judges. When the big day arrived, to our delight and surprise, a fairly large contingent of contestants showed up, along with their motley owners, and we announced: “Let the games begin!” There were many events, such as the fastest dog, best tricks, high jump, loudest bark (judged by a sound engineer’s meter), and the ever popular doggie/owner look-a-like. We also had a free-throw shooting contest for the humans. After each event, we loudly played the theme from Rocky on our boom box, while the winning K-9s proudly received their ribbons and biscuits on the awards podium. A shiny trophy was given to the biggest point getter. Afterwards, we tallied up the proceeds and found that we had made enough to provide for water and garbage service for a year and have some left over for a few much-needed repairs. Just as importantly, we had brought our little community together for a day and had a lot of fun!
Tim and Liza Crosse with the trophy winner, Tess
Doggy Olympics winners “Best Tricks,” Dave O’Connor at left
Winners with their owners. l-r Susan Doyle, Liza Crosse, and Amber Holly, who went on to become a veterinarian
Bob Baker secures the bar for the “High Jump.”
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SGVCC
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