Meadow Vista business association supports community

Editor's note: This is part of a continuing Sunday series on area business associations.When a handful of Meadow Vista business owners got together in 1954 to form an association, food and gas prices were a fraction of what they are now. A grocery ad from Cliff's M.V. Grocery in a 1963 newsletter lists Skippy peanut butter at 79 cents for a 28-ounce jar. Celery was 12 cents and tomatoes were 17 cents a pound.Forty years later, things have changed a lot and prices have skyrocketed. But the basic premise of the Meadow Vista Merchants Association has stayed the same - to promote local business and be involved in community service.One of the early goals was getting dial phones. Since then, the association has gone on to play a role in getting the swimming pool built, establishing the fire department and building a fire house, and supporting construction of the community center.The group, which now numbers 68, meets monthly at Mountain Mike's Pizza on Placer hills Road. It publishes a 24-page, full-color newsletter bimonthly and is in charge of keeping up the welcome sign that greets visitors entering town.Dr. Randall Hensley, a Meadow Vista chiropractor and current president, has been involved with the organization since he moved to the community 10 years ago."We're trying to encourage and promote each other's businesses and build a network of referrals," he said.Then there's involvement in local events. For many years, the association put on the Oktoberfest. They coordinate with the Lions Club for Christmas in the Village, with the businesses holding open houses on a weekend night in December. "Then Santa comes to the square," Hensley said. "There are 100 or more kids who line up to see him. It's a fun small-town event."One of the main activities is the newsletter. An association committee is in charge of the bimonthly publication, which is funded through business advertising.Jan Webster, former president, chairs the project. The newsletter carries advertising from Meadow Vista merchants as well as articles and columns from local organizations and individuals."It goes to everyone in zip code 95722 and Applegate - 3,200 homes," Hensley said.Webster's committee devotes a lot of time to it. "It takes probably 50 hours of work," he said. Webster, who has belonged to the merchants group for about 15 years, said it has quadrupled its membership in that time. He sees the newsletter as a way to unite the community."We've created the newsletter for Meadow Vistans to get word out to Meadow Vistans on how we can help each other and the community," he said.The association also funds upkeep of the Meadow Vista welcome sign."The current (sign) was designed by Bill Lapham, a past president," Hensley said.The emphasis is on community support, but the members don't get involved in making complaints about problems or potential housekeeping issues. That is left to the Municipal Advisory Council, Hensley said. Likewise, the group stays out of local politics.The mix of businesses serves the small community well, but if Hensley could see a new addition, speaking from a personal standpoint, he has some ideas."I'm sure my wife would enjoy a place to buy coffee - the coffee place just closed," he said. "But because of septic system (problems), restaurants have a hard time coming in."Plans for the coming year include coming up with more activities in support of the community, he said.Sisters Maureen O'Connell and Colleen Kilpatrick, who opened Meadow Gate Real Estate about a year ago, agree. They joined the merchants association soon after they started their business."I'd like to see more community events (because it) fosters more relationships," O'Connell said.As part of the association, O'Connell and Kilpatrick have enjoyed participating in many of the community activities. Among those was a photography contest for the cover of the newsletter and the Halloween trick or treating event. And there was a coloring contest and treasure hunt for the children during Christmas in the Village, O'Connell said.Webster also would like to see more emphasis on community outreach, particularly on fundraising activities to help nonprofits and residents with special needs."The goals are that more and more of the nonprofits use our service for the betterment of the community as a whole," he said.The Journal's Gloria Young can be reached at gloriay@goldcountrymedia. com.