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LightHouse News

Enchanted Hills Retreat: an Oasis for the Wine Connoisseur

We’ve investigated the human history of the area, the flora and fauna of the mountain, and some of the most common finds of a Mt. Veeder mushroom hunter. In the 4th part of our series examining what makes Enchanted Hills Retreat so enticing, we are explore what the area is best known for: its wines.

Viniculture began on the mountain as early as the 1860’s. Mt. Veeder is a one-of-a-kind appellation because its wine production is severely limited by nature. These constraints lead to low yields but very deep flavors. Mt. Veeder has:

•The longest growing season and the lowest yields of the Napa Valley.
•Situated above the fog, with extremely steep slopes, the area has shallow topsoil and minimal water retention. This results in tiny berries, with intense flavor concentration yet soft tannins.
•Due to the rugged conditions, virtually all vineyard work must be done by hand.
•It is the only hillside appellation in Napa Valley that benefits from the cooling influence of San Pablo Bay.

Over 30 vineyards are located on Mt. Veeder – most are quite small production. Some of the labels to look for are O’Shaughnessy, Mt. Veeder Winery, Marketta, Renteria, Robert Craig, Y Rousseau and Yates Family Vineyards. The only one with a tasting room that is open to the public is the Hess Collection. Like most of the mountain’s wineries, Hess is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. A leader in sustainable practices, the Hess Collection adheres to founder Donald Hess’ philosophy: “Nurture the land; return what you take.” In addition to award-winning wines they have an impressive and extensive private contemporary Art Museum. Many of the mountains other wineries can be visited for tasting and tours by appointment. Learn more about the appellation and its winemakers.

Get your family, friends, coworkers or other group together to bond and taste some of the famous wines of Mt. Veeder. To reserve Enchanted Hills Retreat for your gathering of 30 to 120, please call (415) 694-7310 or go to www.enchantedhillsretreat.com. Cheers!

Mt. Veeder Winery Label

LightHouse News

The Freedom of Riding

Jacob and his dog Gibson hanging out on a couch
Fourteen-and-a-half year old Jacob Obeso of San Leandro is stoked to be a stoker for his second Cycle for Sight ride, a signature fundraiser benefiting Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind where he has participated as a camper for several summers. This Saturday, Jacob and his dad Robert will be pedaling 25 miles along the scenic roads of Napa as one of 40 tandems and 2500 cyclists.

Jacob’s mother Martha told us that tandem cycling was one of the very few things her son could do when he began to lose his vision. She said, “He couldn’t do a lot of sports and athletics but we got him to ride bikes. He liked it. I kept looking for things he could do and I found Cycle for Sight. The first year, my kids and I rode 15 miles. Jacob was really psyched to have so much support from the family. This year he’ll be riding 25 miles with my husband, no hesitation on Jacob’s part. Bike riding is a sense of freedom for him.”

Jacob is a freshman in high school. He has been attending Enchanted Hills Camp for a handful of summers now and, like so many blind campers before him, has benefited greatly from the transformative camp experience. Martha says, “Camp has completely changed Jacob’s attitude. He found other kids that he could relate to and now he is far more comfortable with his visual impairment. He loves EHC. The counselors are just fantastic and many are great blind role models.”

His love for camp and his need to feel free while biking are two reasons why Jacob and his family are riding this Saturday in Cycle for Sight. The Obeso family is hard at work raising money to help blind youth of all ages experience the magic of Enchanted Hills Camp. For 64 summers, Enchanted Hills has been a place where blind children and adults learn, grow and discover a new sense of self-confidence and freedom.

You can help Jacob and his family raise money for Enchanted Hills Camp by going to our
donation page and selecting Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. Be sure to put Jacob’s name in the “in honor of” field.

For more information about Cycle for Sight or Enchanted Hills Camp, contact Tony Fletcher at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7319.

Ride on!

LightHouse News

Attitude is Everything

Kate Williams of San Francisco is taking on a personal challenge this year at Cycle for Sight, the signature ride benefiting Enchanted Hills Camp. She will be riding 15 miles on a tandem bike, and this ride will be her first significant spin since 1997 when she began losing her vision. Kate, who is a grandmother, said, “I want to prove to myself I can do it. I did the Avon Breast Cancer walk before and I thought I couldn’t do that either. The first year I almost didn’t.” But why wouldn’t you do what you like and what you want to do.

Kate is the program manager for the LightHouse Employment Immersion Program, which helps dozens of blind people find competitive work every year. When asked why she wanted to finally get back on the horse, she said, “it just seemed like the right thing to do. LightHouse always fundraises for various programs, and I want to participate and give back. Plus, there’s a social aspect to it.” Kate advises that, “Attitude is everything, so today, be sure you pick a good one.”

It is with this intrepid attitude that Kate and her Pilot will hit the roads of Napa on Saturday, April 26 to help raise money for Enchanted Hills Camp, a program of the LightHouse for the Blind. For 64 summers, Enchanted Hills Camp has been a place where blind children and adults learn, grow and discover a new sense of self-confidence and poise.

If you’ve decided today to have an attitude of giving, donate to Cycle for Sight and support Kate William’s fundraising campaign. Simply go to our donation page and
select Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. Be sure to put Kate’s name in the “in honor of” field.

Join Team LightHouse today! Register at www.cycle4sight.com and ride with Team LightHouse. For more information, or to sign up as a tandem pilot or stoker, contact Tony Fletcher at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7319.

Ride on!

Profile of Kate Williams

LightHouse News

Who Knew That Giving Could Be So Energizing

This will be LightHouse Board member Chris Downey’s third year in a row to participate in Cycle for Sight. Chris tells us why supporting Enchanted Hills Camp in this way is so important to him.

Q: How old are you?
A: I’m a 6 year old blind kid trapped in a 51 year old body.

Q: What city are you from?
A: Piedmont.

Q: Which route will you be taking?
A: All the way – 50 or bust!

Q. What motivated you to ride this year and in the past?
A: The LightHouse was central to my rehabilitation from sight loss and it has remained central ever since. Now I’m in the “give back” phase as I fully appreciate the significance of the programs at the LightHouse and its Enchanted Hills Camp. As a Board Member, I’m absolutely thrilled by the direction and energy of the organization and want to do all that I can to maximize its potential in service of its current and future clients. Beyond that, I want to support its growth as “the place to be” for the Bay Area’s community of blind and visually impaired.

Q: What is your connection to Enchanted Hills Camp?
A: I’ve never been lucky enough to be an EHC Camper but have had numerous opportunities to stay overnight at camp for events as a member of the Board. Consequently, my relationship is primarily as a supporter and cheerleader.

Q: What is your connection to the LightHouse?
A: I started as a client in 2008, became a Board Member in late 2009 and have served as a Vice President since 2012. Closer to the heart, however, I’m truly grateful to the LightHouse for all it has done for me and my family since becoming a part of this incredible family.

Q: Any words of wisdom?
A: 1) If on the road heading down Mt. Veeder on the morning of April 26, watch out for the screaming tandem.
2) If blind and pointing downhill on Mt. Veeder and the sweat gets in your eyes, just close them and refer others to the initial “words of wisdom”.

Q: What is your fundraising goal?
A: My big audacious goal is $3,000. This is a significant reach due to other commitments over the next month but I’ll do my best to push for it.

Can you help Chris “give back”? $3,000 can send 3 blind youth to Enchanted Hills Camp this summer where children learn, grow and discover a new sense of self-confidence and poise.

Be a cheerleader like Chris. Be part of the community of supporters who believe in the significance and impact that camp has had on hundreds of blind youth for 64 summers. It’s simple. Go to our donation page and select Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. Be sure to put Chris’s name in the “in honor of” field.

You too can ride! Join Team LightHouse by registering at www.cycle4sight.com and ride with Team LightHouse on Saturday April 26. For more information, or to sign up as a tandem pilot or stoker, contact Tony Fletcher at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Ride on!

Chris standing next to one of his tandem pilots

LightHouse News

Dream Big and Ride in This Year’s Cycle for Sight

Profile of Sergio

24-year-old Sergio Lopez, from Fremont, California, is riding in this year’s Cycle for Sight – a fundraising bicycle ride benefiting Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. This is the second time he has ridden, and with each mile he pedals (25 miles this year), he will be raising money for a worthy cause.

“I am always looking for ways to challenge myself and had never been on a tandem bike before participating with Cycle for Sight.” says Sergio. “Not only does this ride present an opportunity for me to try new things and challenge myself but it’s a great feeling to work for such a good cause. The money I raise contributes towards one of the places which have made an impact on my life.”

A second year student at Ohlone College who is getting ready to transfer to SFSU, Sergio has been volunteering and working at Enchanted Hills Camp since 2010. Last summer, he worked as the assistant camp director. When asked to share a few words of wisdom, he said, “When you dream, dream as big as you can. Regardless of any circumstances, any dream can be achieved with enough motivation and determination. Try new things and make the best out of life.”

If you are ready to dream big, try new things and make the best out of life, consider riding in this year’s Cycle for Sight on Saturday April 26, 2014. Riders have the chance to ride 15, 25 or 50 miles down the majestic roads of Napa, alongside 2,000 other cyclists raising money for a worthy cause.

Join Team LightHouse today! Register at www.cycle4sight.com For more information, or to sign up as a tandem pilot or stoker, contact Tony Fletcher at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

If you can’t ride but wish to support a rider, donate to Sergio Lopez’s fundraising campaign. Simply go to our donation page and select Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. Be sure to put Sergio’s name in the “in honor of” field.

Ride on!

LightHouse News

Meet a Blind Rider in This Year’s Cycle for Sight

Jack and his pilot on a tandem

Jack Veliquette, 17, from Windsor, California, is taking on the challenge of Cycle for Sight for the second year in a row. He’s upping his game and instead of riding 25 miles like he did last year, he’ll be riding 50 – tackling the slopes of Mt. Veeder.

This high school sophomore has been a camper at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind since he was seven years old. Last summer, he gave back to the camp that he loves by becoming a counselor in training (CIT). He intends to be a CIT again this year.

When asked what motivated him to ride and raise money for Enchanted Hills Camp, Jack said, “Tony asked my mom if I’d be interested. I said ‘I’ll give it a shot.'”

Support Jack Veliquette in this year’s Cycle for Sight by donating to his campaign. Simply go to our donation page and select Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. Be sure to put Jack’s name in the “in honor of” field.

Join Team LightHouse this year on Saturday April 26! Register at www.cycle4sight.com. For more information contact Tony Fletcher at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319.

Ride on!

LightHouse News

Last Chance to Sign Up for Cycle for Sight 2014

Our spring ride is a signature event with more than 2,000 riders providing the single biggest support for Enchanted Hills Camp. Come join the largest and most fun group of tandem riders in Northern California to have some fun while doing good…Sign up at www.cycle4sight.com as a cyclist for Team LightHouse and enjoy the beauty of Napa and the challenge of a 15, 25 or 50 mile route with 2,000 other cyclists. After the ride partake in wine tasting from Napa Valley wineries, beer tasting from local microbreweries and local cuisine from Napa Valley restaurants, all while grooving to the sounds of “Pride and Joy”.

When: Saturday, April 26, 2014. The first ride starts at 8:00 a.m.
Where: Starts at Justin Siena High School, 4026 Maher Street, Napa

Pilots and Blind Stokers Wanted for our April 26 Rally
Are you interested in piloting a tandem bike for a blind stoker? Or are you a blind stoker in need of a pilot? Contact Tony Fletcher via email at afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319 to join Team LightHouse today.

Proceeds support Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. Raise pledges for every mile you ride through the Cycle for Sight website. To meet Sergio Lopez, Jack Veliquette and other members of Team LightHouse go to www.lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com/donate/cycleforsight.

Thank you to our wonderful Cycle for Sight 2014 sponsors!

Cotati Food Service
R.V. Kuhns & Associates, Inc.
Earthclean Building Maintenance

LightHouse News

Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind is Hiring!

Enchanted Hills is hiring camp counselors for the summer sessions for blind campers. For 64 years Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind has hosted hundreds of blind California youth and adults in summertime camp sessions. Sprawling across 311 idyllic acres on Mt. Veeder in Napa, Enchanted Hills Camp is a place for blind children to explore and create, gain courage, try new things, learn about the environment and make lifelong friends. The wooded camp offers all the usual summertime activities from swimming to horseback riding, from sports to art. But beyond the fun is a powerful agenda – to increase the self-confidence and self-respect of campers who may often have no other time in the year to meet blind friends and role models who are successful and living an actualized life.

Camp runs from June 23 through August 3. If you are interested in having a fun filled summer at a storied camp, applications are now available. Let us hear from you soon. For further information contact Tony Fletcher, Enchanted Hills Camp Director at (415) 694-7319 or afletcher@old.lighthouse-sf.org.

Camp Counselors and Staff

LightHouse News

LightHouse Fitness Partner Program

Sometimes all it takes to get people moving is a good partnership! We want to pair blind athletes with sighted guides for a wide variety of athletic endeavors – anything from working out at the gym to biking, to running the next half marathon.

If you are interested in becoming a Fitness Partner, or being paired with one, call LightHouse Volunteer Coordinator John Liang 415-694-7334, email him at jliang@old.lighthouse-sf.org or go to our web page at http://lbvi.staging.wpengine.com.com/programs/fitness-partner-program.

A blind runner and her guide pose for the camera prior to a training session for the 2011 San Francisco half-marathon.