A Local Monument Honors Fair Oaks Early Beginnings

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - An Historic achievement was accomplished this week in Fair Oaks, one that took the kind of leadership between neighbors that will live on for many years to come.

A team of community members pulled together to complete the Fair Oaks Founder’s Monument project with a dedication ceremony held on September 20 in the Fair Oaks Village.

The project was the original brainchild of Karyn Barthmore, then Honorary Mayor with the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce. She helped raise the initial funding through her campaign efforts in 2015 and 2016 to build the local monument to the history of Fair Oaks for visitors and locals to enjoy.

Over the many early months, and then years, the project hit a number of challenges to the design and implementation, pushing it back and requiring the help of local government and agencies to accommodate the monument’s location. But everyone involved saw the importance it would have to the community and worked to overcome each challenge.

Barry Brown led the project to completion as the Project Coordinator. He helped pull together numerous community organizations for the planning, development and additional funding needed to get the job done.

The beautiful monument structure was created by sculptural artist Phill Evans. The three panels filled with intriguing local historical facts and images, which grew from the original plan of one panel, was overseen by historian and artist Diane Shakal.

The monument can be found in the Fair Oaks Village at the corner of Fair Oaks Blvd. and Winding Way.

Donors to the project were the Charles Kanoff Family, Karyn Barthmore, County Supervisor Susan Peters, Fair Oaks Foundation for Leisure & the Arts, Fair Oaks Theatre Festival, Fair Oaks Rotary, Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District, Woman’s Thursday Club of Fair Oaks, Fair Oaks Water District, Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce, Fair Oaks Historical Society, Fair Oaks Host Lions, Fair Oaks Inner Wheel, Veterans of Foreign War Post 6158, American Legion Post383.

The dedication was moderated by Pete Schroeder. Speakers included, Ken Steen, Barry Brown, County Supervisor Susan Peters, Chris Kanoff, sponsor of Charles Kanoff Memorial, Karyn Barthmore, Jim Pearce and Diane Shakal.  The dedication committee included Barry Brown, Karyn Barthmore, Carol Crowthers, Janet McWilliams, Kim Pitillo and Terrie O’Donnell.

To better enhance the monument the group is now raising funds to have the area developed for lighting.