It was a casual, leave-your-coat-on affair when Woodside recently celebrated 50 years of being a town with an event that was half-birthday party and half-reunion. Ex-staffers and town volunteers, whether they’ve served on the council, Planning Commission or numerous town committees, were invited to mingle and nosh on Nov. 16, the very day Woodside became incorporated 50 years ago.
Woodsiders pride themselves on the unpretentious — yet classy — rural good life they enjoy, and that was certainly reflected in their celebration. Decadent finger-food included oysters from the seafood bar, carved roast beef sandwiches and an ocean of shrimp. Wine flowed freely as people gathered in animated knots, chatting, reminiscing and gossiping.
The contingent from the Woodside Fire Protection District was led by the new chief, Armando Muela. Councilwoman Sue Boynton’s husband Rob talked about plans for their son’s summer wedding at a family home in France, and Councilman Dave Tanner revealed that some neighborhoods have nicknames you don’t see on real estate brochures. The area where he lives, east of Canada Road, is known as the “Ozarks,” he said.
Guests also toured the Woodside Community Museum’s exhibit chronicling the divisive fight to incorporate and the narrowly won vote.
Speeches were blessedly brief. Guests were tantalized with promises of a surprise gift to take home. “Organic compost?” guessed one wag.
In fact, it was a commemorative coffee table book, “Woodside — Making of a Town,” written especially for the occasion by Patsy Kahl and Marcia Bondurant, with photographic help from Jim Milton.
As the evening wound down, people headed to their cars with books under their arms and cupcake icing on their lips.
