On a recent morning in the heart of Fair Oaks Village, the doors to a vacant building stood open, inviting passersby to take a peek. Inside, a backhoe and piles of rubble told one story. But if you listened closely to Derek Clark, you could imagine another: the clink of glasses, the buzz of conversation, and the easy rhythm of what Clark calls “island time.” That vision—equal parts brewery, restaurant, and gathering place—is taking shape as Palm Tree Brewing Company. It’s Cla

Raised in Fair Oaks, Sommer Peterson left to forge a career as a big-city restauranteur. She returned home to fashion a dream. Now she’s fighting to keep it alive. For Sommer Peterson, Fair Oaks always served as a starting point for her ambition. She grew up here, left to find her entrepreneurial footing in the Bay Area, and ultimately returned with a restaurant vision shaped by both hometown roots and hard-earned experience. What she didn’t expect was how close that vision

Craving Caffeine with Your Canine? Do you love to take your dog with you when you go out? If you’re someone who thinks every activity is...

Barry Brown, one of the founders of FOVEC and a lifelong advocate for Fair Oaks, passed away May 19, 2022, at his home, looking out at his beloved trees and garden. For the past fifty years, Barry Brown was one of the “usual suspects” in community service in Fair Oaks, according to his friend, Ralph Carhart. What Ralph meant by that remark is that Barry was one of the movers and shakers in Fair Oaks, working tirelessly to improve our community. As he worked on countless proje