Barbara Flynn knows Cobb — its people and spirit. After all, she has lived on the mountain for 45 years, toured the neighborhoods as an agent with Morgan Lane Realty and greeted residents at the Brick Oven Pizza and Village Pub. Flynn was born in Lakeport but drawn to Cobb. She earned her real estate license in 1972. Eight years ago she added the pizza restaurant. She also owns Bellissimo, a catering operation and Trends, a beauty shop in Middletown and, at the heart of Cobb, the Village Pub. On September 12, the evening the Valley Fire erupted, marked her one year anniversary at the place.
1. When you reopened the pub, what was that like?
It was wonderful and sad. It was the night they repopulated Cobb and I had prepared a spaghetti dinner for anyone who wanted it. There was lots of hugging and crying. It was overwhelming.
2. What when through your mind when you had to evacuate?
I didn’t believe it really was happening. I stayed as long as I could. It was burning down the hill right along the road. To this day I think I’m going to wake up and this will have been just a nightmare.
3. When you hear the phrase “Cobb Strong” or “Middletown Strong” what does that mean to you?
Just a wonderful sense of community. We will keep it together and rebuild. Some people said they were leaving and are now coming back. It’s hard to leave this mountain.
4. What’s the attraction?
Cobb is a beautiful place. That hurts to see so much destruction. But it is community minded and you know your neighbors. I can’t fathom living anywhere else.
5. It’s amazing how many people are helping out.
It’s incredible. I was talking to a nursery in Oregon about getting in some large trees. They said they will donate 500 of them and are pretty sure others will do the same. People from out of town are stepping forward.
6. But this will put a crimp in the real estate market.
No, it hasn’t, actually. I thought it would, too, but people who don’t have the patience to rebuild are buying. And there is going to be a shortage of houses.
7. Why restaurants?
I just like feeding people.
8. Cobb might have the most eating places per capita in California.
Well, right now we have a shortage. I’m looking forward to the other restaurants opening up again. The more variety, the better.
9. What else needs to happen?
Hoberg’s. It’s important that they do what they were supposed to do as soon as possible and build a destination resort and spa. The forest is no longer the draw that it was.
10. When will Cobb be back?
Faster than we think. There’s a lot of love here. People can’t give up. They have to see the beauty. I know — it’s going to be a different beauty, but it’s still a beautiful place to live. And the community is still intact.
