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Occidental Oriented by MacKenzie Nekton - April 2017

The daffodils are blooming, and in just twenty-eight days Devin and I celebrate our three-year anniversary. What a thing! The flowers are blooming, the trees growing soft green leaves, the rain pouring down… April showers bring May flowers, as they say. I love April, partly because it is my birthday month, and I’m turning eighteen, but also because I love the beginning of spring and the bright, glistening arrival of springtime.

LOCAL HistoryThough it be not in Occidental, but in Sebastopol, Occidental features in “The Hippies”, a multimedia exhibit currently showing at the West County Museum. The exhibit has been extending through the summer until Labor Day due to its popularity. “The Hippies” focuses on Morningstar Ranch and Wheeler Ranch, and features film clips of Lou Gottlieb and Bill Wheeler, as well as photographs, artifacts, hand-made clothing, vinyl record covers, and a timeline. The unique history of our local hippies is interesting and the exhibit is well worth your time. The West County Museum is located opposite the Post Office at 261 South Main Street. They’re open Thursdays through Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm.

ARK AuctionLast month I told you to mark your calendars for The Harmony Ark Education Foundation’s annual auction! Just a quick reminder – the auction will be held on April 8th from 5:30 to 9:00 pm at Fernando’s Event Center in Bodega. You can purchase tickets online at harmonyark.org. There’s also a link to online bidding on the website, just in case you can’t attend.

YMCA ActivitiesIt’s very exciting to see the after school program up and running at the YMCA in Occidental. The chalk art all over the sidewalk and parking area is a lovely sight to behold, and an improvement over the empty beer cans and general trash left by those using the space previously. Go after school care!

More on the YMCA – the Occidental Community Center Advisory Council, who have been fundraising to replace the gym floor, have announced that the removable maple floor they’re hoping to use can be laid down over the existing floor. This saves time and money, which is always good! The Occidental Community Center Advisory Council is about halfway to their funding goal and is gearing up for a big fundraising push. Why not make it easy for them and donate now, before you’re asked? Donation can be made online at sonomacountyparksfoundation.org/. You can also mail a check to the following address:

Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation

2300 County Center Drive, Suite 120A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Note “OCC Floor” on the check memo.

WELCOME Spring! The Occidental Center for the Arts has an exhibit up honoring the Spring Equinox. The show, “The Spring Equinox – When Day and Night Are Equal,” runs through May 14th. The show honors the sacred significance of the Spring Equinox with works that express the power and beauty of new beginnings, of life springing forth from the dark and cold into warmth and light. The gallery is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM, and during OCA auditorium events.

Speaking of The OCA, they are currently looking for new volunteers.If you are interested in the arts (specifically visual arts) then you should consider volunteering. They need help planning and organizing exhibits as well as gallery sitters to ensure that the gallery is open as often as possible. Volunteering is a great way to meet other artists, get involved in the community and experience how an art gallery operates. If you are interested, contact the OCA at gallery@occidentalcenterforthearts.org.

Happy spring!

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