Santa Rosa Snippets by Elaine B. Holtz - June 2017
The Reunified Old Courthouse Square had its official opening on May 29 with Mayor Chris Coursey assured us at the ribbon cutting, “it’a work in progress.” Overall the response was positive although some complained about the extensive use of concrete and small size of the planted sycamore trees. I found out that there are still features to be installed, such as the refurbished Ruth Azawa fountain.Anne E. Seeley, Chair, Concerned Citizens for Santa Rosa she thought the square was an improvement, “My husband and I walked on the new downtown plaza and I loved it!” For Seeley most important was, “not having a busy street slicing through the heart of downtown!”
Adding to the excitement of the opening around 3pm dozens of progressive groups came together and marched to the square from their rally on Sebastopol Ave. to demonstrate for environmental protections, racial justice and workers rights. It was quite a sight seeing a reported 1,000 marchers file into the square. As I watched the marchers fill the square I thought to myself, these were not people protesting these were people who wanted to protect our democracy and make this a better place for all of us.
Santa Rosa’s Wednesday Night Market kicked off its 28th year at the newly the reunified Old Courthouse Square with 100 vendors there to provide goods and information on service available in the County. Nancy Rogers, co-owner with her husbandHarold of theRed Rose Catering was a vendor at the market and was pleased at how the Courtyard looked. “I liked the new square, it was more open and bigger and I could see more activates from where I was plus there was a lot more walking space,” she said the market happens every Wednesday night from, May 3 to August 16, 2017 from 5 o’clock to 8:30 PM.
Support and Care for Homeless Pets and their owners According toDr. Gillian Squirrel, founder ofHomeless With Pets, a 501 (c) program, “the vast majority of homeless services and agencies with which people living homeless come into contact do not make provision for companion animals.” HomelessWith Pets helps people with resources, to learn about compassionate and humane animal care.
The program offer a variety of services to homeless pet owners which include,free vaccine and wellness clinics, free professional grooming events, humane education and help to be more aware of some of the risks of living homeless with animals, help to get animals spayed and neutered and advocacy with services and agencies if there is an animal issue or something goes awry, Also available is subsidized veterinary treatment when this is possible and help with fostering and adoption if a human partner becomes unwell, needs hospital or other treatment.
“Our Mission is simple, we work with people who are living homeless and with their animal companions. Offering compassion to both ends of the leash we promote the well-being of both.,” states Squirrel. To find out more information about time and locations where service are being provided and how to support the program go to homelesswithpets.org/.
The Artsy Side of Santa Rosa – SOFA - South A St Art DistrictArts AdvocateJudy Kennedy encouraged me to go see the exhibit, Aging w/Attitude – Fearless Fashion at 60+, a series of photos by photographer, John Martin, at theChristie Marks Fine Art Gallery on South A Street. Thank you Judy, I went and want to tell folks this is an exhibit you do not want to miss. The presentation includes a series of 19 photographs of different women over the age of 60. Put together by Sebastopol resident Elle Kilner, each photograph is both an expression of art and attitude along with an array of colors that simply make you feel good looking at them. The exhibit ends on June 10, 2017
Along with the exhibit I got to see some of Christie Marks mixed media pieces and found out SOFA is a unique community of more than 30 artists and a multitude of studios to visit. According to their website, this is the largest concentration of artists in Sonoma County. Visitors can view and even purchase painting, printmaking, photography, collage/assemblage, jewelry, and glass during open studio events. It was an amazing experience walking through free all these great studios and experiencing the beauty of art right here in downtown Santa Rosa. Lots of fun places to have lunch, a cup of coffee or glass of Sonoma County wines. For more information on future exhibits, dates and times visit sofasantarosa.com/.
Something to think about“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ―Maya Angelou, who was an American poet, memoirist, actress and an important figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. In 2001 she was named one of the 30 most powerful women in America byLadies Home Journal.
