North Coast Winds by Robin Joy Wellman - October 2018

Today I heard a fire captain on the news say,

What else is on our minds? Aahh! Is it the elections coming up!!! I know that everyone is asking everyone who is asking everyone to VOTE! Start talking to friends and family about the many voting choices and things that matter in all our lives. What are your concerns in front of us? What are our choices of candidates? And what are those candidates’ core principles? What happens if so and so is elected? How will this affect your personal life and our life on the planet? These conversations are tough but important in educating each other. For some I know voting is very private, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t discuss the issues AND keep your vote a secret.

We have a lot of serious things going on around us as noted above, so please remember to take some time to relax and enjoy our coast. Many events take place in October at the many usual places on our coast.

On Saturday October 20th at 4 PM at the Point Arena Lighthouse, Judy Bryan Mello will share stories and discuss the B Bryan Preserve which is a very cool place to visit. They are committed to the preservation of endangered African Hoof Stock where they offer tours of the ranch and have overnight cottages that are super cute. Here is their website https://www.bbryanpreserve.com//.

Wednesday October 24th is the ‘Full Hunter’s Moon Night Tour”. Please visit the Point Arena Lighthouse web at http://pointarenalighthouse.com/visit/calendar-2/ for all the current updates and info on tickets. Before you visit the Point Arena Lighthouse take a walk with a picnic to enjoy the many many miles of beautiful coastline trails at the 1,665-acre Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/media-center-public-room-california-ccnm-point-arena-stornetta-unit.pdf. This is somewhat new to our community and many of you probably haven’t been out to visit. This place offers spectacular views of coastal bluffs, sea arches, the estuary of the Garcia River, and sandy beaches and dunes with eight miles of marked paths. This is a must do!

Gualala Art Center has several art show openings and music performances, classes, and of special note the ‘Lloyd Meadows and the Tri Tip Trio’ music and dance evening taking place on October 5th at 6:30. This is an evening of Cajun flair with Zydeco tunes and dancing, tri tip steaks on the grill, Sus’s New Orleans style Gumbo, and homemade desserts by local Soroptimists International all in the Redwood Grove beneath the twinkly lights! What’s better than good food, good friends, and some good dancing?

Family Fun: On October 13th is the 14th Annual(can’t believe it’s been 14 years) Gualala 10K, 5K, and 5K walk and the Kids 500 Meter Dash. Everyone can do this! The 5K Run and Fun Walk is an out-and-back course that follows the scenic Gualala River along a paved road through a majestic redwood forest. The 10K Run is an out-and-back course which follows the Gualala River along a redwood-shaded, paved road for 1.6 miles then a firm, gravel road leads runners into a majestic redwood forest. Proceeds will help over 500 kids from Manchester, Point Arena, Gualala, The Sea Ranch, Annapolis and the Kashia & Pomo Indian Rancherias through the Across Ages and Cultures Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Programs.

Native Arts: On Saturday, October 27, 2018, 11 am to 5 pm the 4th annual Native Arts Expo, made possible through the Global Harmony Series of the Gualala Arts Center, brings traditional and contemporary Native American artists together to exhibit particular art expression, share stories, and educate the general public on what is “authentic” Native American art. The day will open with a special presentation and chant at 11 am by Hula On! Productions and Halau Hula Na Pua O Ka La’akea, a Hawaiian Halau formed in March of 1996 by its Creative Director, Kumu Hula Shawna Kealameleku’uleialoha Ngum Alapa’i. Please visit the http://gualalaarts.org/category/events/ page for all the details and more events too.

MUSIC: October 20th at 7:30 PM the Point Arena Theater hostsNina Gerber and friends. Nina has been around our coast for a very long time, dating back to when Kate Wolf would play upstairs at the Arena Café. I remember sitting in bean bag chairs with a room full of fun-loving people, ‘The Good Ole Days’. This is one event I don’t want to miss. I will be there. Visit the web at http://www.arenatheater.org/liveevents.html for tickets and more details and more events too.

And last, I want to honor a dear friend andKashaya Elder, Violet Parrish Chappell. She passed away on September 16th at the age of 88. We first met close to 40 years ago while I was working with children in Annapolis. Many of the local schools would get the youth together for ‘play dates’ and we got to know each other well through our love of teaching. Paul Chappell, her husband of 60 years, said she followed her mother’s teachings, Essie Parrish, of the Kashaya way. And she did. While I worked at Fort Ross for 27 years she was my main ‘go to’ Kashaya member. She was a mentor to many of us. She has many layers about her life, it is not possible to share all her attributes here. But what I know is that I loved being around her at her kitchen table sharing stories. Our last time together, in August, we made huckleberry pies, a treasured moment. `