Occidental oriented

Hello to everyone who happens to be reading this column. Thanks for spending a bit of your time with me and the words I have chosen to put to paper this time around.

Please take the time to get over to the Occidental Center for the Arts in September. They have a wonderfully varied art show titled ‘A Place In The Woods’ currently presented in the gallery through September 26th. The gallery is open Saturday and Sunday from Noon to Four, and by appointment. I can say with a high level of confidence that there is at least one (and probably many) piece (s) in this exhibit that will speak to everyone, maybe even enough for you to want to take it home. Most pieces are available to purchase and the prices seem reasonable to me.

As well, there are several events taking place in September at the OCA of the music and literary variety, both indoor and out. These include a book launch by the prolific local author Andrea Granahan on the 26th. Go to www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org for more info.

Thanks to the monthly e-mail I receive from Fire Safe Occidental I learned about a new website www.watchduty.org that has up to date fire info for our area. This site was created locally by concerned citizens and currently covers Sonoma, Lake and Napa counties with the intent of expanding its breadth over time. Their mapping and functionality are clear and easy to use. Thank you Watch Duty folks and I look forward to seeing the site improve and expand.

Harmony/Salmon Creek opened the school year this week (Aug. 16 – Aug. 20), and it seems like things are going well, all things considered. I have been helping with drop off and pick up of my girlfriend’s kindergartner and let me tell you, the systems they have worked out to safely and efficiently get the kids to and from class are pretty amazing. There is a whole squad of school employees in the parking lot with orange vests and flags. It is truly all hands on deck with teachers, the head groundskeeper, school office manager and superintendent all on the squad. They are directing cars, helping kids out of car seats, radioing in to have your child brought out to you. I’m sure it’s not quite what anyone wants or expected but I think they have a good system and I truly appreciate all the effort required to maintain distancing, limit contact and create a safe and productive environment for our kids to be and learn in.

My condolences to the family and friends of Darlene Lamont who’s passing I became aware of through the Bodega Land Trust (BLT) newsletter. She and her husband Jim were both wonderful folks who gave countless hours of their time and effort to numerous worthy causes, Landpaths and BLT being the ones through which I had the good fortune of getting to know them a bit. You are both missed in our world.

Do you know about the Bodega Quilt Raffle? You may have seen it at the Occidental Community Farmers Market or other events around the area. It is a community-made masterpiece of cozy, functional art, and it could be yours. This year’s raffle will benefit both the Bodega Land Trust and the Bodega Fire Department. The drawing will be held in November and you can buy tickets in person at events or through the website at www.bodegalandtrust.org.

In the “because I can” category I would like use a few words to express my love and appreciation to my wonderful girlfriend Natalie. The month of September marks a year and a half that we have been together (we met a week before shelter in place last March – I know, we are so lucky) and I feel so blessed to have found my person with which to share all that life has to offer. I love you to the moon and back again!