LGBTQI History: A Sonoma County Timeline 1947-2000.
Wednesdays 1:30-3pm. Online via Zoom. On April 12,
we will be talking with Adam Richmond about various local
efforts to combat anti-LGBTQI violence during the 1980s-90s.
Please contact me to enroll in this FREE class
and receive a Zoom invite: cdungan@santarosa.edu
| UPCOMING EVENTSall events are free April 4LGBTQ+ & HIV+ Grief Group **at the Spahr Center and on zoomemail Nikki for info and registration:nmillett@thespahrcenter.org(see flyer below for more details)7 to 8 pm April 6Topical Thursdays12:30 to 2 pm on zoomWhat To Do with All Our Stuff? See topic writeup belowTo join group, find purple Join Group button below April 11Second Tuesday LGBT+ Senior Group at Mgt. Todd Senior Center 1560 Hill Road, Novato  in the Hill Community Room behind the main building(see site map & more information below)Topic: What Advice Would You GiveYounger Generations? What Would You Like to Learn from Them?12:30 to 2:30April 12LGBT+ Senior Monthly Mixer **at San Rafael Joe’s please RSVP to Bill: bblackburn@thespahrcenter.org4:30 to 6 pm -from 4th Street entranceApril 18Games Day *at Sam’s Place, Novato 1545 S. Novato Blvd.meal at 2 pm, games at 3 pm April 20Senior Breakfast Club *at Sam’s Place, Novato 9:30 amApril 25Women’s Coffee *at Sam’s Place, Novato 10 amApril 25Fourth TuesdayWest Marin LGBT Senior Town Hallin-person at San Geronimo Valley Community Center 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd12:30 to 1 brown bag/1-2:30 discussionApril 28Men’s Brown Bag Lunchlast Friday of every monthdownstairs at the Spahr Centersemi- ramp but no automatic door150 Nellen Ave. #100, Corte Maderanoon to 1:30 pm* Social Committee event, must RSVP, at least 8 participants required;to RSVP or get on their email list, write to them at socialcommittee@comcast.net |
To join the Spahr Senior Groupon ZoomMondays, 7 to 8 pm, &Thursdays, 12:30 to 2 pm,click the purple button below the Butterfly Heart or here: |
| New participants are warmly welcomed!If you’re zoom-challenged, let me know and I’ll work with you! |
| Topical Thursdays12:30 to 2 pm March 30What Can We Do with All Our Stuff?I’m hearing a common thread running through many of our conversations: many of the things that we own are increasingly a burden. How can we sort through our stuff and decide what to let go of and what to keep? What do we base that decision on? After all, cliches are often true: You can’t take it with you. |
Living Room Mondays7 to 8 pm We share with each other about how we’re doing and have unstructured conversations focused on listening from our hearts and deepening community. |
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The Northbay LGBT+ Senior Social Committee has been consistently offering meaningful, fun events for the senior community. Everyone born in any month will be celebrated in that month’s email – including your birthday if you’ll let them know when it rolls around! To sign up for their emails or register for events, click here. You can check out their March calendar by clicking here. |
| Coronavirus Updates Covid Test Expiration Dates Extended:When the tests were created, a conservative date was assigned because authorities didn’t know how long they would be effective. They are working beyond their original expiration date and have been assigned new ones. You can check on your kits’ expiration date and learn more by clicking here. IF your kit is made by Quickvue, you can search for the updated expiration date here. The Spahr Center has coronavirus rapid home test kits & masks and they are available for free in the office – 150 Nellen Avenue, Suite 100, Corte Madera 94925; 415/457-2487. The office is open 10 am – 3 pm weekdays. Only vaccinated people may come to the office and masks must be worn inside the building. Any staff person can direct you to the kits. This is a great resource we are pleased to offer, please don’t hesitate to get these kits! In order to keep track of new infections, the County asks that we report self-test results here. To see Marin County’s latest pandemic information, click here. The mask recommendations of the Mask Nerd– an aerosol scientist who studies mask effectiveness – are featured in this article and highly informative video. May we all be safe and well! |
| Community Notices |
| The Spahr Center’s Food Pantry is open to seniors who need support in meeting their nutritional needs. We want to help! Items such as fresh vegies, fruit & meats, eggs and dairy, prepared meals, pasta, sauces, and canned goods are delivered weekly to people who sign up. Robert, our Pantry Manager, does a terrific job in trying to meet the individual needs and preferences of the people we serve. |  |
| Contact The Spahr Center for more information: info@thespahrcenter.org or 415/457-2487Space for your Community Notice here. Email Bill with information at bblackburn@thespahrcenter.org. |
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Vivalon Resources for Seniors Whistlestop, now renamed Vivalon, offers many resources for us seniors, now listed in this easy-to-print one-page guide. Access to rides, food, classes, activities, resources, referrals, and more. Membership not required for most classes and services during the pandemic. Some in-person events are being planned. To get Vivalon’s listings, clickhere. They also provide access to resources including rides for older adults. Please note: there is a 3-week registration process for the ride program so register now if you think you may need rides in the future. Click here for their website. The Jackson Cafe has great specials, a roomy dining room, small tables and big round tables for groups. Open 11:30 to 1:45; $8 for members, $10 for guests, with takeout readily available. You can find their daily changing menu and more information here. |
| Building Community in the Midst of Sheltering-in-PlaceSee old friends and make new ones! Join us!The Spahr Center’s LGBT Senior Discussion Groupscontinue everyMonday, 7 to 8 pm& Thursday, 12:30 to 2 pm on zoom |
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| To Join Group by Video using Computer, Smart Phone or TabletJust click this button at the start time, 6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:Join GroupAlways the same link! Try it, it’s easy! |
| To Join Group by Phone CallIf you don’t have internet connections or prefer joining by phone,call the following number at the start time,6:55 pm Mondays / 12:25 pm Thursdays:1-669-900-6833The Meeting id is 820 7368 6606#(no participant id required)The password, if requested, is 135296#If you want to be called into the group by phone, notify Bill Blackburn at 415/450-5339 |
| California Department of Aging ResourcesThe CDA has a website that is packed with information and resources relevant to the lives of seniors in our state. From Covid-19 updates to more general care for age-related health issues, access to legal assistance to getting home-delivered meals to help with housing, you may well find answers to your questions by clicking: here. |
| Adult and Aging Service’s Information and Assistance Line, providing information and referrals to the full range of services available to older adults, adults with disabilities and their family caregivers, has a new phone number and email address: 415/473-INFO (4636) 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays473INFO@marincounty.org |
 Miwok Hill, Novato! 3/27/23 |
Questions? Assistance? Suggestions? We have resources and volunteers for:grocery deliveryfood assistanceproviding weekly comfort calls to check in on youplus more! Bill BlackburnLGBTQ+ Senior Program Managerbblackburn@thespahrcenter.org415/450-5339 Funding for this program, at least in part, is made available by the Older Americans Act, administered locally by the Marin Department of Health & Human Services, Aging & Adult Services. |
| Join the Sonoma County Library for events throughout the month of April, from meditative sound baths to book-making. All events are free and you don’t need a library card to attend; registration is required for select events. See some of our April events below! Kids & Families Join us for Bilingual Family Concerts with Nathalia! Nathalia’s catchy original songs will have everyone singing, dancing, and learning Spanish. At six library locations: Roseland, Rincon Valley, Sonoma Valley, Rohnert Park-Cotati, Cloverdale, and Northwest. For grades K-6.Celebrate el día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day)at a Mi Libro/My Book Workshop! Make your own book with drawings, collage, and/or photos at eight library locations: Roseland, Rohnert Park-Cotati, Guerneville, Petaluma, Northwest, Rincon Valley, Central Santa Rosa, and Windsor. For grades K-6. Tweens & Teens Join us for Intro to Chinese Calligraphy! Learn the essential elements, including how to hold the brush, basic strokes, and simple words. At four library locations: Central Santa Rosa, Windsor, Petaluma, and Roseland. For grades 7-12.Create your own mini zine at a Mini Zine Workshop! Paper, pens, pencils, markers, magazines, and stickers will be provided. At five library locations: Petaluma, Central Santa Rosa, Northwest, Roseland, and Sonoma Valley. For grades 7-12.All Ages Celebrate Earth Day and take a virtual reality ocean expedition with National Geographic Explorer Dr. Erika Woolsey. Join us on Saturday, April 22 at 11:00 am at the Cloverdale Library or 3:00 pm at the Guerneville Library! AdultsLearn how to budget and organize information in our Introduction to Microsoft Excel classes at Central Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Sonoma Valley. The library also offers a Navigating the Google Cloudclass; available at Roseland, Sonoma Valley, and Windsor.Relax and unwind at a Meditative Sound Bath! Tune in as musician Phoenix Song sings and plays the didgeridoo, esraj, native flute, drums, and hand pans; leave feeling refreshed and renewed. Please bring your own towel or yoga mat. Available at four library locations: Central Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Rincon Valley, and Sonoma Valley.Looking for more? Explore the full calendar! Explore the CalendarA Reminder from Your Library: Upcoming Holiday Closure All library branches will be closed on Sunday, April 9. We look forward to seeing you when we reopen on Monday, April 10! Thank you for being a member of the Sonoma County Library community. Visit us online or in person at one of our branches. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here. Questions? Please call your local library branch or click here to send us a message. Eventos de abril Únase a la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma para los eventos en persona y virtuales ofrecidos durante el mes de abril. Presentamos eventos como baños de sonido meditativo hasta talleres de encuadernación de libros. Todos los eventos son gratuitos y no necesita una tarjeta de la biblioteca para asistir; sí es necesario registrarse para algunos eventos. ¡Vea una selección de los eventos de abril a continuación! Niños y familias ¡Únete a conciertos familiares bilingües con Nathalia! ¡Las canciones originales y memorables de Nathalia harán que todos canten, bailen y tal vez incluso aprendan un poco de español. Nathalia estará en seis bibliotecas, las de: Roseland, Rincon Valley, Sonoma Valley, Rohnert Park-Cotati, Cloverdale y Northwest. Para los grados de K-6. ¡Celebra el Día de los Niños/el Día de los Libros en el Taller Mi Libro! Harás tu propio libro usando dibujos, collage y / o fotos en ocho bibliotecas, las de: Roseland, Rohnert Park-Cotati, Guerneville, Petaluma, Northwest, Rincon Valley, Central Santa Rosa y Windsor. Para los grados de K-6. Adolescentes ¡Ven a uno de los talleres de introducción a la caligrafía china! Aprende lo básico, incluyendo los elementos esenciales de la caligrafía china, cómo sostener el pincel, trazos básicos, y palabras simples. Ofrecido en cuatro bibliotecas, las de: Central Santa Rosa, Windsor, Petaluma y Roseland. Para los grados de 7-12 ¡Crea tu propio mini zine en uno de nuestros talleres! Usaremos papel, bolígrafos, lápices, marcadores, revistas y calcomanías para crear nuestros propios mini-zines. Habrá talleres en las bibliotecas de: Petaluma, Central Santa Rosa, Northwest, Roseland y Sonoma Valley. Para los grados de 7-12. Todas las edades |
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Save the date for the Spring 2023 One Love Diversity Fair to be held on April 5th from 11am – 2pm at the Santa Rosa Campus.
Join us in the quad to celebrate all that makes SRJC the epicenter of community and inclusion. This event is committed to recognizing and promoting awareness and appreciation for the value of diversity at Santa Rosa Junior College and in our community.
This year’s focus will be on building community and connecting students and staff to health and wellness/mental health resources. The event will also include a community art project, DIY craft tables, music, food, and much more!
This is a great way for students to find their community, and for staff to promote programs and services.
There are several ways to support this year’s One Love Diversity Fair:
https://welcome.santarosa.edu/one-love-diversity-fair
North Bay LGBTQI Families is supporting First 5 in outreaching to families and/or caregivers in Sonoma County to seek input regarding how to shape home visiting services to best serve children and families.
Voices from the community are critical for creating an integrated, equitable, coordinated system of support through home visiting. First 5 is inviting parents/family members in our community to participate in this process by completing a survey, attending a focus group, and/or engaging in an interview, where they will have the opportunity to share their parenting experiences and offer ideas and suggestions about how to best serve families in Sonoma County.
You can sign up to participate by submitting the interest form available at this link or via the QR code shown in the flyers above. You can also call (650) 353-2245 and leave a message or email assistant@hamaiconsulting.com with your name, email, and phone number and you will be contacted regarding next steps.
TRANSLIFE needs volunteers for their April 29 conference. Allies are welcome and encouraged to volunteer, folks should have a general understanding of what it means to be affirming to the trans community. We have two shifts: 9:00 am-1:00 pm and 1:00 pm-5:00 pm. You are also welcome to volunteer for the whole day. There are two types of volunteers, general volunteers and safety volunteers. General volunteers do various tasks which can include things like registration, welcomers, hall monitors, food set up and break down, room clean up, and assisting committee members, staff, and facilitators. Safety volunteers will work the parameters, engage in bag checks, and communicate with staff and committee. The conference is at Finley Center in Santa Rosa.
Please consider supporting the transgender community during this important event. If you are part of an organization please check in with others and spread the word. The trans community is facing an onslaught of discrimination at all levels and we need to ban together to encourage resiliency in our community.
To volunteer or for more information, email TRANSLIFE at info@translifeconference.org
Join Sonoma County Pride as we fundraise to update downtown Santa Rosa’s rainbow flags to be more inclusive! Sonoma County Pride is looking for community support to update the county’s largest rainbow flag that we raise every year on top of the Rosenberg Building in downtown Santa Rosa to officially kick off pride month for Sonoma County.
Since 2018 we’ve been raising a 10ft by 6th 6 strips classic LGBT Pride flag. This year we ask for your help for us to update this flag as well as all the street flags in downtown Santa Rosa.
The new design is not widely made at the moment and Sonoma County Pride would like your help to commission a flag manufacturer (based in San Diego California & which is LGBT owned) to make a 10ft by 6th marine nylon and hand-sewn. Hence why we need your help, the new flag is going to cost approximately $800.00 – We thank you in advance for your support!
NOTE: at the time we started this GoFundMe we were also going to ask for your help to also update all the street pole banners in downtown Santa Rosa. However, our friends and annual sponsor FastSigns of Sonoma County has committed to updating all the pole flags as part of their 2023 Sponsorship! THANK YOU FASTSIGNS! – Please remember them when you need your banners and decorations for your parade float!!
About the new Intersex Inclusive Progress Pride Flag – The new design builds on Daniel Quasar’s instantly iconic 2018 Progress Pride flag, which added a five-striped chevron to the left side of the flag representing LGBTQ+ people of color and the trans community. (Quasar’s design, in turn, was an update to the city of Philadelphia’s 2017 Pride flag, which added black and brown stripes above the six rainbow stripes.)
Intersex columnist and media personality Valentino Vecchietti designed a new rendition of the rainbow Pride flag in 2021. The flag was officially unveiled by the advocacy group Intersex Equality Rights UK in late May 2021 but has since spread virally on social media.
In Vecchietti’s rendition, a purple circle superimposed over a yellow triangle has been added to the chevron on the left half of Quasar’s design — an homage to the popular 2013 intersex flag designed by Australian bioethicist and researcher Morgan Carpenter.
Donate Here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-update-our-rainbow-flag-to-be-inclusive
LGBTQI Community Centers in Sonoma County
LGBTQI History: A Sonoma County Timeline 1947-2000.
Wednesdays 1:30-3pm. Online via Zoom. On March 15,
we will be discussing several historical efforts at creating
LGBTQI Community Centers in Sonoma County. Looking
forward to seeing you there! Please contact me to enroll
in this FREE class and receive a Zoom invite:
ART AND PEP
Their activism is a love unlike any other. Art and Pep are the owners of Chicago’s iconic bar, Sidetrack. As civil rights leaders who have been fighting for LGBTQ+ equality for decades, their activism is the focus of their struggle to live and love freely. Filmmakers Attending for post-screening Q&A.
Click to order tickets:
Fri, Mar 17th, 7:00 PM @ Rialto Cinemas® #9
DONNA
Donna Personna first hit the stage with the legendary Cockettes. Ecstatic lip-synching in San Francisco’s downtown bars was a far cry from Donna’s Baptist upbringing in San Jose. Her story proves: it’s never too late to find your métier and truly blossom. Filmmaker Attending, Post-Screening Q&A.
Click to order tickets:
Sun, Mar 19th, 2:15 PM @ Little Red Hen – SCA
HOPE ACRE
Set in Sebastopol, Bonnie and Jai own Hope Acre Farm where they grow organic tomatoes and beans. With a flock of animals and a new baby, they bring on more hands with the help of volunteers. Filmmakers Attending, Post-Screening Q&A.
Click to order tickets:
Sun, Mar 19th, 12:00 PM @ Little Red Hen – SCA
JEWELLE: A JUST VISION
From Black Power in late-60s Boston, to AIDS activism in mid-80s New York, to Marriage Equality in early-10s San Francisco, this profile shines a hope-filled spotlight on Lambda Award-winning novelist, activist and philanthropist Jewelle Gomez. Filmmaker Attending, Post-Screening Q&A.
Click to order tickets:
Sat, Mar 18th, 5:30 PM @ Rialto Cinemas® #9
INSIDE THE BEAUTY BUBBLE
Enter The Beauty Bubble Salon & Museum, a pastel dreamland of 3,000 vintage beauty artifacts in the desert community of Joshua Tree, California and meet its owner, proprietor, and “America’s hairstorian” Jeff Hafler. Filmmakers Attending, Post-Screening Q&A for live event.
Click to order tickets:
Sat, Mar 18th, 1:30 PM @ Rialto Cinemas® #6
NELLIE AND NADINE
Theirs is the unlikely love story between two women who fell in love on Christmas Eve, 1944, in the Ravensbruck concentration camp, a German camp exclusively for women. Despite being separated in the last months of the war, they manage to reunite and spend the rest of their life together.
Click to order tickets:
Sat, Mar 18th, 12:15 PM @ Robert Brent Auditorium – SCA
THE RUTH BRINKER STORY
Retired food-service worker, Ruth Brinker, became a pioneer of HIV care in her community and would become a legend among San Franciscans. Along with her team of volunteers, Ruth founded Project Open Hand, the largest provider of nutrition to the HIV/AIDS community. Filmmakers Attending, Post-Screening Q&A for live event.
Click to order tickets:
Sat, Mar 18th, 5:30 PM @ Rialto Cinemas® #9
Some OUTwatch films are available for online viewing after they are screened to a live audience.
There are other SDFF documentaries that are LGBTQI-themed. Including:
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM IN PRISON
PROGNOSIS – NOTES ON LIVING
For more information, go to: https://sebastopolfilmfestival.org
Ginger Beavers is back! See the Gingersnaps (Ginger, Cindy Brillhart-True & Bonnie Jean Shelton), plus Joey Favalora, Ezra Hernandez and Alanna Weatherby. Join us for a night of superb musical numbers from shows past and present. A Stage Left Studio production.