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Get Back-to-School Ready with Your Library

It’s back-to-school time! Did you know that Sonoma County Library has educational resources for everyone, no matter your age?  Whether you’re a parent of a school-age child or a student yourself, we’ve got you covered. See below to find out how the library can support you during the school year—and beyond! All you need is your library card.
For Kids
Immerse yourself in science. Dive into environmental issues and discover how things work with our science databases. From hundreds of 3D interactive models to in-depth research on scientific topics, there is a whole world of digital science to explore. 
Explore the globe. CultureGramsprovides country reports on daily life and culture, including the background, customs, and lifestyles of the world’s people. 
Get your read on. Turn the page with Bookflix, a resource that pairs classic picture books with a related nonfiction eBook, puzzles,  and games for preschoolers through third grade.
Check out more kids’ back-to-school resources here.
For Adults
Jumpstart your future. Earn your high school diploma—for free!—with Career Online High School. Featuring a flexible timeframe and an online classroom environment, students can complete coursework according to their own schedules.
Learn at your library. The Sonoma County Library Adult Literacy Program provides one-on-one tutoring for adults who want to improve their English language and reading and writing skills. Call 707-544-2622 for more information.
Prepare for success. Build your resume, take practice tests, and sharpen your skills with LearningExpress Library. Including reading, writing, math, and basic tutorials, this resource equips adult learners with the tools they need to succeed.
Check out more adults’ back-to-school resources here.Get ReadyThank 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.  Recursos de regreso a la escuela para todas las edades ¡Es hora de volver a la escuela! ¿Sabía que la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma tiene recursos educativos para todos, sin importar su edad? Aunque sea usted un padre de un niño en edad escolar o si usted es un estudiante, lo tenemos cubierto. Echa un vistazo a la siguiente selección de recursos para el año escolar, ¡y más allá! Todo lo que necesita es su tarjeta de la biblioteca.
Para niños
Sumérjase en la ciencia. Sumérgete en temas ambientales y descubre cómo funcionan las cosas con nuestras bases de datos científicas. Desde cientos de modelos interactivos en 3D hasta investigaciones en profundidad sobre temas científicos, hay todo un mundo de ciencia digital que explorar.
Explora el mundo. CultureGramsproporciona informes de países sobre la vida cotidiana y la cultura, incluidos los antecedentes, las costumbres y los estilos de vida de las personas del mundo.
Sigue leyendo. Pase la página con Bookflix, un recurso que combina libros ilustrados clásicos con un libro electrónico de no ficción relacionado, rompecabezas y juegos para niños en edad preescolar hasta tercer grado.
Echa un vistazo a más recursos de regreso a la escuela de los niños aquí.
Para adultos
Impulsa su futuro. Obtenga su diploma de escuela secundaria—GRATIS!—con Career Online High School. Con un marco flexible y clases en línea, los estudiantes pueden completar los cursos de acuerdo con sus propios horarios.
Aprenda en su biblioteca. El Programa de Alfabetización para Adultos de la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma proporciona tutoría individual para adultos que desean mejorar su inglés y sus habilidades de lectura y escritura. Llame al 707-544-2622 para obtener más información.
Prepárese para el éxito. Cree su currículum, realice pruebas de práctica y perfeccione sus habilidades con LearningExpress Library. Incluyendo lectura, escritura, matemáticas y tutoriales básicos, este recurso equipa a los estudiantes adultos con las herramientas que necesitan para tener éxito.
Echa un vistazo más recursos de regreso a la escuela para adultos aquí.PrepáreseGracias por ser miembro de la comunidad de Bibliotecas del Condado de Sonoma. Visítenos en línea o en persona en una de nuestras sucursales. Asegúrese de consultar los trabajos disponible en la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma aquí. ¿Preguntas? Por favor llame a su biblioteca local o haga clic para mandar un mensaje.If you would like to manage which emails you receive from us, please click here. Si desea gestionar los correos electrónicos que recibe de nosotros, haga clic aquí.

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Happening This Month At Marin’s Spahr Center

August 9 12:30 to 2:30“Second Tuesday”in person atMargaret Todd Senior Center!For all those who miss being together in our discussion groups, please consider coming back! We’ll do our very best to make a safe space for you. First-timers are welcome as well!

The conversation: Making Space for New Ideas & BeliefsWhat new ideas and beliefs can we embrace that could serve us? And what old ideas and beliefs can we toss that no longer lift us up? What is there about age and appearance, purpose and wisdom that has changed? And how can we support each other to more fully embrace the life we have now?
Hill Community RoomA bigger space behind main building (see map below)Margaret Todd Senior Center1560 Hill Road, Novato 94947Doors open 12:30for casual visiting.Discussion 1 to 2:30 pmProof of vaccination required.Let’s keep our masks on when not speaking to the group.Some people may not be open to hugging;smiles, air hugs orelbow bumps may be preferable.Be sensitive to each other as you approach, and declare your safety zone.Doors and windows will be open for safety. We’ll be spread out through the large room and use a new speaker system so we can all hear each other.If you would like to get a ride or share a ride to the event, please let me know:bblackburn@thespahrcenter.orgThe arrow points to our meeting room behind the main building:
Join the Spahr Center forKings, Queens, and Vaccines: LGBTQ+ Community Picnic and COVID Vaccine ClinicAugust 21 11 am to 3 pmStafford Lake Park in NovatoThis is a family-friendly event open to all — an opportunity for our community to get together and celebrate each other! Be sure to bring your own picnic and blanket or chairs to sit on.Sonoma County singer-songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine will be performing two sets during the event. We will also have Drag Storytime (sponsored by the San Rafael Library!) at 12pm with the San Rafael Library and drag performances throughout the afternoon.
MONKEYPOXThere is a cluster of Monkeypox, increasingly called Mpox, in San Francisco’s gay community and therefore close by us here in Marin. To learn more about it, including symptoms and prevention, click here. If you want to speak with someone at The Spahr Center about monkeypox (or HIV prevention), reach out to Romario, our HIV prevention navigator, at rconrado@thespahrcenter.org. 
UPCOMING EVENTS(more info below)
August 9 Second Tuesdayat Mgt. Todd Senior Center ♿️12:30 to 2:30 / watch for details
August 10: LGBTQ Monthly Mixer at San Rafael Joe’s **♿️ from 4th Street entranceAugust 16Games Day at Sam’s Place, Novato ♿️ 
August 17: Aging Gayfully Class Begins **free on zoom with Buz HermesAugust 18Breakfast Club At Sam’s Place, Novato ♿️ 
August 21: LGBTQ Community Picnic ** Stafford Lake Park, Novato ♿️August 26Men’s Brown Bag Lunch at The Spahr Centersemi- (ramp & elevator but door not automatic)August 30Women’s Coffee at Sam’s Place, Novato ♿️ *September 10″OUT” at the Lake *noon to 3 pm at Stafford Lake Park, Novato ♿️*Social Committee event, RSVP required;to RSVP or get on their email list, write to them atsocialcommittee@comcast.net;find a link to their calendar and flyers below** See flyer below
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: 
Join Group
New participants are warmly welcomed!If you’re zoom-challenged, let me know and I’ll work with you!
Topical Thursdays12:30 to 2 pmAugust 11Topic to be chosen by group…Living Room Mondays7 to 8 pmWe share with each other about how we’re doing and have unstructured conversations focused on listening from our hearts and deepening community.
Aging GayfullyOur beloved Buz Hermes is back to deliver another series of classes that cover a wide range of subjects to provide support, information and community as we age to our best potential. Many of our community members in Marin have taken Buz’s classes and loved them. The classes are on zoom and free to all Californians. To learn more, click here.To register or for more information, please contact Buz directly at ghermes@santarosa.edu or 707/227-6935. Here’s his flyer for the series:
Coronavirus UpdatesThe 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! You can also order free at-home covid tests from the USPS by filling in the form here. 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
Social Security Opens to Survivors of Same-Sex Couples Who Could Not MarryThe Social Security Administration now allows lesbians and gay men to receive survivor’s benefits if we can show that we were in a committed relationship and would have married had that been possible. More information here.
The Spahr Center’s Food Pantry is open to seniors who need support in meeting their nutrition needs. We want to help! Items such as fresh meats, eggs and dairy, prepared meals, pasta, sauces, and canned goods are delivered weekly to people who sign up. 
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.
The Social Committee has been consistently offering fun events to offset the boredom of the pandemic. Everyone born in any month will be celebrated in that month’s email – including yourbirthday if you’ll let them know when it rolls around!Their Games Day takes place on August 16, their Breakfast Club on August 18, and Women’s Coffee on August 30 – all at Sam’s Place in Novato. Please RSVP ahead of time as participation is limited to 20 people.They request that participants please be vaccinated and healthy. Also, save the date: September 10, noon to 3 pm! The Social Committee continues their tradition of hosting fun LGBT+ senior events in the great outdoors, this time at Stafford Lake Park in Novato. Flyer coming soon…See their August calendar & flyers, click here.To sign up for their emails or register for events, click here.
Phyllis Lyon & Dell Martin Harry Hay & John BurnsideLesbian and Gay Rights Pioneers
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, click here.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; $6 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
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

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Experience the Magic of the Music of the Movies in “Hooray for Hollywood!”

Tickets to our last weekend are going fast! Transcendence is proud to announce that “Hooray for Hollywood” has received the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle’s (SFBATCC) “Go See!” Recommendation! This esteemed award means that several members of the Critics Circle have seen the show and think it is well worth attending.
We are thrilled to be included in the SFBATCC’s “Go See!” lineup, and can’t wait to celebrate our third weekend of performances at beautiful Jack London State Historic Park! 
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Our Nonprofit Partner This Weekend: Food For Thought Food Bank
Transcendence is proud to partner with Food For Thought Food Bank for our last weekend of “Hooray for Hollywood.”
Food For Thought provides lifesaving nutrition services to more than 5,000 Sonoma County residents who have a serious medical condition. They provide groceries, meals, vitamins, supplements, and nutrition education to low-income people with COVID-19, HIV, cancer, high-risk pregnancies, and more. 5% of wine sales from the entire weekend will be donated to Food For Thought Food Bank to support their important work in the community.

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Monkeypox Information for Lazy Bear Week, Russian River Residents

Goal for vaccination clinics is to reduce risk of transmission of the Monkeypox virus during the Lazy Bear week among participants and the host community. 

  • WHEN: West County Health Centers will be holding two Monkey Pox vaccine clinics on Friday, August 5th
  • LOCATION: 16387 1st Street, Guerneville CA 95446
  • TIME: 5:30-7:30pm
  • ELIGIBILITY: Due to a very limited supply of 500 vaccines available from the California Department of Public Health for this event, the following criteria must be met to receive a vaccine:
    • Registered for Lazy Bear Week  – OR –
    • Current resident or works in the lower Russian River Area  – OR – 
    • Active patient at West County Health Centers
  • REGISTRATION: No appointment required. Please bring reasonable documentation of eligibility.

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Safer Sex, Social Gatherings, and Monkeypox

While CDC works to contain the current monkeypox outbreak and learn more about the virus, this information can help you make informed choices when you are in situations or places where monkeypox could be spread.

How can a person lower their risk during sex?

Talk to your partner about any recent illness and be aware of new or unexplained rashes on your body or your partner’s body, including the genitals and anus. If you or your partner have recently been sick, currently feel sick, or have a new or an unexplained rash, do not have sex and see a healthcare provider.

If you or a partner has monkeypox, the best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal) and do not kiss or touch each other’s bodies while you are sick, especially any rash. Do not share things like towels, fetish gear, sex toys, and toothbrushes.

If you or your partner have (or think you might have) monkeypox and you decide to have sex, consider the following to reduce the chance of spreading the virus:

  • Have virtual sex with no in-person contact.
  • Masturbate together at a distance of at least 6 feet, without touching each other and without touching any rash.
  • Consider having sex with your clothes on or covering areas where rash is present, reducing as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. If the rash is confined to the genitals or anus, condoms may help; however, condoms alone are likely not enough to prevent monkeypox.
  • Avoid kissing.
  • Remember to wash your hands, fetish gear, sex toys and any fabrics (bedding, towels, clothing) after having sex. Learn more about infection control.
  • Having multiple or anonymous sex partners may increase your chances of exposure to monkeypox. Limiting your number of sex partners may reduce the possibility of exposure.
  • Avoid touching the rash. Touching the rash can spread it to other parts of the body and may delay healing.

What should a person do if they have a new or unexplained rash or other symptoms?

  • Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until you have been checked out by a healthcare provider.
  • If you don’t have a provider or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you.
  • When you see a healthcare provider, wear a mask, and remind them that this virus is circulating in the area.
  • Avoid gatherings, especially if they involve close, personal, skin-to-skin contact.

Think about the people you have had close, personal, or sexual contact during the last 21 days, including people you met through dating apps. To help stop the spread, you might be asked to share this information if you have received a monkeypox diagnosis.

How can a person lower the chance of getting monkeypox at places like raves, parties, clubs, and festivals?

night life illustration - hands in the air under a disco ball

When thinking about what to do, seek out information from trusted sources like the local health department. Second, consider how much close, personal, skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur at the event you plan to attend. If you feel sick or have a rash, do not attend any gathering, and see a healthcare provider.

  • Festivals, events, and concerts where attendees are fully clothed and unlikely to share skin-to-skin contact are safer. However, attendees should be mindful of activities (like kissing) that might spread monkeypox.
  • A rave, party, or club where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, personal, often skin-to-skin contact has some risk. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact.
  • Enclosed spaces, such as back rooms, saunas, sex clubs, or private and public sex parties where intimate, often anonymous sexual contact with multiple partners occurs, may have a higher likelihood of spreading monkeypox.

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Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic on August 6th at Marin’s Spahr Center

The Spahr Center is committed to keeping our community safe, including from the Monkeypox virus. That’s why we’re teaming up with Marin County Health and Human Services to host an LGBTQ+ Monkeypox Vaccination Clinic on August 6th. Due to vaccine shortages across California, we have only 48 vaccines available.
To be eligible, you must be a Marin County resident age 18 years or older who also meets one of the following criteria:Gay or bisexual men and transgender people who have had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days Sex workers of any genderAnyone with known exposure to someone who has monkeypox
Sign up for an appointment
Questions about Monkeypox?Equality California has lots of information on the virus, who is at risk, and what LGBTQ+ organizations and public health leaders are doing to keep our community safe. If you want to speak with someone at The Spahr Center about monkeypox (or HIV prevention), reach out to Romario, our HIV prevention navigator, at rconrado@thespahrcenter.org. 
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