The Sonoma County Library offers virtual events throughout the month of February. We have programming for all ages, including yoga, African American folktales, book clubs, and more! All events are free and you don’t need a library card to attend, however registration is required. See a selection of our February events below!
Kids & Families
Join us for a very special virtual storytime on Saturday, February 5, at 10:30 am with Drag Queen Story Hour! This fabulous event, featuring the ultra glamorous PerSia reading favorite children’s stories, will inspire a love of reading and teach deeper lessons on diversity, self-respect, and appreciation of others.
Join children’s librarians Miss Serena and Ms. Adriel for bilingual storytime on Thursday, February 24, at 4:30 pm to celebrate Jazz & Friends National Day of School & Community Readings! Ms. Adriel will read From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea and I am Jazz. Miss Serena will read Mi Princesito and Vivan las uñas de colores.
Tweens & Teens
Calling all young writers! Join us for our Tween Writing Club, a virtual series with children’s author Natasha Yim. Starting on Wednesday, February 9, at 4:00 pm, Natasha will lead young writers, ages 9-12, in monthly meetings to develop their own stories. Through writing exercises and mini-lessons, students will learn the basic elements of story structure and more!
Looking for a way to relax and unwind? Join other teens on Monday, February 14, at 4:30 pm for Mindful Monday with yoga teacher Ozlem Ozdener! Ozlem will offer a beginner’s yoga practice featuring mindful movement and breathwork. This online class is for teens only.
It’s time to celebrate! Join us on Saturday, February 26, at 1:00 pm for the second annual Sonoma County Library Teen Film Festival premiere! Together we will award the top three short films, chat with the filmmakers and judges, and virtually hand out prizes. Every teen who submitted a film will receive some library swag!
Adults
Join us online for our new monthly Climate Circles Book Club! On the second Wednesday of each month we will discuss climate change along with the book All We Can Save, edited by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katherine K. Wilkerson. We will learn from each other and regional leaders about how to address the climate crisis together and as individuals. Our first meeting is on Wednesday, February 16, at 6:00 pm. Check out the book, eBook, or eAudiobook through the library catalog. Find out more here.
Boost your resilience and creativity with Dr. Eki’Shola Edwards on Friday, February 25, at 6:00 pm! Join us for an inspiring presentation by Dr. Edwards, an award-winning musician and internist/lifestyle medicine physician, who will share her personal story of resilience and hope. Dr. Edwards will present simple techniques to foster creativity and wellness, followed by a Q&A session.
All Ages
Learn American Sign Language with our Intro to ASL for All Ages! This class series is held on the first Thursday of each month and will introduce the significance of deaf culture, how to finger spell your name, and provide an overview of basic grammar, vocabulary, numbers, and colors. Join us on Thursday, February 10, at 4:00 pm.
Celebrate Black History Month with Sonoma County Library and renowned storyteller Kirk Waller! Join us on Wednesday, February 16, at 10:30 am for African and African American folktales, legends, and history, brought to life with music, movement, singing, and the spoken word.
Book Clubs
From Queer Book Club to La Tortilla Literaria, we’ve got a book club for everyone. Check out the calendar for upcoming meetings, or click here for a list of all Sonoma County Library book clubs.
This month’s Read BIPOC Book Club is on Tuesday, February 22, at 6:00 pm and the book isThere, There by Tommy Orange. Borrow the eBook or eAudiobook. Print copies are available while supplies last. Call or text 707-978-1631 to have a copy sent to your local library for pickup.
Looking for more? Explore the full calendar! Explore the CalendarThank 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 virtuales de febrero La Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma ofrece eventos virtuales por todo el mes de febrero. ¡Tenemos programación para todas las edades, que incluye yoga, cuentacuentos folklóricos, clubes de lectura y más! Todos eventos son gratis y no necesita una tarjeta de la biblioteca para poder asistirlos, pero sí es necesario registrarse. ¡Pueda ver una selección de los eventos en febrero a continuación!
North Bay LGBTQI Families is hosting training opportunities on LGBTQIA+ youth, family, and community inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and safe spaces with your local early childhood education providers, including daycares, preschools, TK/kindergarten teachers, and schools.
There will be a 2-part virtual training series in February (on the 12th and 26th from 10a-12p) and another one in March (on the 10th & 24th from 6p-8p) with the same content, and both will be offered in English and Spanish. See the flyer images above for further details, and please circulate widely! You can also access or forward the registration link here.
North Bay LGBTQI Families is working with First 5 Sonoma County, First 5 Napa, Rainbow Action Network, the Solano County Office of Education, and The Quality Counts CA Region 1 HUB for their work in making these critically important resources available our local providers, youth, and families.
Welcome to the Rainbow Connection of the Sebastopol Senior Center! And don’t let that word “Senior” fool you, think of us as the Sebastopol FUN Center!
We are expanding our offerings to adults of ALL ages. We are a place to come to if you wish to THRIVE! Read on if you want to hear about local events offered by us (and others) for our Sonoma County LGBT+ community. Especially notice, that after a two year wait, we are hosting our famous Mardi Gras dance again on February 26th.
Check out these LGBT+ activities you can put on your 2022 calendar. Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if you need anything! Also, click HERE, for those of you new to this blog, and you can read a longer introduction about me and our LGBT+ goals. AND contact me if inquire about volunteering at our LGBT+ events or if you want to drive seniors to their doctors appointments.
Please note that all our Sebastopol Seniors Center events are subject to modification based on the state of the pandemic. As such, our dining room has closed for the month of January, but meals are still available for pick up.
Sincerely,
Scotty King Manager of Special Services Volunteer Driver Program ∙ LGBT+ Liaison 707-827-8429 direct 707-829-2440 main Sebastopol Senior Center 167 N. High Street Sebastopol CA 95472 “Remember when Giving a Ride was the Neighborly Thing to Do? It Still Is!”
LGBT+ Friendship Mixer Come meet your LGBT+ Friends and Neighbors
What: LGBT+ Friendship Mixer When: Monday February 7th, 2 – 4pm Where: Sebastopol Senior Center in person Why: Meet new LGBT+ folks Cost: Free to members, $5 non-members Go HERE to register This event is for everyone wanting to make a new friend. We will spend the first hour in a structured activity, “speed friending,” where you will get to talk with 10 new people (both men and women, all are LGBT+). You will spend 5 minutes in a 1 on 1 conversation where you can get to know each other a little better. After 5 minutes, when the bell rings, participants will move on to their next 1 on 1 conversation. During the 2nd hour, there will be an informal mixer game. You will be provided questions to ask other folks of your choice.
LGBT+ Mardi Gras DANCE
Come be Dazzled and Energized Outstanding Dance Music, Video DJ Wear Your Mardi Gras Fun Clothes
Snacks Provided Beer and Wine for Sale $5
Must show proof of vaccination at the door.
What: LGBT+ Mardi Gras DANCE When: Saturday February 26th 6:30 to 10 PM Where: Sebastopol Senior Center in person Why: Meet new LGBT+ folks & HAVE FUN
You must register in advance, as spaces might sell out. Go HERE to register (Available after January 6th) Email Scotty if you have any questions, Scotty. (scotty@sebastopolseniorcenter.org)
Cost: Pre-Purchase – $15 Each for Members; $20 for non-members
If you would like any information about volunteering for this dance, please email Scotty
Redwood Rainbows Square Dance Club Let’s Dance!
Come LGBT+ dancing with the largest Gay Square-Dancing club in the country! Meets in Sebastopol * Everyone is welcome * No partner needed. Beginners class is starting January 12th 2022 Give it a try—the first class is free! Gently exercise your body and mind while moving to music and having fun. Dance either role! For more information visit this website or email them at contact@redwoodrainbows.org
The 10 Warning Sings Of Alzheimer’s
This Alzheimer’s Talk is presented by an out gay man, (and Golden Guy), Gene Girimonte. He lives locally and is a Volunteer Community Educator for the Alzheimer’s Association. All LGBT+ folks VERY welcome. This program will help you recognize common signs of the disease in yourself and others and next steps to take, including how to talk to your doctor.
When: Tuesday, January 18th, 11 – 12:30pm Where: Sebastopol Senior Center in person Why: Delay cognitive decline as long as possible Cost: Free to members, $5 non-members Go HERE to register
New GBT Men’s Group Forming in Oakmont Give Mike a call if you want to find out more and when the next potluck is happening. What: Silver Guys Where: East Rec Center, Oakmont Who: Mike Sotak 707.291.9724 sotak.michael@yahoo.com
Rainbow Women of Oakmont
A large number of lesbians live in the Oakmont community, about 200. For more information about this women’s group, please call: (707) 623-9097 Educational, social and community service group for residents of Oakmont Village in Santa Rosa.
Live Theater in Sebastopol: The Glass Menagerie
I am super excited to see this at our local live theater, Main Stage West! The manager there was so gracious to let me know that on Thursday nights, they have “Pay What You Can” or “2 for 1” night for those of us on budgets. The Glass Menagerie Jan 21 – Feb 12, 2022 Thurs, Fri, Sat @ 8pm; Sun @ 5pm Click here for more: Main Stage West
Senior Peer Counseling Starting in Sebastopol Needs More LGBT+ Folks!
I am very excited about this! They are looking for more LGBT+ folks to join the new class starting in late January 2022.
From: Melissa Fike, MFT Senior Adult Counseling Division Director West County Community Services
“West County Community Service’s Senior Peer Counseling Program has this VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY. Are you interested in giving back to the community while helping a population in much need of support & compassion? Consider becoming a volunteer Senior Peer Counselor. Our peer counselors, ages 55+, are compassionate individuals who give their time to help their peers navigate the challenges of aging. Isolation, grief, and depression are common struggles facing seniors. Our training program is provided by licensed clinical staff and is designed to give participants the tools necessary to recognize and assist with the stresses and transitions seniors experience.
Ongoing training and supervision are also a critical component for this program. West County Community Service’s Senior Peer Counseling Program reaches out to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Seniors to ensure these valuable services are also available to the LGBT+ community. LGBT+ community member volunteers enrich these services. We are currently recruiting for our next Senior Peer Counselor training which will begin in late January 2022. The training will run from late January through mid-May (35 hours total). We only offer this training every other year, and the class is limited to 8 participants. We have a great group of volunteers – compassionate and caring individuals who bring a wealth of experience from their own lives to the work. Some have experience in the counseling area, some not at all. They are people who want to learn and grow themselves, are interested in exploring their own aging process, and want to give back to the community. We have a lot of fun too. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Melissa Fike via email HERE, or call 707-823-1640 ext. 301″
LGBTQI History: A Sonoma County Timeline 1947-2000. Wednesdays 1:30-3pm. Online via Zoom. Spring semester 2022 begins January 19! Looking forward to seeing you there! Please contact me to enroll in this FREE class and receive a Zoom invite: cdungan@santarosa.edu
SRJC’s “Aging Gayfully!” From Gary “Buz” Hermes His next class will meet on zoom, on Saturday’s 11 am – 1 pm January 22 – May 28, 2022 For more information go to Gary “Buz” Hermes or contact Buz, or call (707) 227-6935 AND, Buz suggests this documentary film about LGBT+ Seniors “Hi! I thought you might enjoy this 14 minute film of Interviews of LGBT elders. LGBT+ seniors have demonstrated great resilience of humanity over hardship throughout the years, paving the way for a better and more accepting future for generations to come.”
Not Another Second – is the first in a national series of cultural campaigns from Watermark Retirement Communities – and tells the untold stories of 12 LGBT+ seniors and explores the years they lost due to societal constraints.
Have you been thinking about going back to school? Through Career Online High School’s online, accredited program, adults can earn a high school diploma and a career certificate, free with your Sonoma County Library card!
Finish high school and receive job training in an online environment that’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are a limited number of scholarships available to qualified adults who are looking to advance their careers, prepare for workforce entry, or continue their education. Find out more here.
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.
Proyectos comunitarios con la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma
¡Celebre la comunidad con su biblioteca durante esta temporada de fiestas! Dependemos de nuestra comunidad ahora más que nunca, y estamos ofreciendo varios proyectos comunitarios en nuestras sucursales.
¿Le interesa? ¡Descubra abajo cómo puede involucrarse!
Gracias 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.
An Invitation to Join our Youth Leadership TeamUna invitación para unirse a nuestro equipo de liderazgo juvenil Click on the picture below and check out our Interview of past Youth Leaders and listen to what they have to say about their experience!!!
¡Haga clic en la imagen a continuación y vea nuestra entrevista de líderes juveniles anteriores y escuche lo que tienen que decir sobre su experiencia!
LGBTQ YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAM
The YLT is a team of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) youth that create events and advocate for change in partnership with LGBTQ Connection.
El YLT es un equipo de jóvenes LGBTQ (lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgénero y queer) que crean eventos y abogan por el cambio en asociación con LGBTQ Connection.
Interested?¿Interesado?Youth who are interested can click on the link below and fill out the form.
Los jóvenes que estén interesados pueden hacer clic en el enlace a continuación y completar el formulario.
BenefitsBeneficiosLearn skills in advocacy and activism. Make friends you can rely on, earn community service hours, and explore scholarship opportunities!
Aprende habilidades en defensa y activismo. ¡Haga amigos en los que pueda confiar, gane horas de servicio comunitario y explore oportunidades de becas!
Upcoming eventsSonoma County Library is hosting a QUEER BOOK CLUB for ages 18+. If you’re interested in signing up call your local library or click on the link here:
La biblioteca del condado de Sonoma está organizando un QUEER BOOK CLUB para mayores de 18 años. Si está interesado en inscribirse, llame a su biblioteca local o haga clic en el enlace aquí:
The Sonoma County Library offers programming for all ages. Join us for virtual events throughout the month of January, from bilingual storytimes to book clubs! All events are free and you don’t need a library card to attend, however registration is required. Explore a selection of January events below!
Kids & Families
sHelp get your child ready to read with bilingual family storytime on Wednesday, January 5, at 10:30 am! Join a children’s librarian and model the everyday practices of talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing with books, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs. For families and caregivers with children, ages 0-6.Listen to librarians read to you with Dial-a-Story! Call (707) 755-2050 to listen to a recording of children’s librarians reading storybooks. New stories available each Wednesday. Stories are available in English and Spanish and geared towards preschool age children. Tweens/Teens Are you an amateur filmmaker? All Sonoma County teens ages 12 to 19 are invited to compete in our second annual Teen Film Festival! Take some time over the winter break to shoot and edit your own 6-minute masterpiece. A jury will review all submitted entries and select films screened at the festival. Prizes will be awarded for the top films. Accepting submissions now through Tuesday, February 1.
Adults Join us online for our new monthly Queer Book Club! The club offers readers the opportunity to meet virtually with librarians and discuss books centering on LGBTQ+ voices. Our first meeting is on Wednesday, January 12, at 6:00 pm and the book is Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Discussions are held on the second Wednesday of each month. Check out through Hoopla (eBook) or through the library catalog. Find out more here.
It’s winter and weather can be challenging. Join us on Saturday, January 22, from 11:00 am-12:00 pm and learn how to be ready for whatever comes your way this winter. Sonoma County Emergency Management, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and California Highway Patrol will present on winter risks and how to stay informed.All AgesDon’t forget to join our Winter Reading Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a Sonoma County Regional Parks Pass! Add a little fun to your winter and complete 10 out of 15 tasks to enter. You have until January 31 to complete the challenge. The raffle winner will be notified on Tuesday, February 1!
Book Clubs
Love book clubs? We’ve got you covered! Check out the calendar for virtual and in-person clubs, or click here for a list of all Sonoma County Library book clubs.This month’s Read BIPOC Book Club is on Tuesday, January 25, at 6:00 pm and the book is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Borrow the eBook or eAudiobook. Physical copies available (while supplies last) at Cloverdale Regional Library. Call 707-894-5271 to have a copy held for you, either at Cloverdale or sent to your local library for pickup.Looking for more? Explore the full calendar! Explore the Calendar
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.
Eventos virtuales de enero La Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma brinda eventos para todas edades. ¡Únase a nosotros para eventos virtuales todo el mes de enero, desde horas de cuento bilingües hasta clubes de lectura! Todos los eventos son gratis y no necesita una tarjeta de biblioteca para asistir, pero sí es necesario registrarse. ¡Explore los eventos de enero a continuación!
Niños y familias¡Ayude a prepararle a su hijo a leer con la hora de cuento bilingüe para familias el miércoles, 5 de enero a las 10:30am! Acompañe a una bibliotecaria de niños para modelar las prácticas diarias de conversación, canto, lectura, escritura, y juego con libros, rimas, canciones, y movimiento. Para familias y cuidadores con niños de 0 a 6 años.¡Escuche un cuento leído por una bibliotecaria con Telecuentos! Llame al (707) 755-2050 para escuchar un cuento. Presentamos nuevos cuentos cada miércoles. Marque 2 para el cuento en español y 1 para el cuento en inglés. Los cuentos son para niños preescolares en adelante. Adolescentes y jóvenes¿Eres un cineasta aficionado? ¡Todos los adolescentes de 12 a 19 años en el condado de Sonoma están invitados a competir en el segundo festival de cine para adolescentes! Toma tiempo durante las vacaciones de invierno para grabar y editar tu propia mini película de maravilla de 6 minutos. Un jurado revisará las entregas y seleccionará las películas que estarán estrenadas en el festival. Los premios se estarán otorgados a las mejores películas.
Obras aceptadas AHORA hasta el 1 de febrero. Adultos
Sunday January 9, 2022 @ 3 pm. ‘Words and Music’, featuring Laurie Lewis, Don Henry, and Claudia Russell with Nina Gerber at Occidental Center for the Arts. Join us for an afternoon of outstanding music when three celebrated, award-winning singer-songwriters return to our stage to trade songs in a Nashville-style song circle, accompanied by virtuoso guitarist Nina Gerber. Don’t miss this special collaboration of talent at our acoustic sweet spot! $30 General/$25 OCA Members. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. Please be masked and bring proof of Covid vaccine/ID. Fine refreshments available, Art Gallery open. OCA is accessible to people with disabilities. Become an OCA Member and get discounts/free admission. Occidental Center for the Arts – 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465.
