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Happening in April at Marin’s LGBT+ Spahr Center

April 12“Second Tuesday”in person atMargaret Todd Senior Center!
At our event on April 12, we’ll be joining with GMOM& the Social Committee in remembering Morris Simpson who died recently, just 3 months short of his 100th birthday. If we have time, we’ll be remembering others in our community who have passed on. 
See flyer below prepared by Debbie Alcouloumre of the Social Committee. 
UPCOMING EVENTS(

April 12 Second Tuesday at Mgt. Todd
April 14New Horizons at Osher Marin JCCWelcoming Our New ED, Adrian Shanker,Expressing Our Gratitude to Dana Van Gorder
April 19Games Day at Sam’s Place*
April 21Senior Breakfast at Sam’s Place*
April 21 Talent Show Encore!
April 26Women’s Coffee at Sam’s Place*

*Social Committee event, registration requiredby emailing them at [email protected];find a link to their April calendar and flyers below
** See flyer below
*** New grassroots multigenerational group,see flyer & more info 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 pm
March 31 We Talk About Our Lives
April 21A Compilation of Past Talent ShowsWe’ve heard from a number of you that you missed the chance to see the Talent Shows that our talented community created last year under the guidance of impresario Jerry Schmitz. So we’re offering a chance to see those performances again on a Thursday the 21st, 12:30 to 2 pm on zoom!

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.

Please Join Us for New Horizons Our Upcoming Event to Welcome Adrian Shanker and Celebrate Dana Van Gorder!
Join us for New Horizons on Thursday, April 14th from 6pm-7:30. We will be welcoming Adrian, our new ED, and saying bon voyage to Dana in just a few weeks! 
The celebration will take place at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Tickets are required, and cost $65 for one and $115 for two. You can purchase them online here. If the cost of tickets is challenging, please let me know: this event is about creating community and I have comp tickets easily available: [email protected]. 
Please note that the JCC requires proof of at least two Covid-19 vaccinations to enter so we will require participants to show their proof of vaccination. In accordance with county guidance, masks are recommended, but not required.
Coronavirus Updates
The Spahr Center has coronavirus rapid home test kits 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: [email protected] or 415/457-2487

Space for your Community Notice here. Email Bill with information at [email protected].
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! 
Games Day is on April 19 at 2 pm for meal & 3 pm for games, Senior Breakfast Club on April 21 at 9:30, and Women’s Coffee on 10 am April 26. All will be held at Sam’s Place in Novato. They request that participants please be vaccinated and healthy. 
Please register ahead of time as participation is limited to 20 people.
To see their April calendar & flyers, click here. 
To sign up for their emails or register for events, click here.
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. 
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
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 weekdays[email protected]

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Join Positive Images LGBTQIA+ Center & North Bay LGBTQI Families for a Social Saturday: Intergenerational Gathering on April 9

Join Positive Images LGBTQIA+ Center and North Bay LGBTQI Families for a Social Saturday: Intergenerational Gathering on April 9th from 10am-1pm at Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol! We will be gathering at the Gazebo, which we’ve reserved all day.

All LGBTQIA+ youth, families, adults, and elders are welcome at Social Saturdays, which are a recurring series of monthly events taking place throughout Sonoma County where we are seeking to bring together members of our community across generations, particularly gender expansive youth, teens, and adults.

At our April gathering we are excited to be offering two amazing activities: an all-ages hike and a music performance!

Hiking: For participants interested in nature and movement, Ciel Muir (he/him), a queer and trans California naturalist will lead an all-ages hike. A former environmental educator with Sonoma County Regional Parks, Ciel enjoys sharing his love of art and the outdoors with those around him. When not exploring the outdoors he enjoys spending time as a plant and cat dad while working on his own art. Our hike will start at approximately 11:00am.

Music: For participants interested in listening to a musical performance, RAD (she/her/ellx) is a local folk musician, who will play ukulele while singing originals and well-known favorites in English and Spanish! RAD will perform from 10:30am-12pm. @radfolkmusic

We will have $50 gift cards available at the picnic to families for whom financial barriers such as the cost of gas, a meal, or missed work would otherwise prevent them from attending. If you feel your family could benefit from this support, please fill out the form at the following link:

bit.ly/lgbtqia-picnic

We at Positive Images and North Bay LGBTQI Families are still very aware of and concerned about the spread of COVID-19. If you are feeling sick in any way, please stay home and take care of yourself. Masks are strongly encouraged. We will have masks on hand for those who may need them. We will maintain social distancing from one another at all times.

We’re excited to see you then!

**********

Acompañe a Positive Images LGBTQIA + Center y North Bay LGBTQI Families para un sábado social: ¡Reunión intergeneracional el 9 de abril de 10 a. m. a 1 p. m. en Ragle Ranch Regional Park en Sebastopol! Nos reuniremos en el kiosko, que hemos reservado por todo el día.

Todos los jóvenes, familias, adultos y ancianos LGBTQIA + son bienvenidos en esta reunión, que es parte de una serie recurrente de eventos mensuales que se llevan a cabo en todo el condado de Sonoma, donde buscamos reunir a miembros de nuestra comunidad a través de generaciones, particularmente jóvenes, adolescentes y adultos con género expansivo.

En nuestra reunión de abril, estamos emocionados de ofrecer dos actividades increíbles: ¡una caminata para todas las edades y una actuación musical!

Caminata: Para los participantes interesados ​​en la naturaleza y el movimiento, Ciel Muir (él), un naturalista queer y trans de California, dirigirá una caminata para todas las edades. Ciel, ex educador ambiental de los Parques Regionales del Condado de Sonoma, disfruta compartir su amor por el arte y el aire libre con quienes lo rodean. Cuando no está explorando al aire libre, disfruta pasar tiempo como padre de plantas y gato mientras trabaja en su propia arte. Nuestra caminata comenzará aproximadamente a las 11:00 a. m.

Música: Para los participantes interesados ​​en escuchar una actuación musical, RAD (ella/ellx) es una música folclórica local, que tocará el ukelele mientras canta originales y conocidos favoritos en inglés y español. RAD actuará de 10:30 a. m. a 12 p. m. @radfolkmusic

Tendremos tarjetas de regalo de $ 50 disponibles en la reunión para las familias para quienes barreras financieras como el costo de la gasolina, una comida o el trabajo perdido les impedirían asistir. Si cree que su familia podría beneficiarse de este apoyo, complete el formulario en el siguiente enlace:

bit.ly/lgbtqia-picnic

En Positive Images y North Bay LGBTQI Families todavía estamos muy conscientes y preocupados por la propagación del COVID-19. Si se siente mal de alguna manera, quédese en casa y cuídese. Se recomienda encarecidamente el uso de máscaras. Tendremos máscaras a mano para quienes las necesiten. Mantendremos el distanciamiento social entre nosotros en todo momento.

¡Estamos emocionados de verte entonces!

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Marin’s Spahr Center Transgender Day of Visibility Happens March 31

We will be hosting a community art making event to decorate our upstairs meeting space! Drop in anytime between 4pm and 7pm on Thursday March 31 to make art, listen to music, and be in community. We will provide refreshments! 
About TDOVTransgender Day of Visibility is recognized internationally as an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments and resilience of the trans community. TDOV was founded by activist Rachel Crandall in 2009 to bring visibility, gather the community together, and highlight both the power and continued discrimination of trans people around the world. 
Last year, the Board of Supervisors and towns of Fairfax, San Anselmo, and Sausalito passed resolutions that recognize March 31st annually as Transgender Day of Visibility. San Rafael’s Mayor Kate Collins issued a proclamation as well!

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The Rainbow Connection of the Sebastopol SeniorCenter’s April Events

LGBT+ Friendship Mixer April 4th 1 to 3 pm Come meet your LGBT+ Friends and Neighbors 

What: LGBT+ Friendship Mixer
When: Monday April 4th, 1 – 3 pm
Where: Sebastopol Senior Center in person
Why: Meet new LGBT+ folks
Cost: Free to members, $5 non-members
Go HERE to register:
Or call our front desk: 707-829-2440
We will be in the back room with the double doors open to the outside. Folks may sit out side during this Mixer. 
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 new people (both men and women). 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.
This is a fantastic way to connect with like-minded souls.
We will be Relating Authentically, which is the practice of listening and speaking from a place of presence and honesty, allowing us to weave richer and more truthful connections.




Men’s Connection Group for Gay, Bi and Trans Men
Every Wednesday 4 PM on Zoom, Free
Brothers! We can enjoy each other online. You are welcome to connect with us in this safe and supportive Zoom Group to explore issue of aging, friendship, sexuality, and more! We also have fun teasing each other and cracking jokes too. All Men who love men are welcome: gay, bi, trans. We all agree to confidentiality. What is shared in this group, stays in this group. Many friendships have been formed since we stated meeting in June of 2020. And we are ready to welcome new members.
What: Gay Bi & Trans Men’s Connection Zoom group
 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (1 hour)
When: Thursdays at 4 to 5 PM
Where: Your Home, On Zoom
Why: Be connected and make Friends with Gay Bi & Trans Men
Cost: Free
Go HERE to register and to receive the Zoom link, email SCOTTY with any questions.





Get On the Bus With Friendly Seniors and Ride With Us!

Ride the bus with Scotty and Judy to Santa Rosa! Have lunch, shop as a group, and then take the bus home.
What: Take the bus together to Santa Rosa as a group
When: Wednesday April 20th 10 AM
Where: meet at the Sebastopol Transit Hub
Why: Learn to take the bus to Santa Rosa and Meet new friends
Cost: Bus fair and money for lunch / shopping
Go HERE to register, or call our front desk: 707-829-2440
 
We will meet at the Sebastopol Transit Hub (across from the police station, near the movie theater) at 10am to catch the 10:11am #20 bus to Santa Rosa.
You can also catch the #24 bus from the Senior Center at 9:30am to get to the Transit Hub in time (it gets to hub at 10am).
 
If you want to preview the bus schedules, click here:
#20
#24



We will pick up the #20 bus at the Sebastopol Transit Hub (across from the police station, near the movie theater) at 10am on April 20th.

 
Santa Rosa Pride Parade is Coming: Saturday June 4th


-March in the Parade with US
-Ride On the Float
-Wave a Rainbow Flag
-Help Us Decorate Our Float Beforehand
-Help Us Staff Our Senior Center Booth in Courthouse Square
-Join the After Party
-Come Dancing
 
Would you like to help build the float? Email me (SCOTTY) with questions, and Register HERE and we will let you know when we know more.
Everyone is welcome to the Pride Parade.  Let us know if you will be coming so we can let you know our position as to where to meet and things like that. We will have a booth at the festival after the parade in in Courthouse Square.  Plan on staying after the parade to help celebrate.

Go HERE to register, or call our front desk: 707-829-2440
 
SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2022 AT 11 AM – 5 PM
Sonoma County’s 35th Annual Pride Parade & Festival
37 Old Courthouse Square
SAVE THE DATE! Sonoma County Pride is excited to announce returning to Downtown Santa Rosa for the 35th annual Sonoma County Pride Parade and Festival. !
More details about the Parade Festival and other weekend events will be coming soon! 




May 2022 LGBT+ Activities?

Let Us Know Your Ideas for Our May LGBT+ Activities:

-Sing-a-Long outside by our Coyote of High Street
-Movie night at the Center with LGBT+ friends & fresh popcorn
-Hike with your LGBT+ friends
-Outdoor LGBT+ mixer
-Swing dance lesson in the park
-Game day, potluck, group outing
-Walk laps (around the block) with Scotty
-Coming out group
-Lesbian connection group
-Tantric breathing LGBT+ workshop 
-Other

Please email SCOTTY your new ideas or select from those above!  We love your input and involvement!


 Creating Intergenerational Connections Between LGBT+ Teens and Seniors at the Library!

From Rosalie Abbott, Young Adult & Teen Services Librarian:
“Dear LGBT+ Seniors, Award-winning West County High School Teacher, Rachel Ambrose, and I would like to invite you to an intergenerational programming experience here at the Library. We would LOVE to help facilitate the creation of intergenerational connections between LGBTQ teens and seniors, through conversations about LGBT-related topics and experiences—and life in general. Depending on the level of interest, this could look like a panel discussion with seniors and teens together, and a Q&A at the end—or if there is an overwhelming interest, it could look more like one-on-one conversations or interviews. We hope that connections will be made, insight, empathy, and new perspectives will be gained for everyone participating. Our hope is to host the event on Friday, April 8th. Please email me if you are interested. [email protected]“

Rosalie Abbott, Young Adult Services Librarian
Sebastopol Regional Library
Office: 707-823-7691 x1015
[email protected]

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A Petaluma elementary school’s pride flag was stolen. So 4 other schools raised flags of their own

Every morning, for much of the past year, three flags have been raised above Miwok Elementary School in east Petaluma – the U.S. flag, the California state flag and a pride flag.

Sometime in January, that changed. The school’s progress pride flag, supplementing the traditional rainbow stripes with a chevron recognizing BIPOC and transgender communities, went missing.

A police investigation was launched, but there are no leads, leaving concerned parents and school community members to speculate while also working to fashion a response to the jarring incident.

In the wake of what some school administrators have called a de-facto hate crime, the five elementary schools that comprise the eastside Old Adobe Union School District have come together to make a statement against the specter of hate that has loomed since mid-January.

The five campuses, and the district headquarters, each raised pride flags last week, the week before spring break, in a show of solidarity with Miwok Elementary School, its students and staff.

“The principals were uniformly passionate about the topic of the pride flag, and they wanted to stand in solidarity and make a statement to the community that all are welcome here,” said Interim Old Adobe Superintendent Kris Cosca, who assumed his role just two weeks ago.

Renee Ho, a parent of Old Adobe students and founder of the LGBTQIA+ nonprofit Amor Para Todos, helped lead the charge in pushing for a district-wide response. Reflecting on the progress, flags raised high across east Petaluma, and the letter of support signed by Cosca and each of five principals, Ho said she was pleased with how the district came together.

Although she acknowledged the theft of a pride flag isn’t the most serious offense, she also cautioned that even smaller injustices, left unanswered, can fester.

“What I advocated was that if we don’t make a statement, and make our community aware and educated about this, then that stealing of the pride flag can be the catalyst for even worse hate crimes,” Ho said.

Miwok Principal Mary Reynolds said processes for raising and lowering the flags got upset in the return to school after winter break, leading to the flags being left up overnight at least once.

In the aftermath, Ho provided an updated pride flag for the school – one that recognizes intersex people – and the school adopted a new process. Fourth graders, who have been learning about flag etiquette, are now in charge of raising and lowering the schools’ flags each morning and afternoon. It’s an honor Reynolds said may well follow this class of students through their sixth-grade year at Miwok.

“We came together as a community, and really have gained strength. We’re putting the flag back up, every day, year-round,” Reynolds said.

And the extra support from other schools – and the district – was an important reminder that the Old Adobe Union School District would come together to show support for a welcoming environment, Reynolds said.

Cosca agreed.

“We sent a strong message (last week) that all are welcome here,” Cosca said. “We see you, we care about you. You are important to us, and we’re here for you.”

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The Rainbow Connection of the Sebastopol Senior Center’s April Events

LGBT+ Friendship Mixer April 4th 1 to 3 pm
Come meet your LGBT+ Friends and Neighbors 

What: LGBT+ Friendship Mixer
When: Monday April 4th, 1 – 3 pm
Where: Sebastopol Senior Center in person
Why: Meet new LGBT+ folks
Cost: Free to members, $5 non-members
Go HERE to register:
Or call our front desk: 707-829-2440
We will be in the back room with the double doors open to the outside. Folks may sit out side during this Mixer. 
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 new people (both men and women). 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.
This is a fantastic way to connect with like-minded souls.
We will be Relating Authentically, which is the practice of listening and speaking from a place of presence and honesty, allowing us to weave richer and more truthful connections.




Men’s Connection Group for Gay, Bi and Trans Men
Every Wednesday 4 PM on Zoom, Free
Brothers! We can enjoy each other online. You are welcome to connect with us in this safe and supportive Zoom Group to explore issue of aging, friendship, sexuality, and more! We also have fun teasing each other and cracking jokes too. All Men who love men are welcome: gay, bi, trans. We all agree to confidentiality. What is shared in this group, stays in this group. Many friendships have been formed since we stated meeting in June of 2020. And we are ready to welcome new members.
What: Gay Bi & Trans Men’s Connection Zoom group
 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (1 hour)
When: Thursdays at 4 to 5 PM
Where: Your Home, On Zoom
Why: Be connected and make Friends with Gay Bi & Trans Men
Cost: Free
Go HERE to register and to receive the Zoom link, email SCOTTY with any questions.





Get On the Bus With Friendly Seniors and Ride With Us!

Ride the bus with Scotty and Judy to Santa Rosa! Have lunch, shop as a group, and then take the bus home.
What: Take the bus together to Santa Rosa as a group
When: Wednesday April 20th 10 AM
Where: meet at the Sebastopol Transit Hub
Why: Learn to take the bus to Santa Rosa and Meet new friends
Cost: Bus fair and money for lunch / shopping
Go HERE to register, or call our front desk: 707-829-2440
 
We will meet at the Sebastopol Transit Hub (across from the police station, near the movie theater) at 10am to catch the 10:11am #20 bus to Santa Rosa.
You can also catch the #24 bus from the Senior Center at 9:30am to get to the Transit Hub in time (it gets to hub at 10am).
 
If you want to preview the bus schedules, click here:
#20
#24



We will pick up the #20 bus at the Sebastopol Transit Hub (across from the police station, near the movie theater) at 10am on April 20th.

 
Santa Rosa Pride Parade is Coming: Saturday June 4th


-March in the Parade with US
-Ride On the Float
-Wave a Rainbow Flag
-Help Us Decorate Our Float Beforehand
-Help Us Staff Our Senior Center Booth in Courthouse Square
-Join the After Party
-Come Dancing
 
Would you like to help build the float? Email me (SCOTTY) with questions, and Register HERE and we will let you know when we know more.
Everyone is welcome to the Pride Parade.  Let us know if you will be coming so we can let you know our position as to where to meet and things like that. We will have a booth at the festival after the parade in in Courthouse Square.  Plan on staying after the parade to help celebrate.

Go HERE to register, or call our front desk: 707-829-2440
 
SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2022 AT 11 AM – 5 PM
Sonoma County’s 35th Annual Pride Parade & Festival
37 Old Courthouse Square
SAVE THE DATE! Sonoma County Pride is excited to announce returning to Downtown Santa Rosa for the 35th annual Sonoma County Pride Parade and Festival. !
More details about the Parade Festival and other weekend events will be coming soon! 




May 2022 LGBT+ Activities?

Let Us Know Your Ideas for Our May LGBT+ Activities:

-Sing-a-Long outside by our Coyote of High Street
-Movie night at the Center with LGBT+ friends & fresh popcorn
-Hike with your LGBT+ friends
-Outdoor LGBT+ mixer
-Swing dance lesson in the park
-Game day, potluck, group outing
-Walk laps (around the block) with Scotty
-Coming out group
-Lesbian connection group
-Tantric breathing LGBT+ workshop 
-Other

Please email SCOTTY your new ideas or select from those above!  We love your input and involvement!


 Creating Intergenerational Connections Between LGBT+ Teens and Seniors at the Library!

From Rosalie Abbott, Young Adult & Teen Services Librarian:
“Dear LGBT+ Seniors, Award-winning West County High School Teacher, Rachel Ambrose, and I would like to invite you to an intergenerational programming experience here at the Library. We would LOVE to help facilitate the creation of intergenerational connections between LGBTQ teens and seniors, through conversations about LGBT-related topics and experiences—and life in general. Depending on the level of interest, this could look like a panel discussion with seniors and teens together, and a Q&A at the end—or if there is an overwhelming interest, it could look more like one-on-one conversations or interviews. We hope that connections will be made, insight, empathy, and new perspectives will be gained for everyone participating. Our hope is to host the event on Friday, April 8th. Please email me if you are interested. [email protected]“

Rosalie Abbott, Young Adult Services Librarian
Sebastopol Regional Library
Office: 707-823-7691 x1015
[email protected]



And that is all for this time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions. You can call or email me.

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
[email protected]

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Vigil for Peace in Ukraine Saturday in Santa Rosa

Vigil for Peace in Ukraine

Saturdays, March 20 and Ongoing — 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Old Courthouse Square  —  Santa Rosa

(Additional vigil locations, dates and times
to be announced — watch for notices.)

Vigils hosted by a group of Sonoma County QuakersAll Welcome — Please Join Us  For further information about this and future Quaker Vigils for Peace in Ukraine, contact Hubert at [email protected]

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This Month at Marin’s Spahr Center

Marin’s LGBTQ Seniors have a special relationship with Dana and not only because his recent birthday made him a senior. Many of us remember the way things were before he became Interim Executive Director and later Executive Director, when senior issues were ignored. Along with the advocacy of the Senior Advisory Committee, Dana met with seniors repeatedly and made The Spahr Center a welcoming place for us. And he responded immediately to the sheltering-in-place orders two years ago, creating more programming to keep us connected. 
There’s a big agency-wide celebration of Dana and the Spahr Center’s new ED, Adrian Shanker, on April 14th that I encourage everyone to attend. Our Senior Send-off on March 8 will be a time for us to talk with him more personally and appreciate all he has done to create meaningful community among us. 
March 8“Second Tuesday”at Mgt. Todd Senior Center
To 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 welcome as well! Hill Community RoomA bigger space behind main building (see map below)Margaret Todd Senior Center1560 Hill Road, Novato 94947
Arrive 12:30 or after:feel free to bring your lunch. Discussion 1 to 2:30 pm
Proof of vaccination required.Masks on when not eating, drinking, or speaking to the group.
Some people may not be open to hugging;elbow bumps may be preferable.Be sensitive to each other as you approach, and declare your safety zone.
Dress warmly, 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:[email protected]
To be clear: We’re committed to continuing our zoom groups because many of us cannot join in person due to health or distance or disability. Community for All! 
Roster of LGBTQ Seniors
Last call for entries! 
A year ago, we invited people to join a roster of seniors to help us all stay in touch during the pandemic. Thirty of us sent in the contact information we wanted listed as well as our interests we wished to have included. 
Everyone included their email address, most listed their phone number, and interests varied from live theater to vintage autos, hiking to yoga, painting to music composition, reading to cooking to photography and beyond. 
If you would like to join the roster or update your information, please send an email to me with the word Roster in the subject line. And let me know what information you want included in your listing. 
The roster will only be distributed among those who are listed. 
[email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTS(more info below)
March 8 Senior Send-off of DanaIn-Person Second Tuesday at Mgt. Todd
March 8 Birthday Celebration on zoom*
March 10Readings for Each Other
March 15 Games Day at Sam’s Place*
March 17 Breakfast Club at Sam’s Place*
March 29 Women’s Coffee at Sam’s Place*
*Social Committee event, registration requiredby emailing them at [email protected]
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 pm
March 10 Readings for Each OtherDo you have a poem or short reading you especially love that you would be willing to share with us? Perhaps it’s something you have written; if so, you would get bonus points but we’re not assigning points, just entertaining and perhaps inspiring each other. Maybe your selection would be by Sappho or Whitman, Stein or Wilde, Mary Oliver, Alice Walker or James Baldwin. Writings by non-LGBTQ+ writers are welcome as well – there’s actually some good ones. 😉 Whatever your choice, the idea is to share writings that have touched your heart or expanded your mind. We also need people to just listen, there will be no pressure to read. If we have time, we’ll also talk about writers that have inspired us and discover if there is a writer hiding within. 

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.
Coronavirus Updates
The Spahr Center has coronavirus rapid home test kits 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 order your 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: [email protected] or 415/457-2487

Space for your Community Notice here. Email Bill with information at [email protected].
The Social Committee has been consistently offering fun events to offset the boredom of the pandemic. Everyone born in any month will be celebrated on the second Tuesday of that month – including your birthday if you’ll let them know when it rolls around! It happens this month March 8 @ 4 pm.
Games Day is March 15 at 3 pm, the Breakfast Club9:30 March 17, and the Women’s Coffee, 10 am March 29, will all be held at Sam’s Place in Novato. They request that participants please be vaccinated and healthy. 
Please register ahead of time as participation is limited to 20 people.
To see their calendar & flyers for March, click here. 
To sign up for their emails or register for events, click here.
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. 
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
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 weekdays[email protected]

Questions? Assistance? 
We have resources and volunteers for:grocery deliveryfood assistancehelp with technology issues such as using zoomproviding weekly comfort calls to check in on youplus more!

Bill BlackburnLGBTQ Senior Program Manager[email protected]415/450-5339
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