Page 40 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2017

EL MOLINO PROJECT GRADUATION 2017
LOCAL History...Though it be not in Occidental, but in Sebastopol, Occidental features in “The Hippies”, a multimedia exhibit currently showing at the West County Museum. The exhibit has been extending through the summer until Labor Day due to its popularity. “The Hippies” focuses on Morningstar Ranch and Wheeler Ranch, and features film clips of Lou Gottlieb and Bill Wheeler, as well as photographs, artifacts, hand-made clothing, vinyl record covers, and a timeline. The unique history of our local hippies is interesting and the exhibit is well worth your time. The West County Museum is located opposite the Post Office at 261 South Main Street. They’re open Thursdays through Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm.
ARK Auction...Last month I told you to mark your calendars for The Harmony Ark Education Foundation’s annual auction! Just a quick reminder – the auction will be held on April 8th from 5:30 to 9:00 pm at Fernando’s Event Center in Bodega. You can purchase tickets online at harmonyark.org. There’s also a link to online bidding on the website, just in case you can’t attend.
Spring has sprung! The daffodils are blooming, and in just twenty-eight days Devin and I celebrate our three-year anniversary. What a thing! The flowers are blooming, the trees growing soft green leaves, the rain pouring down... April showers bring May flowers, as they say. I love
April, partly because it is my birthday month, and I’m turning eighteen, but also because I love the beginning of spring and the bright, glistening arrival of springtime.
Project Graduation is an annual event where the senior class can come together
and spend a last night together as a class. It was begun as a safe and sober alternative to
parties the kids might plan on their own.
YMCA Activities...It’s very exciting to see the after school program up and running at the YMCA in Occidental. The chalk art all over the sidewalk and parking area is a lovely sight to behold, and an improvement over the empty beer cans and general trash left by those using the space previously. Go after school care!
Since 1989, there has been NO alcohol related deaths on
graduation night.
We are determined to continue that important 28 year accomplishment.
Because of the change in graduation night from Thursday to Friday this year, our 28 year old tradition of using Scandia Fun Center is not available to us. Our Project Grad Committee is working diligently to find another venue to keep our graduates safe and drug & alcohol free for the night.
More on the YMCA – the Occidental Community Center Advisory Council, who have been fundraising to replace the gym floor, have announced that
the removable maple floor they’re hoping to use can be laid down over
the existing floor. This saves time and money, which is always good! The Occidental Community Center Advisory Council is about halfway to their funding goal and is gearing up for a big fundraising push. Why not make it easy for them and donate now, before you’re asked? Donation can be made online at sonomacountyparksfoundation.org/. You can also mail a check to the following address:
We have run into a BIG hurdle for the 2017 party.
On average, our Committee raises $20,000 each year to host the party at Scandia. We ask the graduating Seniors to purchase a ticket ($75) to the party and the rest is secured through grants and donations. Students are never turned away if they cannot afford the ticket, everyone is included.
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation
2300 County Center Drive, Suite 120A Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Note “OCC Floor” on the check memo.
The Project Graduation Committee needs your help!
Having to relocate to a new venue and graduating on a Friday night, our Committee is faced with a much higher cost for the new venue. Our committee will need to raise an additional $20,000 to adjust to this change (hopefully one year only).
WELCOME Spring! The Occidental Center for the Arts has an exhibit up honoring the Spring Equinox. The show, “The Spring Equinox – When Day and Night Are Equal,” runs through May 14th. The show honors the sacred significance of the Spring Equinox with works that express the power and beauty of new beginnings, of life springing forth from the dark and cold into warmth and light. The gallery is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM, and during OCA auditorium events.
The importance of this program outweighs any price
that we can put on it. Myself and a growing number of passionate Committee members are determined to create a safe environment for our graduates. We are working on creating a crowd funding site as well as several new fundraising ideas. El Molino Project Graduation is a 501C3 non-profit, TID#94-3139867. Any cash donation is tax deductible and will be used directly to pay for this event. We are so thankful for all of the help we have received from the community in the past. Please join us in our efforts this year, we need you more then ever.
To volunteer please contact: Zeena Anderson at zraec9298@yahoo.com
Speaking of The OCA, they are currently looking for new volunteers.
If you are interested in the arts (specifically visual arts) then you should consider volunteering. They need help planning and organizing exhibits as well as gallery sitters to ensure that the gallery is open as often as possible. Volunteering is a great way to meet other artists, get involved in the community and experience how an art gallery operates. If you are interested, contact the OCA at gallery@occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Please send donations to: El Molino Project Graduation (EMPG) at P.O. Box 1365 Forestville, CA. 95436
Happy spring!
Your time and donations of any size are greatly appreciated. This is a wonderful community, please join us in working together to give our ElMolino graduates the safe, fun party they deserve.
Sincerely, Max Ming, El Molino Proj. Grad.
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