Occidental News

Well we have more rain. Spring? It feels like winter to me, so I brought in another load of firewood to take us through this last bit of cold weather. Be sure to check with each organization below for any last minute changes. To check on updates for Harmony and Salmon Creek schools, visit: www.schoolsnow.com?skid=64755

• Saturday, April 1, 1 pm - Occidental Fools’ Day Celebration and Parade. Parade will gather at Noon in the Community Center parking lot. The parade will begin at 1 pm and go down one side of town and back the other. The King and Queen of Fools will be crowned in the middle of the Parade. To volunteer, contact Kate Price at 874-1474. For more information, visit the Fools Parade section at or their new website at www.occidentalfoolsparade.com.

• Sunday, April 2, 10 am - noon - Ocean Song Open House. Come hear stories about Ocean Song’s history and current projects that they are working on, walk the trails, learn how to become a member, and find out about opportunities to get involved with Ocean Song. Stay for the afternoon potluck, which follows at 1 pm (see details below). For more information, and to RSVP, contact Annie Klein at 874-2442 or anniek@oceansong.org.

• Sunday, April 2 (first Sunday), 1 - 4 pm - Ocean Song Sunday Community Gathering and Potluck. Members and nonmembers are invited to Ocean Song to celebrate, enjoy music, and share food. Bring a dish to share and your drink of choice along with any musical instruments hat you would like to share. For more information, and to RSVP, contact Annie Klein at 874-2442 or anniek@oceansong.org.

• Sunday, April 2, Afternoon - Tour of Finley Creek Wilderness Preserve. Arrow Anderson, Ocean Song’s resident naturalist, will be leading a guided exploration of Finley Creek Wilderness Preserve after their monthly potluck. The Preserve is 240 acres of rocky outcrops, hardwoods, and rolling hills located next to Ocean Song. It is protected by a conservation easement, which was donated in 1986 by Pieter and Mary Myers. For more information, and to RSVP, contact Annie Klein at 874-2442 or anniek@oceansong.org.

• Thursday, April 6 (first Thursday), 8:45 am - The Ark Education Foundation, which raises money for Salmon Creek Middle School and Harmony Elementary School, is holding their monthly meeting at Salmon Creek School. All are welcome.

• Saturday & Sunday, April 8 - 9, 9 am to 5 pm - Plant Sale. Two-hour garden Tours at 10 am and 11 am each day at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. Event will be held rain or shine. If stormy, an extra day may be added. All plants are certified California organic. This sale will feature early spring crops such as lettuces and greens, peas, brassicas, chards, leeks, flowers, herbs, sages, and other interesting perennials as well as traditional annual and perennial food crops. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.oaec.org or call 874-1557, x201.

• Sunday, April 9, 10 am to 3 pm - Coyote Tracks. A six-session, environmental educational program for children offered every other Sunday at Ocean Song. They have a sliding fee schedule. For more information, call Annie Klein at 318-6948 or email smileytree11@yahoo.com.

• Wednesday, April 12 (second Wednesday), 6:30 pm - monthly meeting of the Occidental Chamber of Commerce. This month it will be held at the Union Pizzeria. Everyone who is interested in business issues in Occidental is invited. For more information, call Cheri Keel, President, 874-3279.

• Saturday, April 15, 10 am - Watershed Restoration Tour. This is the second in a series of lectures, tours, and events sponsored by the WATER Institute of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. Brock Dolman, Director of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center’s WATER Institute, will lead a tour of a lower Russian River watershed that is undergoing various stages of cutting edge salmon and community friendly restoration projects. The Dutch Bill Creek Watershed, which runs from Occidental to Monte Rio, is home to threatened Steelhead Trout and is one of a few watersheds in the entire Russian River watershed basin that still supports a wild Coho Salmon population. In recognition of the importance of this system, private landowners, citizens groups and governmental agencies have been collaborating to implement innovative creek-side restoration techniques such as fish passage barrier removal projects and in-stream habitat enhancements. The tour will begin at the Occidental YMCA. There is no charge. For more information please see www.oaec.org or call 874-1557 x201.

• Saturday, April 15 (third Saturday), 10:30 am to 11:30 am - Occidental Community Council holds it’s regular monthly meeting at the Occidental Community Center.

• Tuesday, April 18 (third Tuesday), 7 pm - the regular monthly meeting of the Occidental Community Services District will be held at the fire station.

• Thursday, April 20 (third Thursday), 7 pm - Harmony School Board is meeting at Salmon Creek School.

• Sunday, April 23, 10 am - 12 pm - Garden Tour at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center lasts two hours. A suggested donation of $10 is requested. For more information, visit www.oaec.org or call 874-1557, x201.

• Sunday, April 23, 10 am to 3 pm - Coyote Tracks. A six-session, environmental educational program for children offered every other Sunday at Ocean Song. They have a sliding fee schedule. For more information, call Annie Klein at 318-6948 or email smileytree11@yahoo.com.

• Thursday, April 27 (last Thursday), 6:30 pm - Occidental Center for the Arts holds its monthly meeting. It will be held at 4008 Bohemian Highway at the former Harmony School. For more information contact the Center at 874-9392.

• Saturday, April 29, 10 am to 5 pm - Occidental Heritage Day. The second annual Heritage Day will present a day of local history with an emphasis on the 100-year anniversary of the devastating 1906 earthquake.

• Mondays, 7:30 pm - Drop-in dodge ball at the Occidental YMCA. $3 per person. For more information contact Dominique Solieu at 874-2242.

• Tuesdays, 9 am to 10 am - Qigong for Health - a Qigong/Tai Chi class held at St. Philips Center twice each week. Held every Tuesday and Thursday (except the second Tuesday of each month). A donation of $5 per class ($1 for those with chronic illness or disability) is requested. Contact Emilio Gonzalez at 874-9559 or for more information.

• Tuesdays, 5:30 pm - Drop-in basketball at the Occidental YMCA. $3 per person. For more information contact Dominique Solieu at 874-2242.

• Wednesdays, 8:45 am to 10 am - Join Tara and Laurel for gardening projects, share stories, generate ideas, and drink some tea at the Harmony School garden. For more information call the school at 874-1205.

• Wednesdays, 3:15 to 4:15 pm - Karate class for kids ages 7 to 11 at the Occidental YMCA. For more information contact Dominique Solieu at 874-2242.

• Wednesdays, 3:30 to 5 pm - Cartooning class for kids ages 10 to 14 at the Occidental YMCA. For more information contact Dominique Solieu at 874-2242.

• Wednesdays, 7:00 pm - Drop-in volleyball at the Occidental YMCA. $3 per person. For more information contact Dominique Solieu at 874-2242.

• Thursdays, 9 am to 10 am - Qigong for Health. A Qigong/Tai Chi class held at St. Philips Center twice each week. Held every Tuesday and Thursday (except the second Tuesday of each month). A donation of $5 per class ($1 for those with chronic illness or disability) is requested. Contact Emilio Gonzalez at 874-9559 or for more information.

• Thursdays, 9 am to 4 pm - Garden Volunteer Day at Ocean Song. Bring a lunch or food to share. If it rains, there will be work in the barn processing seeds that were saved from last year. Contact Benjamin Fahrer, Garden/Farm Manager, at 874-2442 or by email at for more information and to RSVP.

• Thursdays, 7:00 pm - Drop-in volleyball at the Occidental YMCA. $3 per person. For more information contact Dominique Solieu at 874-2242.

• Fridays, 7:00 pm - Drop-in advanced indoor soccer at the Occidental YMCA. $3 per person. For more information contact Dominique Solieu at 874-2242.

Occidental events should be submitted to column@jgblairphoto.com by the Monday before publication. The Occidental Calendar is published every two weeks.

Occidental events should be submitted to column@jgblairphoto.com by the Monday before publication.