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Southern Marin Scoop - June 2023 |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors in Southern Marin,
As we welcome the warm and vibrant month of June, we have much to celebrate and anticipate together, from historical milestones to community events that foster unity and inclusivity.
First and foremost, I would like to commemorate Juneteenth, a significant occasion marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. This day reminds us of the progress we have made as a nation, while also highlighting the work that remains to achieve true equality for all.
June is also Pride Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community's remarkable contributions and ongoing struggle for equality. As we embrace diversity and champion inclusivity, let us stand together to ensure that everyone can live authentically, without fear of discrimination. Our county is proud to support Pride events and initiatives that promote understanding, acceptance, and love.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to recognize some of our community members this month, including Marin City's Terrie Green, Executive Director of the Marin City Climate Resilience and Health Justice and RBRA's Jim Malcolm, who received an award recently for his efforts.
Additionally, I am thrilled to announce the commencement of our much-anticipated summer concert series’ throughout the district. These vibrant outdoor events will feature a diverse lineup of talented local artists, providing an opportunity for us to come together as a community and enjoy the rich tapestry of music that our county has to offer.
Furthermore, this month brings important budget hearings, where we will discuss and allocate resources to ensure the efficient functioning of our county services. I invite you to participate and provide your valuable input, as your perspectives and insights are vital in shaping our budgetary decisions and the overall progress of our county.
Last but certainly not least, mark your calendars for the eagerly awaited Marin County Fair! This annual event promises a whirlwind of excitement, featuring thrilling rides, live entertainment, delicious food, and captivating exhibitions that showcase the talent and creativity of our community.
Together, let us embrace the spirit of June, celebrating diversity, unity, and community. As always, I am grateful for your continued support and dedication to making Marin County a remarkable place to live, work, and thrive.
Warm regards, Stephanie
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In This Edition
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Juneteenth 2023
Juneteenth Independence Day commemorates the emancipation of those enslaved in the United States. A resolution will be brought to the Board of Supervisors by the County of Marin African American Employees Association (COMAEA) at the June 13th Board of Supervisors meeting.
News of the end of slavery did not reach the frontier areas of the United States until months after the conclusion of the Civil War, more than 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free. African Americans from the Southwest have continued the tradition of observing Juneteenth Independence Day for more than 150 years. Juneteenth Independence Day began as a holiday in the State of Texas and is now celebrated in 46 States and the District of Columbia as a special day of observance in recognition of the emancipation of all enslaved people in the United States. During this time, the nation celebrates the freedom, accomplishments, inventions, triumphs, and resiliency of African American, African, and Black peoples in this country. READ RESOLUTION
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Marin City Juneteenth Festival
Marin City will host the 7th Annual Juneteenth Festival on Monday, June 19 from 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at Rocky Graham Park. The theme for this year’s event is Ascension, And Still We Rise. The Marin City Juneteenth Festival is one of the largest annual festivals of black African arts and culture in the North Bay. The MC Juneteenth Festival highlights local vendors and small businesses who come together in an African Marketplace to share knowledge, food, fashion, jewelry, art, books and provides an opportunity for all who choose to attend, the opportunity to experience African Culture, shop local and enjoy top-notch performances. FESTIVAL INFO
Pride Month 2023 in Marin
The County of Marin recognizes and proclaims the month of June 2023 as "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Pride Month" as a resolution will be brought forward to the Board of Supervisors in conjunction with Behavioral Health Recovery Services, Marin SAGA and The Spahr Center on Tuesday, June 13. The County of Marin observes June as a time to celebrate our dynamic LGBTQ+ community, raise awareness of quality services, and foster a dialogue to promote healthy, safe, and prosperous school climates and communities for all, especially our young transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming family members, friends, neighbors, and loved ones. READ RESOLUTION
Marin County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will host a Pride and Anti-Prejudice Forum on June 23 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Lori A. Watson, a trailblazer in the spheres of education and racial equity. READ MORE
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Sausalito Pride
Additionally, in June and early July 2023, Sausalito is celebrating its LGBTQ+ community, culture, and history with the inaugural Sausalito Pride. Events include a Pride exhibit and opening reception at Sausalito Center for the Arts, a Jazz and Blues by the Bay performance by Banda Sin Nombre, and A Night in Drag at Gene Hiller Menswear. A complete schedule of events can be found on the Sausalito Pride website.
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Marin City/Sausalito's Bridge the Gap Chosen as 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year
Bridge the Gap is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Damon Connolly.
Bridge the Gap is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.
Bridge the Gap provides comprehensive educational, social and emotional resources to underserved students in Marin City and Southern Marin. Their goal is to ensure that all students graduate high school, and achieve their greatest potential through college completion or other pathways to economic sustainability and independence.
Annually, more than 400 young people receive essential academic services during school, after school, and the summer. So far this year, 75% of the first graders they are working with have advanced from below to grade level reading. In addition, all of the 23 Tamalpais High School seniors in the program have committed to colleges and other post-secondary education programs. Bridge the Gap also engages in strategic partnerships with schools and districts to move the needle toward educational equity. READ MORE
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State Grants $6.4 Million for Water Main Replacements
Marin Municipal Water District has been awarded a $6.4 million state grant to address the issues of aging and leak-prone water pipes in Marin County. The grant will be utilized to replace approximately half of the water mains in Marin City and around 17% of those in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael.
This funding, spearheaded by Terrie Green (pictured), Executive Director of Marin City Climate Resilience and Health Justice, marks a significant achievement and is the first of its kind for the district, obtained through a Proposition 1 program designed to finance water upgrades in disadvantaged communities. Proposition 1 was a bond measure of $7.5 billion approved by voters in 2014 to support environmental restoration and water projects. The district will contribute a matching amount of $1.3 million to the project. Ms. Green has been instrumental in making positive change in Marin City. This grant is the latest example of her deep commitment to community health and well being.
“We all share in this victory, together, yet, we cannot stop here,” Green said. “We need 100% of new pipes in the lower watershed area of Marin City, and we will continue to fight until environmental justice takes place all throughout the community of Marin City.”
Commencing in January, the district plans to replace 3.5 miles of water pipes and 275 service lateral connections, which are responsible for linking the water mains to residential and commercial properties. The replacement work will not disrupt water service since the new pipes will be installed alongside the existing ones.
To ensure effective communication and community involvement, two local organizations, namely the Marin City Climate Resilience and Health Justice and Multicultural Center of Marin, are partnering on the project. These organizations will engage with residents to provide information about the plan and address any concerns. The district plans to initiate the replacement work in Marin City in 2024, followed by the Canal area in 2026, with an estimated completion date before the end of June 2027.
Support for the grant application was received from U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters.
“Congressman Huffman and District Director Jenny Callaway were instrumental in obtaining the grant, convening a multi-agency effort with the community to assess infrastructure needs in Marin City, and working with Marin Water on the successful grant application," said Moulton-Peters. READ MORE
LEARN ABOUT NEWLY FORMED MARIN CLIMATE JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE
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Jim Malcolm Named Harbor Master of the Year by The California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains
Jim Malcolm, the Harbor Master for the Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) has been named Harbor Master of the Year by the California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains (CAHMPC), a statewide trade organization.
“It is an honor to serve the Richardson Bay community and I feel fortunate to work in a place with such a vibrant history and amazing natural resources,” said Malcolm. “I am humbled to be recognized by my peers for my work. This is a great honor and I’m excited to continue our mission of making Richardson Bay safe, accessible and enjoyable for all.”
Malcolm received the honor at the CAHMPC’s annual awards ceremony, held in late May in Sacramento. Malcolm was nominated by one of his peers and was awarded the honor among a field of his contemporaries in California.
As part of his nomination, Malcolm was recognized for his work “to drive policy resulting in the adoption of an updated Transition Plan for the anchorage that included a functional housing plan (in cooperation with Marin Housing Authority) and a boat buyback program.”
Malcolm was also noted for being “successful in managing efforts to update regulations for anchoring in Richardson Bay, including the implementation of improved vessel and marine debris disposal process.” READ MORE
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Join Me at the Evolving Shorelines Coffee Hour In Tam Valley
Join us for an Evolving Shorelines Coffee Hour! Friday, June 30 9:30 a.m.-11 am Good Earth patio, Tam Valley.
This is an open invitation to the community to share a coffee or tea with our Evolving Shorelines Project team, Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, and Marin County Parks Director Max Korten and talk about One Tam's project to restore marsh resilience and protect the Bay Trail. Learn more about the Evolving Shorelines project at Bothin Marsh here.
Evolving Shorelines tour of Bothin Marsh! Come walk the trails at Bothin Marsh and learn about the historical ecology of the wetlands, and proposed plans for enhancing the marsh's resilience to sea level rise and elevating the Bay Trail through south Bothin Marsh. Please RSVP. Friday, June 30, 2023 11:30 am-1:00 pm. Meets along the McGlashen Pathway near the Holiday Inn
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Alice Yan Named Crossing Guard of the Year
This year, the Transportation Authority of Marin honored Alice Yan as Crossing Guard of the Year. Alice Yan is a dedicated crossing guard and much-loved community member of Mill Valley. Alice has been a Crossing Guard at Throckmorton and Old Mill near the front of Old Mill School since 2016 and has never missed any of her shifts for the last six plus years. Alice came to the United State in 1991 and has been a Mill Valley resident since then. I am pleased also to note the school is near and dear to my heart as my children attended Old Mill School.
On behalf of the TAM Board, our community, our teachers, staff and our school children I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your profound dedication to keeping our school kids safe! Thank you for your dedicated service to the Children of Marin. Your work as a Crossing Guard has made a difference to countless students and families in the community. We appreciate your commitment to safety, your caring manner and your welcoming smile!
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Farmers Market Launches at Strawberry Village
EDENS, a leading national retail real estate owner, operator and developer, is pleased to announce that renovations will begin at Strawberry Village.
Upgrades of the 175,385 square-foot retail property include a bright, contemporary color palette, new lighting, landscaping, outdoor seating areas, public art and refreshed signage. For completion by early 2024, plans include a reimagined central plaza with outdoor seating, live music and other community-driven events.
The first EDENS-driven activation to launch at Strawberry Village will be a new weekly farmers market, held every Tuesday from 10 a.m. -2:30pm, starting June 13. MORE INFO
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Summer Concert Series
Creekside Fridays Are Almost Here!
Creekside Fridays are just around the corner - Mark your calendars!
The bands are booked and the BBQs are shined up and ready to roll! Mark your calendars and come down to the Tam Valley Community Center for food, fun, music and neighborhood cheer! This free event begins at 5:30 p.m. and bands go on at 6 p.m. so come down and get settled before the show starts and enjoy a relaxing evening! MORE INFO
Creekside Fridays at Tam Valley Community Center 5:30-8 p.m. - Bands go on at 6 p.m. Featuring Musical Guests: June 16 - Cole Tate Band June 30 - Juke Joint July 14 - Fog City Swampers July 28 - Void Where Prohibited August 11 - Marble Party (Sponsored by County of Marin - see you there!)
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Sausalito Jazz and Blues by the Bay
Belvedere 2023 Concert Series - The 26th Year
2023 will be the 26th year of bringing free summer concerts to the community. Concerts are FREE and sponsored by individual and community tax deductible donations. The event relies on donations from ALL music lovers. Please consider supporting our free concerts with a donation so we can continue our wonderful concerts.
The concerts community thanks the City of Belvedere and the Belvedere Community Foundation for their support for the last 25 years. MORE INFO
Each event begins at 4 p.m. Featuring Musical Guests: Sunday, June 18 (Father's Day and Juneteenth) - Pride and Joy Sunday, July 16 - The Traveling Wilburys Revue Sunday, August 13 - Steelin' Chicago Sunday, September 3 - Neon Velvet
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Mill Valley Comedy in the Plaza
The Mill Valley Arts Commission's Comedy in the Plaza returns to downtown Mill Valley on Thursday, January 15th. Join friends and neighbors for a hilarious evening featuring the comedy stylings of Dennis Gaxiola, Phil Johnson, Al Ducharme, Kellen Erskine and the MC for the evening, Bernadette Pauley.
Grab a lawn chair, blankets and some snacks and settle in for a night of laughter and fun! MORE INFO
June 15, 2023 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Mill Valley Plaza, Admission is FREE
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Tiburon Portuguese Dairy Mural Wall Dedication
As part of Portuguese National Heritage Monday, on Friday, June 9, the Tiburon Portuguese Dairy Mural Wall was unveiled at a dedication ceremony attended by Mr. Artur Lima, Vice President of the Government of the Azores, Mr. Tiago Antunes, Secretary of State of European Affairs for Portugal and Mr. Pedro Pinto, Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco. Appreciation goes to the Tiburon Heritage and Arts Commission for their work on this project. Please be sure to visit the mural on the Tiburon Bike Path! Read Portuguese Heritage Month Resolution
Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade and Mill Valley Neighborfest
I took part in the Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade riding alongside Mill Valley Mayor Jim Wickham and the entire City Council.
Blithedale Canyon neighbors, Mill Valley Councilmember Caroline Joachim and I hosted a Neighborfest event on May 31. With the help of our partners at Southern Marin Fire and Joinable, we all came together to get to know our neighbors so that we can help each other plan for and respond to emergencies that may occur.
Marin City Stormwater Plan Meeting and Sausalito Marin City School District Community Connection Celebration
The Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District is seeking input from the community to develop a Stormwater Plan which will identify options for flood risk reduction in Marin City and held its first Community Meeting on June 1.
On Saturday night, I attended the SMCSD's Community Connection event hosted by Phillip Logan and honored Sausalito Marin City School District Superintendent Itoco Garcia, Ida Times-Green and Jahmeer Reynolds.
On Sunday, I attended "A Day in the Park" hosted by the Sausalito Floating Homes Association; pictured above right with Aide Doreen Gounard, former Mill Valley Mayor and floating homes dweller Shawn Marshall and Assemblymember Damon Connolly.
Last week, I was also able to attend Sausalito Village's annual Lunch about Town at Smitty's! (upper left)
Also pictured (bottom right) is a Rotary Day of Service - Protecting the Environment that I was able to take part in at the Civic Center in conjunction with Rotary District 5150 and Marin County Parks and Open Space.
Bike to Work Day 2023
On Thursday, May 18, 2023, Supervisors Rice, Sackett, Lucan and I rode from the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal to the Civic Center. On my ride, I met up with local District 3 riders and friends as well as Marin County Bicycle Coalition Executive Director, Tarrell Kullaway.
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County Budget Hearings Set for June 20-22
The County of Marin is pleased to present the FY 2023-24 Proposed Budget at a series of meetings, June 20-22 at the Board of Supervisors Chambers beginning at 1:30 p.m. on June 20.
The budget strives to address our top community priorities and prepares us for future economic uncertainty. The operating budget is balanced and largely consistent with the adopted second-year budget plan. It maintains current services and makes a few high-priority ongoing enhancements to address emerging needs.
In the second year of the two-year budget, the County is focusing on continuous improvement, including applying a racial equity lens to the delivery of services, and making thoughtful one-time investments. Historic levels of one-time funding over the past few years provides a unique opportunity to make significant investments to address the deferred maintenance of County facilities.
The County Administrator’s Office strives to prepare the Proposed Budget with fiscally responsible recommendations that reflect our mission and our community’s top priorities. The challenges we face as a county require a responsive government that looks ahead, adapts to changing conditions, and builds upon past efforts to continuously improve our services.
The fiscal recommendations and Department Workplans presented in this budget address your Board’s highest priorities, which include:
- Increasing affordable housing and addressing homelessness
- Building a racially equitable community
- Reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate change
- Enhancing disaster preparedness
- Investing in county infrastructure
- Addressing recruitment and retention
For a more detailed overview of the FY 2023-2024 Proposed Budget, READ MORE.
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Marin County Fair 2023: Electrifying!
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From June 30 through July 4, 2023, the Marin County Fair will return with the theme Electrifying!, to celebrate all things electric, solar, and charged with excitement.
The 2023 fair will include fair favorites such as the juried Fine Arts and Photography Exhibit, headline concerts, carnival rides, sheepdog trials, the petting zoo, fireworks every night, and much more. The popular competitive exhibits program will take place in person and celebrate our talented and creative community members with winning blue ribbons and more. See you at the Fair!
CONCERTS FAIR INFO TICKETS
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Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District - Public Input Needed
As we exit the pandemic, the world has changed in ways that affect travel in the Golden Gate Corridor. While recreational and tourist travel have mostly returned, commute travel has not.
Not surprisingly, the absence of commute travel creates fiscal challenges for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District). Revenues from tolls and fares are still down an average of about $1 million each week, and expenses continue to exceed revenues. Fortunately, expenses are down, due to the District offering less commute bus and ferry service.
STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORT The District’s Board of Directors recently launched a strategic planning process to create a path forward regarding the District’s future activities and finances. Board leadership embarked on this critical process in order to prioritize financial and operational commitments that would provide resources and services for the communities we serve, while ensuring the District’s long-term financial sustainability.
As a member of the GGBHTD Board Directors, we believe that public input is vitally important to this process.We want to hear your ideas, suggestions and recommendations as they relate to the District’s future and strategic focus. We know there may be possible overlaps among the topics and that some ideas may be grand, others small, some visionary, others pragmatic; we openly welcome and request any and all input and feedback in this process. WAYS TO COMMENT
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Marin Transit is offering free rides throughout the summer starting June 1, 2023 with the Summer Youth Ride Free Program. SMART, Marin Transit, Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa CityBus, and Petaluma Transit have come together to provide free rides for kids and teens, transforming the North Bay into a summer playground.
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