What are you doing this Christmas? John Namkung will be spending it with war orphans in Ukraine
Sebastopol’s John Namkung is going to Ukraine again—the fourth time in five years—this time to create an unforgettable Christmas experience for Ukrainian orphans who’ve lost their parents in the ongoing conflict.
To help fund this venture, Namkung and friends have organized a benefit concert, “Ukrainian and American Friendship: A Musical Celebration,” on Friday, Nov. 13, 7 pm to 9:30 pm, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center.
This event will feature some of Sebastopol’s best-known musicians—including Nina Gerber, The Pulsators, Sebastian St. James, Tom Ridney and Flambeau, and Jim Corbett—as well as amazing music and dancing from Ukrainian musical artists.
“Now, more than ever, we need to make our voices heard,” Namkung said. “In spite of the actions of our government, we have not turned our backs on Ukrainians. We have not forgotten them.”
“The winter holidays are a time when the pain of loss is felt most deeply,” Namkung said. “That is why we are striving to transform these dark days into a symbol of hope.”
Namkung is collaborating with a Ukrainian-American nonprofit organization in San Francisco called Hromada, which means “community” in Ukrainian. In addition to providing an unforgettable Christmas season, they want to fund ongoing psychological, educational and social support to these children throughout the year.
Namkung said that thus far, “We have officially raised $9,500 toward our $15,000 goal. We still need to raise $5,500 to reach our $15,000 goal in the next five days.”
Namkung invites you to come to the concert and bring your family and friends.
If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, there are two options: 1. Go to the Hromada ticket page, where you’ll see a donation option. Or 2) you could write a check payable to “Hromada” and send it to John Namkung, 1287 Bing Tree Way, Sebastopol, CA 95472. All donations are tax-deductible. The deadline for this fundraiser is Nov. 13.
If you have questions, you can reach out to John at jknamkung@gmail.com or 707-322-5448.
Join the wild honeybee trail
By Rollie Atkinson
Most efforts dedicated to making west Sonoma County “wilder” usually win lots of early enthusiasm. That’s the reception the local nonprofit Apis Arborea is hoping for as it unveils a unique project to create a local Wild Honeybee Trail.
Supported by a recent $25,000 grant from the local giving circle, Sebastopol West 100, Apis Arborea is now seeking local property owners willing to share their lands and hopefully create a Wild Honeybee trail, fashioned after the popular Farm Trails and Art Trails of the region.
The project would help create and preserve natural habitat for wild honeybees while increasing ecological awareness of the pollinators’ plight.
“Together we will join forces to embrace the wild and connect communities and land through the eyes of wild honeybees,” said Michael Thiele, founder of Apis Arborea.
The effort is seeking local property owners, schools, community garden spaces and others to help connect six tree nest sites in the Sebastopol, Graton, Occidental, Forestville and Hessel areas. The recent SW 100 grant will support the installation of new honeybee nests and supportive habitat.
“Art Trails and Farm Trails showed us that people here love to explore the places that make West County special,” Thiele said. “Wild honeybee trails carry that tradition forward with living habitat.”
Over recent years, the population of honeybees and other native pollinators has been declining due to expanded pesticide use and competition from non-wild commercial bee hives.
Apis Arborea has been pursuing multiple efforts to both provide habitat protections and additional basic research to support the sustainability of the local wild bee populations. The nonprofit is currently conducting a partnership project with Sonoma State University to secure and study wild honeybee habitats.
Landowners and others interested in joining the fledgling Wild Honeybee Trail project with Apis Arborea can seek more information online HERE. General information on Apis Arborea is available at their website, apisarborea.org.
Ersatz Free Public Library
157: Number of days that the Sebastopol Public Library has been closed
While the Sebastopol Public Library remains closed, you might consider exploring an alternative: Little Free Libraries, those little boxes with free books inside. Below is a map of Little Free Libraries in Sebastopol. You can search this map to find the library boxes nearest to you. Learn more about Little Free Libraries, including how to start your own. If you have a little library and don’t see it on the map, add it here.
Today! An evening of Buddhist storytelling
This benefit for Graton’s Stone Creek Zen Center will explore storytelling as a creative way to wield the liberating power of Buddhist teachings in daily life and in challenging times. Explore how your own story can inspire compassion and wisdom in today’s world.
3 pm - 4 pm: Mingling, tea and cookies, silent auction.
4 pm - 6 pm: Timely Wisdom main event
6 pm - 7 pm: Book signing, closing of silent auction, community connection.
This event takes place at the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Tickets are $75. Learn more.
Honoring Veterans with Free Regional Parks Parking
Sonoma County Regional Parks will offer free parking for veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families at all county parks on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Find a full list of parks at SoCoParks.org/Find-A-Park.
To receive the free parking, visitors won’t need a special pass but should be ready to show proof of veteran or active-duty status, such as a military or veteran’s identification card or discharge certificate. Sonoma County residency isn’t required.
