What's happening this week in Sebastopol?
Memorial Day, learn about new housing laws, Sebastopol Walks in the Laguna, music and more
Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 26, 11 am, at the Sebastopol Memorial Lawn, 7951 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3919 is holding a Memorial Day ceremony, which includes airplane flyovers and music by the Sebastopol Community Band. The VFW will also present a certificate to Mary Ellen Boyd on behalf of all widows of fallen soldiers. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and a hat. Active duty, reserve, and military veterans are permitted to wear their dress uniforms, and civilians are encouraged to wear casual patriotic attire. A simple lunch will follow, free to the public, at the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building and Center for the Arts.
Sebastopol Planning Commission
Tuesday, May 27, 6 pm, at Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
The planning commission will review a request by the Barlow to extend their marketplace, The Trade, by two additional events. There will also be a review of housing law and an overview of SB9, a California state law that enables homeowners to split their single-family residential lot into two separate lots and build up to two new housing units (a main house and an ADU) on each lot. SB9 is intended to support the availability of more modestly priced homes by encouraging uilding of smaller houses on small lots. (The Sebastopol Design Review Board will also see a review of housing law and an overview of SB9 at 3:30 pm that same day)
Pro-Democracy Rally
Tuesday, May 27, 4:30 pm to 6 pm, at the corner of Main Street and Bodega Avenue. Free.
With joyful hearts and a determination to protect democracy, come to all four corners of our main intersection weekly. Bring a friend. And, yes, it does make a difference.
Sebastopol Grange Home Gardener Produce Exchange / Donation
Tuesday, May 27, 5 pm to 5:45 pm, at the Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol. Free.
Join us in our mission of creating an economy of abundance. We will do more good, grow more food, create more beauty….thus creating stronger community, resiliency, and biodiversity. The Sebastopol Grange invites you to join our local project to redistribute homegrown produce and feed our community, bringing us a little closer to the idea of food security while eliminating food waste in the process. This is an opportunity to trade surplus items from your garden for something you don’t have. You may also bring produce that you have gleaned (with permission of course) from a neighbor’s yard. Master Food Preservers will be hand at the Produce Exchange/Donationeventsto answer questions.
Songs of the 60s: Sing Along & Dance at Hopmonk
Wednesday, May 28, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at Hopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
Come sing along to your favorite songs from the 60s Sebastopol with your friends from Peacetown.
Silent Vigil for Peace in the Middle East
6:00pm-6:30pm every Wednesday at the Living Peace Wall between the Rialto and the plaza.
Weekly, on Wednesday eves at 6:00pm in front of the Living Peace Wall. Please join us as we gather in silence every Wednesday eve for a brief peace vigil. We stand together in the memory of all those who have died in the conflict, and all those who are suffering with hunger and fear, in the hope of a true and lasting ceasefire. No flags, no signs, no speeches.
Restoration Workday at Ragle Ranch Regional Park
Thursday, May 29, 9 am to 12 pm, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park. Meet in the parking lot.
Remove invasive plants to help the native ecosystem reestablish itself. Ragle Ranch Regional Park is noted for its majestic oaks and includes backcountry trails along the prime bird-watching habitat of Atascadero Creek. Help our Natural Resources staff care for oak woodland habitat by removing blackberries that are encroaching on restoration areas. Regional Parks will provide all the necessary tools, supplies, and gloves along with snacks and drinks. For more information (like, which parking lot in Ragle?), contact ParkPrograms@sonoma-county.org.
Film: Every Little Thing
Thursday, May 29, 1 pm and 7 pm, Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $15.25.
Author and wildlife rehabber Terry Masear has an ambitious goal: to save every injured hummingbird in Los Angeles. But the path to survival is fraught with danger. This heart-expanding Sundance hit introduces audiences to Terry’s diminutive patients through breathtaking slow-motion photography and emotional storytelling. Get tickets.
The Magic of Herbal Foods: Using Plant Medicine for Deep Nourishment
Thursday, May 29, 9 am to 4:30 pm, at Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, 209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone. $399.
Join Sarah Kate Benjamin of The Kosmic Kitchen for a day of relaxation and rejuvenation at Osmosis Day Spa. To start, you’ll explore key herbs of the springtime that support whole body health and learn how to infuse them into everyday meals in a way that feels both sensible and fun. Then, you’ll take part in a hands-on herbal cooking class where we’ll create a nourishing lunch together while enjoying the sounds of the nearby creek. After the cooking class, you’ll relax with a group cedar enzyme footbath, choose between a 70-minute massage or a 65-minute custom facial, and experience peaceful walking meditation through our bamboo forest followed by guided meditation in our renowned Japanese garden. Reserve your spot.
Singer Amber Rubarth at Pax Wines
Thursday, June 12, 8 pm to 10:30 pm, at Pax Wines, 6780 McKinley St., Sebastopol. $40.
Join us at Pax Wines for a special, after-hours concert with Amber Rubart. Refreshingly unique in her styling, Rubarth has built an eclectic collection of songs from the fun and frivolous to the raw and destructive. Her voice knows no bounds where genre is concerned and her lyrics are deeply satisfying. Get tickets.
Celebrating 40 years of NAMI Sonoma County
Thursday, May 29, 5:30 pm, at Balletto Vineyards, 5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa. $50.
Come join us for a special event as we celebrate 40 years of NAMI Sonoma County. We are thrilled to host this in person gathering at Balletto Vineyards. It's a time to reflect on our achievements, honor our community, and look forward to the future. Let's come together to share stories, enjoy good company, and raise a toast to the incredible journey of NAMI Sonoma County. Don't miss out on this milestone celebration. Get tickets.
CPR Instruction and Certification for Teens
Friday, May 30, 4 pm to 5:30pm, at the Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. Free.
This course presents and meets the current American Heart Association, American Red Cross, and National Standard for adult, child, and infant CPR and choking. Grades 7-12. Register here.
Ceremonial Sounds: A Benefit for The NEST
Friday, May 30, 7 pm to 11 pm, at Soft Medicine Sanctuary, 186 North Main St., Sebastopol. $15-$1,000 donation. $20 at the door.
A benefit for the NEST, an artist hub for sustainable solutions, features live music, art auction, all ages. The NEST works to rebuild the village, embodying our values of Indigenous self-determination through lived sustainability, growing as intergenerational community, and nurturing arts/cultural lifeways, rooted upon the ancestral homelands we tend and share. Get tickets.
Sebastopol Walks: Explore the Past, Present, & Future of the Laguna de Santa Rosa
Saturday, May 31, 9 am. Meet at the Laguna Youth Park, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. Free.
Join Anne Morkill, executive director of the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, on a tour through time to learn about the past, present and future of habitat restoration efforts along the Laguna de Santa Rosa. The Laguna de Santa Rosa is a unique freshwater wetland that supports a diversity of plants and animals and is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance. Starting at Laguna Youth Park, we will cross the floating pedestrian bridge and walk at a good pace along the trails of the City of Sebastopol’s Laguna Wetlands Preserve, stopping at specific locations to view riparian forest, oak woodland and vernal pools. A plant and wildlife reference list will be provided. We will cover 1.5 to 2.5 miles depending on pace and return to the parking lot by 11:30 am. Wear sunscreen, a hat and walking shoes. Bring water, a snack, and tick repellent if desired.
Woodshop: Make a planter box
Saturday, May 31, 10 am to 1 pm, at Chimera Arts and Maker Space, 6791 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. $135.23
Come join the folks at Chimera Arts and Maker Space for a fun and hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to create your very own planter box from scratch. Our woodshop instructor, Craig Erickson, will guide you through the process, from start to finish as you measure, cut, and assemble your project. Whether you're a seasoned woodworker or a complete beginner, this event is perfect for anyone looking to unleash their creativity and add a touch of greenery to their home or garden. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn a new skill and connect with fellow DIY enthusiasts! Dimensions are approx. 13 1/2 in. high, 13 in. x 13 in. wide. Reserve your spot.
The Sorentinos: Live at Taft Street Winery
Sunday, June 1, 2 pm to 5 pm, at Taft Street Winery, 2030 Barlow Lane, Sebastopol. Tickets are $15 for the public and $10 for wine club members and their guests.
Rock & roll is back at Taft Street! Join us on Sunday, June 1 for the return of our A Little Street Music series with Sonoma County legends The Sorentinos. The Sorentinos are known for their energetic performances and a sound that blends rock, blues, and Americana. Grab your picnic, sip Taft Street wines, and enjoy an afternoon of great music on our outdoor patio. Reserve your spot now! Get tickets.
See What’s Happening Sonoma County for more music listings.
Want us to feature your event in “What’s happening this week in Sebastopol?” Submit your events to the Sebastopol Community Calendar. This is one of the many resources I use to put this column together.