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Packed weekend of events in GE

 

This is an event-filled weekend for folks in our town with two important parties celebrating Glen Ellen community.

 First up on Saturday, May 7, we honor former Dunbar student, Glen Ellen resident Bradley Dreyer in a benefit to fund Brad's continuing care following a skateboarding accident. Fun begins at 5 p.m. at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building. Thirty-five dollars includes music by Steve Cohen's Jazz Band, spaghetti dinner with local wines, silent and live auctions, followed by dancing tunes with Tudo Bem. When Dave Aguilar, Peter McCauley and Pat O'Connell start rocking, you can't sit still. 

If Tudo Bem and mounds of great pasta aren't enough to entice you to attend this benefit, come for the real reason: to support Mary Kate, Jeff and Elizabeth Dreyer as they continue Brad's care at home. 

All of the Dreyers have been active in supporting our Sonoma Valley schools and local theater. Long since all of her children graduated, Mary Kate still leads the team for Sonoma Valley High's yearly graduation party. Now they need our support: be there. Tickets for Bradley's benefit are available by calling 287-4440 or emailing friendofbraddreyer@gamail.com. See you there. 

For more information, visit caringbridge.org/visit/bradleydreyer/. You'll have to register, but it is well worth it. 

After the revels of Saturday night, meet again Sunday, May 8, at the main Glen Ellen fire station, 13445 Arnold Drive. 

That's where Captain Flapjack, aka Rusty Sims, assures you'll find, "a good old-fashioned celebration." It's the Glen Ellen Firefighters' annual Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast. Far more than mere pancakes, the breakfast includes eggs, sausage, fruit, bacon, coffee and tea. All this for $7 for adults, and free to young'uns. Can't be beat.

If you don't live in downtown Glen Ellen and your mama wants a wholesome way to work off those pancakes, we suggest parking at the Regional Park on Highway 12 (of course pay your fees; our parks need the income). Then stroll through the park enjoying the wildflowers, morning light filtered through the oaks and waking birds. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. continuing to noon.

For Rusty and his team, the day begins long before that. Taking a brief break from his school duties in Petaluma (Rusty's day job is as the principal of Carpe Diem and Sonoma Mountain high schools), he arrives at the firehouse around 5 a.m. to get the party started.

Peter Van Fleet, our fire chief, offers some worthwhile events to accompany breakfast. The big attraction will be Sonoma County's mobile hospital unit. The public (that's all of us, folks) are welcome to walk through, get a look at what help would be here in case of an earthquake or other disaster. Peter's also set up demonstrations of our AED defibrillator (a machine dear to the heart of Steve Perry).

Additionally, there will be CPR demonstrations highlighting the current changes in recommended procedures: no more mouth-to-mouth, which some folks feared. 

I learned the new techniques recently when the Bouverie Preserve held its first aid training day. Several firefighters arrived from the Glen Ellen fire station to educate docents on the new techniques. To my delight, among those handsome, grown-up, helpful men was a former student of mine. An amazing writer (even in eighth grade) and a dedicated, hard-working serious student, Keenan Lee is just the kind of local firefighter we appreciate. 

Since those long ago middle-school days, Keenan achieved Eagle Scout status, graduated from UC Davis and is currently attending Engineers Academy for Cal Fire. See you in your dancing shoes on Saturday evening, and again on Sunday in your best Mother's Day attire (hiking boots and flowered chapeau maybe?) to celebrate all that is the best about our town.  

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Share your good news with friends and neighbors in Glen Ellen. Call or write me at the numbers up there by my smile. Or email me at creekbottom@earthlink.net.