Aliens on parade in the 25th annual Glen Ellen Village Fair on Oct. 11

This is a reminder that Glen Ellen’s 25th annual Village Fair will roll into action on Sunday, Oct. 11.|

This is a reminder that Glen Ellen’s 25th annual Village Fair will roll into action on Sunday, Oct. 11. The theme of the day is Glen Aliens.

At high noon we expect half the town folks to be disguised as aliens, or something equally interesting. They’ll parade down Carquinez, with a left at Arnold Drive, and then a right and across the bridge. The remaining folks from our town will line the streets cheering on the marchers. We don’t expect many of the spectators to don alien outfits. But in our town, you can never be too sure. Of course, we welcome out of town gawkers, most happily, too. As for real outer-space creatures: bring ‘em on.

It’s well time you choose your role in this year’s parade; both marchers and cheering crowds are necessary. If you want to join the parade and haven’t yet contacted Dawn Kemp, please do so now, by emailing mollypichr@aol.com.

A special attraction in every year’s parade is Neil Shepard and his prancing Clydesdales. This year, Neil’s wagon will be filled with many of the past Grand Marshals. We hear that a special honor will be given to dear Margie Everidge; she’ll be up front with Neil.

After the parade, the day’s festivities begin, with food, crafts for sale, music and fun. At five o’clock, the streets roll up. Aliens and others are invited to stay and help with the clean-up. Questions about the fair can be directed to glenellenfair@att.net. Follow fair news on their Facebook page, Glen Ellen Village Fair.

It takes a solar system

Another exciting addition to this year’s fair are the three quilted pieces that are being offered in the drawing at the end of the fair. The large quilt, “It takes a solar system,” is the main attraction. Many folks saw it at the firehouse pancake breakfast. Then a second quilt, a wall hanging, was created of left-over squares from the first quilt. But by no means is the smaller quilt a lesser product. It features beautiful embroidery of the starry night zodiac, done by Margie Foster and Deb Pool.

A third quilt, produced from artwork by Dunbar students will be raffled to raise funds just for Dunbar School. Leslie Vaughn helped produce it, featuring Glen Aliens. This triplet of quilts is a rare accomplishment for the Glen Ellen quilters. Support their efforts by buying raffle tickets.

Burning of Middletown

While I’m as excited as anyone about our annual village fair, this past week my thoughts have been occupied by the tragedy of the Valley Fire in Middletown. Tom Benton and Judith Anna, long time residents of Glen Ellen, live in that area. We have been awaiting good news of them and just before press time, Tim Benton, Tom’s son, emailed me: “They’re safe in Santa Rosa with a relative.” Great joy!

Diane Tulley is another well known Valley friend to many. A former water yoga teacher at Sonoma Aquatic Center, Diane lives between Middletown and Harbin. For the past decade or so, Diane, aka Aquianna, has worked at Harbin Hot Springs as a Watsu practioner. We learned late last week that she was at the Calistoga evacuation center, but has since left. We still don’t know the status of her home, or her pets. It is just good to know that she is alive.

Loss of Harbin

Harbin Hot Springs is a place I’ve long loved. Local residents of Sonoma Donna-Grace and David Noyes share that affection for Harbin. We reminisced about our favorite hot springs spa.

Donna-Grace recently returned from a month in Amsterdam with her daughter Isabelle Mambote. Many in Glen Ellen will remember Isabelle as Heather Sage Ansell. She and her husband Mike, along with their beautiful 3-year-old daughter Trinity, live in Amsterdam. It was there that Donna-Grace and Isabelle first learned about Harbin’s demise through Facebook. “We started to cry, and every time we looked at each other, we cried,” Donna-Grace shared. She further noted that “I loved that Harbin was so nearby that I was able to go there whenever I needed to get away, to soak my cares away.”

Donna-Grace and I shared how Harbin was a place that one’s nakedness didn’t matter, “For a place where most people are naked, it feels so private,” Donna recalled.

I agree. Raised in Humboldt County in the Finnish community where weekly saunas were the norm, I always felt comfortable without clothing in public places. Harbin was just as welcoming as my childhood saunas, but with a new-age twist.

Healing tide pool

Winemaker David Noyes offered a metaphor to describe the Harbin he first encountered in the early ‘90s, “The decade of the ‘60s was a huge wave that washed over the country, and left a little tide pool that was Harbin.” Then David added, “My initial impression has changed ... Harbin is not just of the past, but changing with the times.’ Now, post fire, he’s simply grateful that he had the opportunity to enjoy it as it was. Both Donna-Grace and David are optimistic that Harbin will come back. “Oh differently,” David qualifies. “I know it will be good. It’s a healing place and always has been.”

Now Harbin will have to heal itself. The beautiful buildings, artwork and personal touches that were added over the century since it began have given way to the rages of fire. I will miss those eccentric and delightful buildings. But since the springs and pools survive, Harbin will rise again. Those who participate in rebuilding Harbin will reflect a new time, and a new age.

Plein Air artists converge

Good news arrived from Pam Gilbert. She writes, “Glen Ellen residents support Sonoma Plein Air Foundation (SPAF) by hosting guest artists in their homes for Sonoma Plein Air Festival week. Sonoma Plein Air Foundation wishes to thank all the host families for the 35 plein air artists who are arriving from around the country for the 13th annual SPAF festival Sept. 14-19, 2015. Gracious Glen Ellen hosts include Cherie and Keith Hughes, Martha and Steve Rosenblatt, Jane and Jerry Baldwin, Mona and John Wilson, Diane and Ken Jacobson.

The 35 nationally renowned artists participate in the week-long festival by doing what they do best: painting outside in the open air around Sonoma county and beyond. On Sept. 15 the artists performed a Quick Draw demonstration on Sonoma Plaza during the Tuesday evening farmers market where their Quick Draw products will be for sale. Their works from the week’s open-air painting from around Sonoma and out in the county will be displayed at the Sonoma Art Museum during the week and at Bump wine tasting room at 521 Broadway. These images will also be exhibited and for sale during the Community Festival at the Sonoma Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Funds raised from the SPAF festival support art education for Sonoma County school children. For more information, visit sonomapleinair.com. Share news and comments with #SPAF15.

SPAF’s Community Festival also has much to offer visitors and locals: live music and children’s art classes, including a master class for teens given by the Sonoma Community Center, and hands-on art opportunities with an ARTescape demo for younger kids. The SPAF Community Festival, held at the Sonoma Plaza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, is free to the public.”

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The Folks in Glen Ellen column also appears online. Look for my column on the Index-Tribune website sonomanews.com under the category Lifestyle. Click on Sylvia Crawford for current and old columns. Want to see your own name in the news? Call or write me at 996-5995 or P.O. Box 518, GE 95442. Or email me at Creekbottom@earthlink.net. Glen Ellen chatter rarely requires timeliness; however, if your news does, please be sure to contact me at least three weeks before your desired publication date.

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