Rolling Stones by Alexa Davidson Executive Director
FMH XIII continued from page 1
This summer, on Sunday, June 29, the McQuilkin Family Music Hour celebrates its 23rd performance in its 13th year. After missing its first-ever (outside of Covid) show this past winter, it returns stronger than ever — and with a brand-new addition to the band: Bonabelle Blue Heron McQuilkin Gapinski, a third-generation member (on both sides). We’ll give her a few years before expecting her first solo, but like so many others in the Music Hour family, we can’t wait to watch her grow. The Family Music Hour is as homegrown as it gets — a showcase of the incredible, hyper- local talent that fills our Valley. Just as the Annual Spring Art Show lifts up visual artists, this event has become a stage for our singers, musicians, and performers. Michael has built something rare: a space of mentorship, inclusion, and community. Many of the perform- ers you see today spent years watching from the wings before stepping into the spotlight. Each show brings together pros and amateurs, touring artists, young up-and-comers, col- lege-bound kids chasing their musical dreams — and usually at least one new face making their debut. As Michael says everybody is somebody’s somebody, there is no wall between the performers and the audience. What everyone agrees on is McQuilkin’s remarkable guidance and gift for accompaniment — he, the crack band and every singer that steps up to the mic make it all look effortless, masking the depth of work and rehearsals that go into producing a concert like the Family Music Hour. Which add up to at least 3 months from the beginnings of prep, with song selection on through to the final number. In the end, the McQuilkin Family Music Hour is more than a concert—it’s a living, breathing expression of the San Geronimo Valley’s heart and soul. It’s a testament to what can happen when a community gathers not just to be entertained, but to lift one another up through shared song, stories, and tradition. What began as one family’s vision has blossomed into a cherished institution, where generations come together to celebrate the joy of music and the power of connection. As the curtain rises on the 23rd performance, with the next generation already tuning up, the Family Music Hour stands as a beautiful reminder that in our ever-changing world, community and creativity remain our most enduring instruments. McQuilkin Family Music Hour XXIII will feature the following singers, Alexa Davidson, Andrew Giacomini, Alexander McQuilkin, Buck Chavez, Gracie Chavez, John Cunningham, Kira Thelin, Tealy Gapinski, Will McQuilkin, Katherine Wethington, Kevin Meade, Paul O’Sullivan, Indigo Jenkins, Wayne Patton and Alice McConnell. This summer the band includes McQ, David Russ, Howie Cort, John Cunningham, Bruce Greenstein, the legendary Lagunitas Horns Tim Cain, Tony Petroccitto, Chris Lege, and another Family Music Hour debut local pedal steel guitar hero Dave Zirbel.
This spring has been one of the most emotion- ally complex seasons I’ve experienced as Executive Director of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center—a time marked by both profound heartbreak and immense gratitude. Like so many of you, I’ve been holding both at once, and what continues to
ground me is this: we are handling it together. On April 18th, our Valley was shaken by an unimaginable tragedy when four young people lost their lives in a car accident in Woodacre. As the news rippled through our tight-knit community, what followed was an outpouring of love, support, and deep presence. In vigils, shared silence, and spaces for grief, this community showed up—as it always does. In our hardest moments, the strength of this place shines brightest. I am remind- ed, once again, how lucky I am to live and work among people who know how to hold one another through loss. This tragedy took me back to my own family’s experience. Three and a half years ago, my sister was in a devastating car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury. She had to relearn everything—how to walk, talk, live independently. And this community carried us through it. You held us. I remember thinking then, as I do now: you never expect some- thing like this to happen, but if it does, you hope you’re in a place like this. The day after the April 18th crash in Woodacre, my family left for a long-dreamed-of trip to Kauai—a celebration of my sister’s recovery. It had been on her “recovery to-do list,” alongside milestones like “walk,” “drive,” “return to work,” and “babysit my best friend’s kids.” In Hawaii, I watched her laugh, hike, swim, and thrive. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for her life and for the community that helped make her healing possible. And at the same time, I felt the weight of grief for the families in our Valley just beginning their own journeys of loss. Life is fragile. And we must hold each other close, every chance we get. We’ve also recently lost two beloved members of our community. Chuck Ford passed away on May 20th after a courageous battle with cancer. Chuck was a steady presence in the Valley and a quiet but powerful force in my own journey as a leader. He believed deeply in the mission of the Community Center—and in me. On May 16th, we also said goodbye to Marcia Phipps, a longtime Lagunitas School teacher and my own middle school math teacher, who shaped the lives of generations of children. Saying goodbye is never easy, but saying thank you is: thank you to both of these remarkable people who left lasting legacies in our community and in my life. Amidst these personal and collective losses, there’s been another emotional undercurrent running through this season: uncertainty. Every week brings new questions about the future of the social services so many rely on. We’ve already seen reductions in federal funding, and we continue to hear from the County about contracts at risk—many tied to food access, senior services, mental health programs, and the arts. At the same time, we’re see- ing growing need in our community. People are hurting, and they’re turn- ing to us. The Community Center has always met the moment with care and creativity and we have prepared with foresight to be able to do so— but the weight of it is real. Each day, our team is holding space for people in transition, offering stability and connection in a shifting landscape. And still there is much to celebrate! I want to honor my friend and col- league Socorro Romo, Executive Director of West Marin Community Services, who is preparing to retire after a lifetime of service. Socorro has led with clarity, compassion, and unwavering dedication to equity. Her impact on West Marin is profound. It’s been an honor to work beside her, learn from her, and build strong collaborations between our organizations. Her legacy will continue, and I am grateful to have shared in her orbit. This season is also marked by moments of hope and celebration in the lives of our young people. As our 8th graders prepare to graduate from the Lagunitas Community School, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing their brilliance firsthand. They’ve completed their “Change Projects,” tackled issues that matter deeply to them, and stood before their peers and com- munity to deliver powerful TED-style talks about how they are making a difference in their communities. Their insight and passion are inspir- ing. Our youth have reminded us—yet again—of the bright future being shaped right here in our Valley. As I reflect on this season, I keep coming back to this truth: our lives are full of contradictions—joy and sorrow, fear and hope, loss and celebra- tion. This community knows how to hold them all. We’ve been through a lot—but we’re facing it together. We grieve together, grow together, and rise together. Let’s keep showing up for one another—in tragedy, in triumph, and in all the everyday moments in between. That is the heartbeat of this place. And I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of it.
Please join us on Sunday June 29 at 4 pm to celebrate once again! Dinner (available for separate purchase) begins at 4pm, Show starts promptly at 5:30pm. Purchase tickets suggested donation $10. Nobody turned away for lack of funds.
Credits Stone Soup is printed four times a year and reflects the diverse cultural interests of the Community Center and the Valley. Though it is a publication of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, it is meant as a journal for everyone in or around the Valley. We are interested in your input. If you have any comments, ideas for articles or columns, news, art, stories, poetry, photography, or information for the publication, please forward them to: The Stone Soup Editorial Committee c/o San Geronimo Valley Community Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. P.O. Box 194, San Geronimo, CA 94963. Phone (415) 488-8888 • email: dfogel@sgvcc.org, or visit www.sgvcc.org. Stone Soup does not exercise editorial control on the content of submissions by organi- zations, byline columnists, or display ads. We reserve the right to refuse to publish ads or submissions. Editorial Committee: Danielle Fogel, Alexa Davidson, David Russ Proofreading: Alexa Davidson, Danielle Fogel, Albert DeSilver, Poko Giacomini, Helen Ferlino Production: David Russ, Russ Ranch Productions Printing: Marin Sun Ads: Danielle Fogel and Albert DeSilver David Lakes, President Liora Soladay, Co-Vice President Alexander McQuilkin, Co-Vice President David Bernard, Treasurer Brandon Johnson Kelly Lawson Heather Richardson Amy Waterhouse Alan Weiler San Geronimo Valley Community Center Board Members John Beckerley, Secretary Carolina Balazs Sarah Brewster Buddy Faure Zachary Goodman
Page 2 SGV Community Center Stone Soup
Jean Berensmeier, Founder
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