Lagunitas Community School by Steve Rebscher Lagunitas School Update
In the past month I spoke with five ex-Lagunitas students that each navigated a path to stay in the valley after completing school. I want to preface these stories by saying that there are many unique ways to approach life’s challenges, ambi- tions and goals. For some, a high priority is to live in an area they truly love and appreciate. For some, owning a home is part of that goal. We are all aware of how difficult it is for young people in this time to choose where they want to live and, perhaps most difficult, to buy a home, even what we once called a “starter home”. In previous issues of the Stone Soup I have highlighted many Lagunitas students that have gone on to exceptional careers in medicine, science and law and gradu- ates that are in equally fulfilling careers in the arts, business and teaching. Young people that have built a way to fulfill the goal of owning a home in the valley represent another group of ex-students that deserve recognition for their creativity, perseverance and commitment to our community. One student that followed a remarkable trajectory was Dillon Sheppherd. During his middle school years Dillon was drawn to dirt bike riding which led to profes- sional off road racing in the U.S. and Europe. While his professional riding did not equate to the financial ability to buy a home in the valley his perseverance and “get it done” attitude prepared him well to seize the opportunity when it arose. Dillon, and his girlfriend Katie, heard about a rundown house in the hills above Woodacre advertised on Craig’s List. “How bad could it be”? Well, pretty bad. Taxes had not been paid for years, leaks had left the house damaged and molding, mul- tiple squatters had lived there for many months even after the water and power had been turned off. But they finally reached a deal with the owners of the house and started the job of emptying the house, cleaning and rebuilding . When I saw them a year later they were in the front yard, covered in dirt, wrestling redwood rounds into place for landscaping. They were transforming a run down house into a home. Dillon continues to build a refrigeration repair business, he and Katie are married, and they have succeeded in bringing an old house back to life! You can easily recognize Dennis and Elysha Anderson-Irish’s house as you drive down Railroad toward the Fire Department. It’s the one with the beautiful steel gate. Dennis’ mother, Mary Irish, worked for the Lagunitas School District as a librarian for many years. Like his father, Dennis has a welding business in the North Bay. Elysha is an engineer with MMWD and served as board president for the Woodacre Improvement Club for the last couple of years. With two young boys and the house they bought in 2017, their commitment to the valley shines. Daniel Szawarzenski took a different path back to Lagunitas. When I first met Daniel he was a few months old propped up on the coach next to our oldest daughter Molly. They were born just a few weeks apart. When I spoke with him after graduating from Cal Poly (San Louis Obispo) he had earned a civil engineer- ing degree and was beginning a new job specializing in underground stabiliza- tion and deep foundations for large building projects. Now, he is a senior project manager at Berkel Construction and bought his grandmother’s house in Lagunitas where he lives with his girlfriend Tessa who grew up in Woodacre. Daniel said that one of the very Senior Programs Elders Advisory Council Community Gathering April 22nd 2025 During the community gathering on April 22nd, the Elders Advisory Council pre- sented to the greater community the key levels of concern gathered in the results from our Older Adults Needs Assessment for the San Geronimo and Nicasio Valleys. Small group discussions took place after the presentation. We discussed a key con- cern along with opportunities and solutions aimed at addressing the needs raised by our survey. Transportation: Improving Access and Mobility. West Marin faces significant transportation challenges, including infrequent bus services, long distances to stops, and high costs for transit. To address this, volunteer driver programs, improved bus schedules, and innovative services like ridesharing models and a pilot shuttle pro- gram such as The Stagecoach, can help provide more mobility options. Expanding Marin Transit’s routes and frequency could also increase accessibility. Good news on the topic of transportation, Marin Transit will start a new Pilot run- ning through the San Geronimo Valley to Fairfax and San Anselmo starting in July! Health and Wellness: Accessible Care and Support Services. Healthcare resources in West Marin are limited by funding and space, impacting residents’ access to care. Opportunities include leveraging retired healthcare professionals, creating wellness programs like house calls and hosting regular health clinics. Establishing advocacy groups for social services and providing ongoing support for widows and seniors could also help meet the community’s health and wellness needs.
best parts of living in the valley, and in his grandmother’s house, is hosting the family gatherings he remembers from his childhood in the same house. Dan Freudenberger’s valley roots go way back. He is the grandson of George Flanders who ranched the north side of Sir Francis Drake Blvd., at the entrance to the valley, until his death in 2008. Dan bought his own home bordering on Lagunitas Creek in 2009. He has been a sheetmetal worker for the city and coun- ty of San Francisco for the past nine years. Griffin Anderson worked as a seasonal ranger for Marin County for several years before getting a permanent position as an Open Space Maintenance Ranger. With that job in hand, Griffin was able to buy a home in Lagunitas in 2022. Now he gets to maintain hillside vegetation seven days a week! From my perspective, too many young people don’t even consider buying a home as being within the realm of possibility. The stories of the young people in this article prove that a long term effort, backed by commitment and diligent work can lead to success in creating a family home and many other lifetime goals for our students. Community Change – The trajectory of our school district was altered forever in the 1970’s when a new group of socially progressive young people moved in to the valley. Our school district retains a key element of that transition: the importance of individual action to bring about positive change in our community. Each year every 8th grader in our middle school identifies a problem to address, develops a solution and identifies experts to help them refine that solution. Near the end of the school year each student makes an oral presentation of their work, creates an informative art or museum style piece at the Woodacre Central Park site and writes a synopsis of their project which is published in the Point Reyes Light. If you missed the student essays in the April 17 issue of The Light you can find them on the website at ptreyeslight.com, go to “Menu” and search for “Lagunitas middle schoolers on making change”. Like me, you will be impressed by their cre- ativity, the effort they put into their projects, the depth of their research and the quality of their writing. Subjects included: The importance of emergency preparedness, Humane treat- ment for all animals, Light pollution at Lagunitas Community School, The power of art therapy, The benefits of skateboarding, Marin’s food problem, Sun vs. blue light, Marin County transit, Dangers of overfishing, Wait until 8th, The impor- tance of body positivity, The dangers of head injuries, The importance of allied sports, Living harmoniously with wildlife, The importance of support for people with mental health issues, The dangers of animal testing and Suicide prevention in Marin County. A special thanks goes out to Katherine Sanford for her leadership in our middle school and the immense effort she makes to support the growth of students through this project and to the Point Reyes Light for publishing this work. Community Connections: Overcoming Isolation and Building Engagement. Isolation is a common issue in rural West Marin, especially for seniors, due to geo- graphic distance and mobility challenges. More community-building activities such as neighborhood events, more smaller localized classes and workshops that allow for social connections based on common interests can help foster connections. Engaging younger people in volunteerism and driving could also bridge genera- tional gaps and enhance social ties. Financial Security: Strengthening Economic Stability for Seniors. Financial inse- curity is a concern, with many seniors unprepared for aging and vulnerable to scams. Financial literacy programs that help seniors plan for their future and pro- tect home assets, offering workshops on financial planning, advocating for afford- able housing, and providing rent subsidies or senior discounts are opportunities to explore in addressing financial security. Housing: Addressing Shortages and Creating Sustainable Solutions. West Marin faces a shortage of affordable housing, compounded by aging homes and a lack of financial assistance for cash-poor homeowners. Some of the ways the community can address these issues are by options like Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Dwelling Units (JDUs), particularly for seniors. Advocacy for county policy changes such as alternative septic technologies, and streamlining the permitting process can also help alleviate housing challenges. We know creating an Age Friendly West Marin where residents of the San Geroni- mo and Nicasio valleys can age in place will require a collaborative and communi- ty-driven approach. By strengthening existing partnerships, engaging neighbors of all ages, and fostering opportunities for people to invest in their community now and for the future, we can build a sustainable, locally tailored model for an Age Friendly community.
SGV Community Center Stone Soup Page 9
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