Fund Development A Note from Our New Director of Advancement, Jessica O’Connell
Save the Date Heart of the Valley Benefit Returns October 10, 2026
Dear Community,
Join friends and neighbors from across West Marin for a lively night of food, music, and giving back.
When I describe life in the San Geronimo Valley to people who don’t live here, I often start with its natural beauty—and then I tell them how lucky we are to have a Community Center that supports families in meaningful ways, provides critical services for our most vulnerable neighbors, and brings people together across generations. My family has experienced this firsthand. Over the years, we’ve participated in programs, connected with staff, and felt the impact of what this organization makes possible. That experience inspired me to get more involved, first as a volunteer on the Communi- cations Committee, then as a social media consultant, and now in this new role as Director of Advancement.
The San Geronimo Valley Community Center’s beloved annual fundraiser, the Heart of the Valley Benefit, returns on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 5:00–10:00 pm at the Community Center. This festive evening will bring together friends and neighbors from across West Marin for a lively night of delicious food and libations, music, games, and community spirit in support of the programs and services that help keep the Valley connected and thriving. Guests will enjoy authentic Central Texas-inspired barbecue from Lone Mountain Barbecue, along with casino-style games presented by Atomic Casino, a silent auction featuring more than 75 prizes from local businesses, and live music from legendary roots rockers Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys . Since forming in Southern California in 1988, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys have earned an international following for their signature blend of rocka- billy, country, rhythm, and blues, and Americana. The evening will also feature a special Fund-a-Need initiative supporting the Community Center’s Youth Programs. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, and more details.
I’m honored to step into this position at a time when community matters so deeply. In a world that can often feel uncertain or divided, the Community Center is a place of connection, resilience, and care. It truly is the heart of the Valley. Professionally, I bring more than two decades of experience in nonprofit commu- nications and fundraising. My work has focused on helping mission-driven orga- nizations tell their stories clearly, build strong relationships with supporters, and grow the resources needed to sustain and expand their impact. I’ve also been deeply involved in local fundraising, working alongside community members and busi- nesses to support causes we care about. What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to expand our impact by thoughtfully cultivating and stewarding resources in service of the incredible people in our community. I’m especially excited to bring communications and development together in a way that deepens connection to our work and ensures we have the resources needed to meet evolving needs. I look forward to connecting with you, lis- tening, learning, and working together to ensure the Community Center continues to thrive for years to come.
Thank you for being part of what makes this place so special.
Warmly, Jessica O’Connell
Tonight’s Sky by Rich Lohman
tion, Bootes, the herdsman. Arcturus has a slight orange cast to it as it cools in its old-age, red giant phase. You can be sure it’s Arcturus if you follow the natural arc of the Big Dipper’s handle to find it. “Arc to Arcturus” is a well-known adage of amateur astronomers. Arcturus is the 4th brightest star in our sky, followed by 5th brightest Vega appearing only a few minutes after Arcturus, slightly lower and over in the East. Vega is part of Lyra, the harp or lyre. As the sky darkens further you’ll begin to see dimmer Spica (in Virgo), a bit below Arcturus and even dimmer Antares (the heart of the scorpion) very low in the South. By that time you’ll have the rest of the glorious stars and constellations to enjoy. Finally, don’t forget the annual Perseid Meteor shower on the night of August 12-13. A new moon will give us a chance to see lots of “shooting stars”. Some estimates are “a meteor a minute”! Find a nice clear spot after midnight and enjoy.
June-August 2026
As June begins this year, the night sky action is in the west with our two brightest planets, Jupiter and Venus. Jupiter has spent the past many months being the bright-
est object in our night sky. Now he is headed for setting in the west, while Venus, 5X brighter, is rising there. You can start looking west for the two soon after sun- set. Each night in early June you’ll see Jupiter just a bit higher than Venus, but moving towards Venus. Watch especially on June 9th when Venus moves above Jupiter, and the two are an “astronomical hair” apart! After the 9th you’ll see them moving apart, with Venus moving higher and higher above Jupiter. She will be with us as the “evening star” for several months into the summer. The night of June 17th will offer another treat when a thin crescent moon joins the two planets in a nice lineup. The order will be (from top to bottom): cres- cent moon, Venus, Jupiter. If you have a low western horizon view, you may get a glimpse of the planet Mercury at the bottom of that line. Here’s one thing to appreciate as you see these two planets passing in the night. Even though Jupiter “seems” very close to Venus, he is about 400 million miles more distant! For those of you who are up before sunrise, there is also planet action in the east- ern sky. Saturn has now made its way around the Sun after setting in the west a few months ago. On June 10th, look for it relatively high in the sky, along with a crescent moon. For many of us here in the San Geronimo Valley, the western horizon (looking for Jupiter and Venus) is not so easy to see from our shaded homes. Some good spots: the old golf course; up Fire Rd in Woodacre; along the side of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Short of that, let me suggest another activity I especially enjoy during the summer months when the weather is warmer. Just after sunset I like to scan overhead, just with my eyes, to catch the light of the brightest stars as they pop out. In early June the first one will be Arcturus, located very high and nearly due South. It is part of the lesser-known constella-
Any questions: Contact Rich Lohman, richneal@pacbell.net
SGV Community Center Stone Soup Page 11
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