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Postcard from Glen Ellen:
04/01/2009
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Postcard from Glen Ellen
News and Bios from the little town of Glen Ellen Out and About in town Those enchanting daffodils are a sure sign: spring has sprung and we’re off and running! The lauded Chris Landry, local boy and compassionate firefighter, is “keeping it all in the Glen Ellen family.” Chris and Catarina Landry have purchased the home of the late, lovely Dorothy Spratt over on Henno Road. This sweet young couple, with their 9-month-old Eriana, and baby brother on-the-way, will continue the kindly legacy of the Spratts who occupied that property for decades. Next time you’re running the Henno Loop, wave to the Landrys as you pass by. Things are exhilarating at Altimira! Who would have thought there was so much wild creativity among local youth, but the Altimira Middle School team just won the regional Odyssey of the Mind contest, and is going on to State Finals on April 4 in Brentwood. Coached by victorious Vicki Hill, the children selected an esoteric subject – “The Lost Labor of Hercules” – then wrote a script, created costumes and scenery, acted, and even wrote original songs to win this honor. The Altamira team, including Glen Ellen ex-Dunbar students Griffin Hill, Chris Tose, Jacob Little and Alexandra Kasper, along with other team members, came away with impressive honors. Please celebrate these creative minds of the future, and wish them luck on their way to State Finals. Go Team! And don’t forget current talented Dunbar kids, the capable Miles Pimentel and the clever Autumn Cecil, who have just been honored with the Student of the Year awards. My, my, what illustrious kids! Out of tiny acorns, mighty voices ring. Mixing my metaphors here, but did you know we have a thriving chorale flourishing right here in Glen Ellen? Twenty years ago, a cluster of docents at Bouverie Preserve came together to sing for fun. They cleverly named themselves the Quercus Quire – after the genus Quercus, our native oaks. Now they entertain at elementary schools with songs like Spiders and Snakes, Butts Up, and The FBI (Fungus, Bacteria, Invertebrates), managing to teach science and ecology while amusing the kids. This band of bards are bound together by a love for children and a love for the natural world, and includes locals Diana Hindley, Phyllis Ellman, Karlene Hall, Sara Clegg, Jeanne Reggio, Sylvia Crawford, and Una Skelly. When visiting a local school recently, one of them overheard a child in the front say “They’re all old.” The songster instantly retorted: “We may be old, but we’re fun!” Pet Peeve: Boorish drivers turning left when entering the market parking lot grabbing the one remaining open space in front of the entrance, and uh…exasperating…the virtuous driver who followed the rules and turned right around the lot. There. Got that off my chest… Can anyone report back on the hieroglyphic-like writing which appeared out of nowhere on the flat-cut end of the mighty Pine tree which fell by the Jack London Village parking lot during the rains last month? I’ve been craning my head to read and understand it for days now. Getting to Know the Locals Let me introduce you to two gals – from the same family, mind you – who have made more of a difference to this community than any five of us combined. Jovial MaryAnn Carr is the mother-in-law of Cynthia Carr. They share in common the debonair Greg Carr, Mary Ann’s son and Cynthia’s husband. The two families live on Warm Springs Road in a house they built together, which is really two dwellings under one roof that are mirror images of each other. This way Cynthia can close the linking door to tune out MaryAnn’s giggling during her quilting bees, and MaryAnn can shut out the hullabaloo from the opposite end. The chronically cheerful and energetic Mary Ann is a vigorous 84 years old, astounding when you think that she gets up at dawn, works on quilts, attends community meetings, volunteers, zips to the PO in her white jeep (MA Carr on the license plate). In fact, Mary Ann is the needle behind the thread of the Village Fair Quilt, was founder of Vineyard Workers Services, and is active on the Village Fair Committee. At 84, her philosophy is to stay busy and laugh a lot, and frankly, it exhausts me to think about it. Any student at Dunbar knows Cynthia Carr who has been there for 22 wonderfully happy years in varying capacities. She loves each child deeply and gets great pleasure from watching them grow up in Glen Ellen. From a musical family in Minnesota, Cynthia grew up singing harmony at family gatherings while washing dishes with her sister. Her own eclectic style is influenced by the Beatles, Jessie Winchester, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Waits. Cynthia Carr and the Carrtunes started as a group of Dunbar moms singing doo-wop harmonies to Cynthia’s guitar. Cynthia, Sandy Lane, and Margie Foster were later joined by Ed Davis, Tom Martin, Mark Mulcahy, and James Curry. Playing at Murphy’s Irish Pub in Sonoma is a New Year’s Eve tradition now, and their tight harmonies and musical varietals can only be described as Hip Americana.  Mary Ann and Cynthia Carr of Glen Ellen. Most endearing is the warmth these two excellent women have for each other. Together, and as a family, with Mary Ann’s other children Susan Carr Mulcahey and Sharon Carr, they make a powerful and energetic force. They clearly make a difference, and enjoy hilarity in the process. Comments and feedback welcome and solicited, to BJ Blanchard, bj@mabco.com. Email: bj@kenwoodpress.com |
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