George Lawson Gallery, one of a pair of acclaimed galleries that recently moves from San Francisco to Mill Valley, is set to exhibit selections from David Becker’s "The Buddha Paintings" from October 16 to November 17.

Becker's "works are complex overlays of rectilinear, organic, and figurative painting," Lawson says. "The figuration is comprised of silhouetted images of Buddhist statues. Embedded in Becker’s robust, gestural paint handling, the Buddhas raise questions about the correlation between art-making activity and mindful stillness as integrative disciplines."

"The Buddha Paintings re-interpret a wide array of the contemporary artistic cannon," Lawson adds. "They recycle cubism, collage and the gestural improvisations of abstract expressionism, as well as grid painting, crazy quilts and the kind of cultural sampling we might associate with Robert Rauschenberg’s random imagery.

Becker has been quietly working in an Oakland warehouse for years, for the most part under the radar, showing rarely, producing a consistently strong body of painting. For all of his studio practice’s independence from the strains of the market, his work could hardly be described as naïve; in fact, it seems to deal with every sophisticated current in the ongoing discussion of painting’s address to our culture and condition. He has woven together multiple threads of recent art history and any given organizing principle in the work might depend upon the precedent one chooses to track. From the counterbalance of Alexander Calder’s mobiles, to the opaque push and pull of Hans Hoffman’s abstraction, the gossamer layering of Robert Rauschenberg’s combines, or the kitchen sink inclusiveness of Chris Martin’s post history, it’s all here, supporting a sampler quilt of paint’s possible vernacular range.

The 411: George Lawson Gallery exhibits selections from David Becker’s "The Buddha Paintings" from October 16 to November 17. 18 East Blithedale Ave. #12. MORE INFO.

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As the 42nd Mill Valley Film Festival draws thongs of film lovers to town, Makers Market's slate of monthly Outdoor Markets continues on Oct. 5, spanning most of the Mill Valley Lumber Yard property with more than a dozen independent creators, artists and makers as well as live music from John Clarke, kids crafts and more. It also includes a just-added Emerging Artists Corner highlighting local young artists like Tam High grad Anna Baldwin (artwork at left) and giving them the opportunity to showcase their wares free of charge.​

The Outdoor Markets also offer first-time MVLY visitors the chance to check out all that the multi-faceted community gathering space and retail and foodie destination has to offer. Its spaces are nearly full, and include Stacy King's Lulu Design Jewelry, Louise Dockstader's Once Around as well as the opening of Watershed Restaurant from Ged Robertson and Kyle Swain and Mad Dogs & Englishman, an innovative, creative bicycle shop from Jennifer Blevins and Martin Watson. That array of businesses joined an ever-burgeoning roster of MVLY tenants that started with Molly de Vries' Ambatalia and Gayle Nicoletti’s Bloomingayles, and later added Serena Armstrong’s FarmHouseUrban, Suzy Ekman’s Makers Market, Amy Lowery’s The Edit, Chelsea Hutchison’s BOL Superfood Cafe, and Paige Mycoskie's Aviator Nation.

NOTE: Help the environment and take advantage of the easy transit, pedestrian and bike access to the Lumber Yard, with 60 bike parking spaces onsite. If you need to drive, don’t park in front of neighbors homes as there is ample median public parking in the surrounding area.

​The 411: Makers Market, continues its slate of monthly Outdoor Markets continues on Oct. 5 at the Mill Valley Lumber Yard, 129 Miller Ave., 10am-5pm. MORE INFO.
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Dogs? Check. Cats? Definitely. Geckos? Sure. Kimodo dragon? Yeah, maybe hold off on that.

On Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11:30am, Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church hosts its annual Blessing of the Animals, an event in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi, the great 13th century prophet who is the saint of animals and the environment. 

"All of God's creatures have earned our blessing and praise!" says Mt. Tam Church Pastor Kim Smith. "We're hosting a community-wide blessing of the animals following our regular worship service. Bring your pets of all kinds (properly restrained or contained, of course) for a loving blessing."

The church's regular worship services are held at 10:30am and all are welcome to join. Sunday School and Nursery care available. Call 415-388-4456 or email mtumc@pacbell.net for more info.

The 411: On Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11:30am, Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church hosts its annual Blessing of the Animals.
410 Sycamore Ave. MORE INFO.

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The Mill Valley Philharmonic kicks off its season-long 20th anniversary celebration later this month with its first three of a dozen performances that run through May 2020.

The 2019-20 season of the nonprofit organization, whose mission of MVP is "to enrich the cultural life of the Bay Area by offering orchestral programs to people of all ages and means in their own communities," comes on the heels of the retirement of its founder and artistic director Laurie Cohen in 2018, the arrival of a new executive director in Richard Aldag and the subsequent selection of Dana Sadava to be its new artistic director.

The 20th anniversary season begins with “Epic Romance,” featuring music by Gabriel Faure, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Jan Sibelius. The program is presented in a free open dress rehearsal on October 16 (7pm), followed by concerts on October 18 (7:30pm) and October 19 (4pm). Joining Sadava and MVP as soloist will be violinist Tom Stone (formerly of the Cypress String Quartet).

Program: The “Epic Romance” theme was drawn from the music on the first half of the program. Faure’s Pelléas et Melisande is based on a story of a forbidden, doomed love by the Belgian Symbolist poet and playwright Maurice Maeterlinck. The music is the suite from Faure’s incidental music for an 1898 production of the play in London. Continuing the passionate theme are Beethoven’s two Romances for Violin & Orchestra, works that focus on the lyrical nature of the violin.
 
Following intermission, Sadava and MVP will perform the Symphony #1 in E minor, Op. 39 by the Finnish composer Jan Sibelius. Composed between 1898-99, Sibelius’s Symphony #1 was considered something of a battle cry for the people of Finland as they fought to free themselves from the rule of the Russian Czar at the turn of the 20th century.

The 411: Mill Valley Philharmonic kicks off its season-long 20th anniversary celebration on Oct. 16 with a trio of performances of “Epic Romance” at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, 410 Sycamore, Mill Valley. Tix $20. MORE INFO & TIX. 
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Bloom, the San Rafael-based nonprofit that provides free wardrobes and life skills training to men, women and families transitioning to a life of self-reliance and looking for a job, is in the midst of a big 2019. The organization, founded as Image for Success in 1999, turns 20 this year, and earlier this year hired new executive director Lenice Smith to build on the success established by Sherene Chen.

Now Bloom officials are hosting "Bocce with Bloom," a fundraiser at the Marin Bocce Federation in San Rafael featuring lunch, drinks, raffle prizes and plenty of games of bocce, also known as Italian lawn bowling and one of the most widely played games in the world.

Set for Saturday, Nov. 2, 12-4pm, the event has drawn sponsorships from Seagate Properties, Doran & Associates, Nelly and Lagunitas Brewing Co., among others.
 
Barbara Lee founded the nonprofit after President Clinton established the welfare-to-work program and she learned that one San Rafael agency had 40 women ready to go to work but didn't have any business clothes. Prior to Image for Success’ creation, Cal Works (a welfare-to-work program) had provided each of their clients with vouchers to shop at a local discount store. But Lee wanted to create a more positive and personalized shopping experience for these women who were struggling to meet the serious challenges in their lives.

The organization morphed into Bloom in 2016 to reflect its broader array of services designed to have a direct, tangible impact on people’s lives at a critical moment: people and families transitioning to a life of self-reliance and looking for a job, whether it’s a person just released from prison, someone recovering from substance abuse or a victim of domestic abuse seeking independence. 

Located at 1557 Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael, Bloom runs a retail store that accepts donated clothing. They also take a lot of that clothing to the clients that are referred to them through a variety of social services agencies like Adopt a Family of Marin, Center for Domestic Peace, Community Action Marin and the Marin Employment Connection, as well as school administrators, clergy and teachers.

Clients can come back to Bloom every season, and the organization’s volunteer dressers are trained to deliver a “Nordstroms-like experience,” the organization says. “They act as personal shoppers for their clients. And those clients feel really respected, which is part of our mission. It’s not just about clothes.
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Over the years, the program grew, expanding to include men in 2005, and then relocated to Fourth Street in 2007, allowing the organization to open a consignment store. In 2011, bolstered by revenue from that store, Image for Success hit a milestone of having served 10,000 clients. The organization continued to expand on its partnerships with referring agencies, and had served more than 15,000 clients by the end of 2015. 

The 411: Bloom is hosting "Bocce with Bloom," a fundraiser at the Marin Bocce Federation in San Rafael featuring lunch, drinks, raffle prizes and plenty of games of bocce. 12-4pm. 550 B Street. MORE INFO & TIX.
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The Mill Valley Arts Commission's annual Click Off Photography Competition, which turned 20 years old last year, is ready for its Click Off Kick-Off event at the Mill Valley Community Center on Tuesday, October 22 at 6pm. At the Click Off-Kick Off," photo subject categories will be randomly chosen by participants. 

The kick-off event provides Mill Valley shutterbugs of all ages and ability levels with everything they'll need to participate in the competition and submit their best photos in a range of subject categories that highlight Marin's unique characteristics and subsequently reveal each photographer’s perspective through the camera lens – and cell phone photos are encouraged.

If participants cannot attend the Kick-Off event, categories will be randomly assigned and provided to participants the following day via email. Participants will have until November 6 to capture digital pictures that best represent the subject  and electronically upload a single image entry to the competition.

At the “Kick Off” event, participants may sign up for an editing session or make an appointment with The Image Flow at 415-388-3569. Participants will have the opportunity to spend 15 minutes with a professional photographer who will provide guidance in selecting and enhancing the best image for judging. 

Whether photographers choose to attend an editing session or load their entry on their own, images must be uploaded to the Click-Off designated website (TBA) no later than midnight November 7. 

The top contestants in each category will win excellent prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mention. Prizes will be awarded for Best Youth Photograph (15 & under) and Best in Show. The winning photographs will be displayed at the Mill Valley Community Center during the month of December, with an award ceremony and artist reception held on Tuesday, December 3.

Contest fees are $25 for adults or $15 for individuals 15 years and under or 62 and over. 
GO HERE to complete the online Click Off application.

The 411: Registration fee: $25 for adults; $15 for Seniors (62 and over) and Youth (15 and under). Prizes will be awarded for the top three places and honorable mention in each category, as well as overall prizes for Best Youth Photograph (15 & under) and Best in Show, The winning photographs will be honored at an Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, December 3, and displayed at the Mill Valley Community Center during the month of December. MORE INFO.

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The Community Church of Mill Valley has landed a free prequel event of sorts for a Mill Valley Film Festival screening of a film about Huldrych Zwingli, the main proponent of the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland. The event, set for Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11:45am, features Swiss director Stefan Haupt discussing his film The Reformer Zwingli: A Life’s Portrait, with Barbara Pitkin, senior lecturer in Religious Studies at Stanford University.

Haupt's film focuses on Zeingli, whose life's work made him world famous and turned the entire city of Zurich and a firmly established canon of values upside down. With razor-sharp intellect, he dissected the religious and social system, denounced abuses and was not afraid of taking issue with the most powerful people of his time.

Presented by the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco in collaboration with the Community Church and the Mill Valley Film Festival, the film screens at 1:15pm at the CineArts Sequoia Theatre at 25 Throckmorton Ave., a few minutes walk from the church. The pre-screening moderated discussion is 45 minutes and covers the Swiss reformation and its meaning as well as its relevance today. It will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session, leaving enough time for the audience to walk to the Sequoia.

The 411: Prior to a Mill Valley Film Festival screening of The Reformer Zwingli: A Life’s Portrait on Oct. 6 at 1:15pm at the CineArts Sequoia Theatre at 25 Throckmorton Ave., the Community Church of Mill Valley hosts a 45-minute moderated discussion and a 30-minute Q&A session featuring Swiss director Stefan Haupt and Barbara Pitkin, senior lecturer in Religious Studies at Stanford University. The event is on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11:45am at Community Church of Mill Valley, in Tamalpais Hall, corner of Olive & Throckmorton, Mill Valley. Free. Tix for the film screening can be purchased here.

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One year after giving its space a reinvigorating, brightening facelift, the team behind Bungalow 44 has launched Sunday brunch service beginning this weekend. 

Partners Peter Schumacher and Bill Higgins, at center and far right above, joined general manager Jason Sims and chef Gabriel Carpentier in announcing the news this week.

"We're excited to build a new tradition in downtown Mill Valley, expanding service to include Sunday Brunch this fall with a new, special menu... Kickin' Fried Chicken & Waffles anyone?," the quartet said in making the announcement. "Swing by any Sunday from 11am to 3pm for an amazing ramos fizz or a bourbon milk punch. Did we mention the delightfully bottomless mimosas? Catch the top football games of the week on our big screen TV."

The 411: Bungalow 44 has launched Sunday brunch service beginning this Sunday, Sept. 29. MORE INFO. 

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From California landscapes to the politics of the Black Panther Party, Pirkle Jones’s seven decades of involvement in photography have helped define the San Francisco Bay Area’s dual photographic traditions of elegant landscape imagery and biting social documentation.

Jones was a friend and colleague of Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lang and also took part in numerous collaborations with his wife Ruth-Marion Baruch over the course of their 49-year marriage. They lived in Mill Valley on Lovell for many years and were friends of Dick and Ann O'Hanlon, the founders of the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts.

The arts hub Is hosting, as part of Its ongoing Art Film Friday series, is hosting a screening of the documentary "Pirkle Jones: Seven Decades Photographed: From Pictorial California to the Politics of the Black Panther Party" on Friday Oct 18, 7pm. The documentary runs 80 minutes.
A post-screening Q & A with filmmaker Jane Levy Reed follows the screening. Jones was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the San Francisco Art Institute, where he taught until 1994.

​The 411: O’Hanlon Center for the Arts' Art Film Friday series screens the documentary "Pirkle Jones: Seven Decades Photographed: From Pictorial California to the Politics of the Black Panther Party" on Friday Oct 18, 7pm. Film is 80 minutes. 616 Throckmorton Ave. Tix $10. MORE INFO.

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In November 2012, a group of local activists got together to address the abundance of litter in Mill Valley. The group included representatives of the Outdoor Art Club (OAC), the Mill Valley Chamber and others who were eager to save our wildlife, streets and waterways from the negative impact of debris that is too often present and sometimes ignored.

Fast forward seven years, and with the support of a start-up grant from the OAC, and Clean Mill Valley, the result of that gathering, is a multi-faceted organization dedicated to the beautification of Mill Valley and continues to gather momentum. Clean Mill Valley programs include working with merchants, schools, government agencies and other environmental organizations to prevent litter from getting around. Nearly 200 local businesses are members of Clean Mill Valley, having pledged to keep their premises litter free and even train employees about recycling. 

With that continued focus In mind, Clean Mill Valley and the Outdoor Art Club (OAC), which was founded by 35 women activists in 1902 in part "to preserve the natural scenery of Mill Valley and the surrounding country," are joining forces to remove litter from Boyle Park on Friday, October 11, from 10-11:30am. Boyle Park is at 11 East Drive at East Blithedale Avenue.

"All are welcome to help in our work," says Clean Mill Valley co-founder Joan Murray. "Come for whatever amount of time that you can spend with us. Bring your garden gloves and a bag lunch if you can stay."

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Business openings and closings are a common phenomenon – look no further than your second visit to your new favorite restaurant in San Francisco, only to be greeted by its replacement.

But a pair of marquee openings in Mill Valley in recent weeks – the George Lawson Gallery and the Kim Eagles-Smith Gallery – have the local arts community abuzz with the likelihood that the 94941 has been given a shot of artistic adrenaline to an already fervent arts community.

“There’s no doubt that this really makes Mill Valley an art destination,” says Donna Seager, co-owner of the Seager Gray Gallery at 108 Throckmorton Ave. who’s known both men for many years. “Mill Valley is becoming more and more densely cultural. We are so excited that they both are here – it’s great for us, great for them, great for our local restaurants and shops and great for the entire community.”

Since its opening in San Francisco in 2008, Lawson’s renowned eponymous art gallery has been fairly nomadic, hopping from Union Square to Culver City to San Francisco’s Potrero Hill and most recently Emeryville before returning to San Francisco’s Potrero Hill. The latest stop in Lawson’s journey has brought him to Mill Valley, where he recently made his home and now basks in a delightful pedestrian commute along Ethel Ave., down SLP#6 and through the Mill Valley Lumber Yard to his gallery is at 12 East Blithedale Avenue.

“Mill Valley has unique qualities and it's not like any other town own Marin,” Lawson says. “You’d have to go to a place like Sante Fe to get that special feeling of a hamlet like this. It’s unique, it’s not suburban and its has a connection to nature and history and to the magic at the foot of Mt. Tam and the fact that the whole town smells of Redwood dust. To me it's just magical.”

Eagles-Smith, proprietor of an equally renowned and eponymous San Francisco art gallery, has lived in Mill Valley for nearly 40 years, first in Alto and now in Shelter Bay, decided to move his gallery to the 94941 with a bit of arm-twisting from Lawson, whom he's known for years from their time at 49 Geary Street. One of the more interesting twists of the arrival of Lawson and Eagle-Smith is that the latter gave Lawson his final show as a painter before he transitioned into being a gallerist.

“My colleagues knew me as an artist and it took them a while to adjust and accept me as one of their own," Lawson says. 

Eagles-Smith opened his gallery at 23 Sunnyside Avenue last month, taking over the long-vacant space formerly occupied by Zener Schon Gallery and the Seager Gray Gallery prior to that.

"Marin's fine arts landscape is adding two jewels to its glowing creative crown,” says Pamela Livingston chair of the Mill Valley Arts Commission, which produces the longstanding First Tuesday Artwalk. “We're absolutely thrilled to welcome them here.”
Eagles-Smith says a number of factors contributed to his move. 

“It’s the changing environment of the downtown, where I’ve been a gallery owner or employee for 35 years,” he says. “It’s the mono culture of tech and startups causing skyrocketing rents, the fact that you don’t need to be downtown anymore because of the Internet and because of the overall deterioration of the social conditions downtown. And most of my clients live in Marin, the North Bay, the East Bay or the Peninsula."

“Nowadays, it’s just as easy for people to cross the bridge and come here than it is to get around the city,” adds Seager, noting that both men enjoy great reputations, put on significant exhibitions and programs and show work from really well known artists.

Seager says the arrival of Lawson and Eagles-Smith, coupled with Robert Green Fine Arts and their gallery, “gives us such a broad spectrum of artwork to draw on. Not only does it not hurt us but it will bring a high level of art collector that visits bonafide great galleries,” she says," noting that both Lawson and Eagles-Smith are members of the influential SF Art Dealers Association, with Lawson serving as its vice president.

“We just need to create a quorum of serious galleries here and become a destination unto ourselves,” Lawson says. “Galleries love to clutter together. They don’t see themselves as competitors. Everyone's got different artists and it’s quite easy for them to be in close proximity and not trip over each other.”

“We simply couldn’t be more thrilled," says Seager.

The 411: George Lawson Gallery is at 18 East Blithedale #12 and is open Wed.-Sat., 11am-6pm, Sun, 12-4pm and by appointment. MORE INFO. Kim Eagles-Smith Gallery is at 23 Sunnyside Avenue and is open Tue.-Fri., 10:30am-5:30pm, Sat.-Sun., 11am-5pm and by appointment. MORE INFO.

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In April, in the interests of meeting new people in their community and sparking conversation across an array of topics as a great way of doing so, Zephy Real Estate agents Linda Graf and Lucinda Otto created Tiny Talks – Mill Valley, an event built around a series of eight-minute TED Talk-esque presentations – TED Talks, but tinier.

The event was a smash success, and on Friday, October 18 at Mill Valley Scout Hall, the duo is bringing the event back, this time under the theme of "Sanctuary: a refuse, a haven, an oasis." The presentations come from a broad spectrum of speakers, including beekeeper Jennifer Berry, sound healers Rene Jenkins and Janet Janay Cipriani, interior designer Stacey Lapuk, communication coach Andrew Vargas-Delman, Bob Licht and Fateen Jackson, who facilitate the Guiding Rage into Power (GRIP) Program at San Quentin Quentin State Prison, as well as Otto, a certified green home real estate agent. And the Youth In Arts acapella group Til Dawn, have been added to the program, along with their artist/mentor Austin Willacy from The House Jacks.

"It's about giving people a chance to meet face-to-face," Graf says. "People crave connection, especially in this day and age. Humans have gathered around campfires to tell stories for thousands of years. In the glow of the fire, they celebrated life events, spread the word about new ideas and innovation, and highlighted issues that needed attention – helping the community thrive. Though we aren’t able to build a campfire in most indoor venues these days, we can still gather to share stories."

Tiny Talks' twist is that after the eight presentations, the event continues. The audience is invited to stay, sip a beverage and continue the conversation with the speakers and each other at designated cafe tables in the hall. 

The 411: Zephy Real Estate agents Linda Graf and Lucinda Otto bring back Tiny Talks – Mill Valley, eight-minute TED Talk-esque talks from eight different people, on Friday, Oct. 18, 6-9pm at Scout Hall. ​177 E Blithedale | 30 Mountain View (2 entrances). Tix $15 advance, $20 door. Entry fee includes light nibbles and non-alcoholic beverages. Wine is available for purchase from West Coast Wine • Cheese, which is sponsoring the event along with WrapManager, First Republic Bank Zephyr Real Estate and Any Carr Photography. MORE INFO & TIX. 

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Less than two months removed from his opening of Vitality Bowls in the Alto Plaza shopping center in Mill Valley, Henry Kim is expanding on his Marin franchise by opening a location within the Gateway Shopping Center in the Marin City-Sausalito area. The store is slated to open on October 3 at 160 Donahue St., located between Target and CVS in the shopping center. This restaurant will be the 36th Vitality Bowls café in California, joining the 135+ locations open or in development nationwide.

“Our core mission is food safety and food allergies,” says Kim, Vitality Bowls’ franchisee for Marin County, who opened his 600-square-foot shop at 765 East Blithedale Avenue within the Alto Plaza center on Thursday, Aug. 8. He also plans to open shops in Novato and San Rafael. 

Vitality Bowls spawned from the extremely personal journey of founders Roy and Tara Gilead who, after discovering their daughter’s severe food allergies – and their fevered quest to find healthy, safe food alternatives for her, decided to create what they were seeking. The San Ramon residents launched their “superfood cafe” that serves acai bowls, smoothies, salads, juices, paninis and more, in 2011. The Marin locations also have organic kombucha and cold brew coffee on-tap. 


In 2014, they franchised the business, and its growth has exploded, a rise that has been meteoric to say the least, with more than 135 locations open or in development across the country, including nearly 40 in California.

As Kim tells it, all of Vitality Bowls’ food prep like fruit and vegetable, is done separately, with gloves on, on separate cutting boards, new gloves for each new item, with each fruit and vegetable kept separate from the others. “We do everything we can to minimize any cross contamination,” he says, pointing to the nut station that is completely separate from everything else. “The nut station is code red!”

Kim has had a broad-ranging professional career, but health has largely been at its center. He’s launched a half dozen healthcare ventures over the years, including a cosmetic dermatology practice, startup clinics and a hearing aid business.

“I’ve always just really enjoyed launching businesses from scratch and immersing myself in the details,” he says. 

Kim learned about Vitality Bowls’ franchise program through a franchise broker friend, and decided to take the plunge. But he’s done so with vigor, buying a cottage in Mill Valley’s Blithedale Canyon and spending months getting to know the people and places of Marin.

“I really want to be part of this community in a genuine way,” he adds.
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The 411: Henry Kim opens the Sausalito-Marin location of Vitality Bowls, a “superfood cafe” that serves acai bowls, smoothies, salads, juices, paninis and more, at 160 Donahue St., located between Target and CVS in the Gateway Shopping Center, on Thursday, Oct. 3. MORE INFO.

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The Redwoods, the nonprofit senior community founded in 1972 by the Community Church of Mill Valley, provides multi-level, affordable rental housing, services and care to more than 300 low- and moderate-income seniors from across the SF Bay Area and beyond. 

The facility also regularly educates Its residents and their families on a variety of relevant issues, and is doing so again later this year by inviting attorney Genevieve M. Moore, a partner in the law firm Bancroft & McAllister LLP in Larkspur and an expert in charitable giving, to lead a workshop on Planned Giving, an established method of making charitable donations. 

The event is set for Monday, November 4 from 6-7:30pm in the Mt. Tam Room on The Redwoods campus  at 40 Camino Alto. It is free and open to the public and will include both a workshop and reception. Reservations are required; RSVP to Christian Mills at 415.383-2741 or cmills@theredwoods.org.  

Moore, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the field and is also a member of The Redwoods board of directors, will cover estate and gift planning through the use of wills, trusts, and beneficiary organizations. She will also discuss estate tax and probate considerations.

“Planned gifts from estates use current tax laws to maximize a gift’s impact and return financial benefits to the donor,” explains Christian Mills, Director of Development. ”This event is a great opportunity for community members interested in investing in The Redwoods and other worthy non-profit organizations to learn the basics Planned Giving and to get the tools needed to start a program.”

The 411: The Redwoods has invited attorney Genevieve M. Moore, a partner in the law firm Bancroft & McAllister LLP in Larkspur and an expert in charitable giving, to lead a workshop on Planned Giving on Monday, November 4 from 6-7:30pm in the Mt. Tam Room on The Redwoods campus  at 40 Camino Alto. It is free and open to the public and will include both a workshop and reception. Reservations are required; RSVP to Christian Mills at 415.383-2741 or cmills@theredwoods.org. 

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As part of its ongoing efforts to engage with the community, the Mill Valley Police Department Is hosting a family-friendly Open House event on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2-4pm at the Public Safety Building at 1 Hamilton Drive. The event will feature tours of the police station, police special units demonstrations, jail photos, displays of both police cars and fire department trucks and refreshments.

"Mill Valley residents and business owners get a chance to interact with our officers all over town, but we thought it would be a fun, engaging experience to invite the community to the Public Safety Building and tour the facilities, check out some cool police vehicles and have the opportunity to ask questions of officers and staff in a casual, family-friendly setting," Mill Valley Police Chief Alan Piombo says. 
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The 411: The Mill Valley Police Department Is hosting a family-friendly Open House event on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2-4pm at the Public Safety Building at 1 Hamilton Drive. MORE INFO.

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