April 25, 2025

Community is Everything

What a wonderful week this has been in Tam Valley. We welcomed Krystal Krucik from the Marin Mammal Center on Tuesday evening and heard all about the wonderful work the center is doing with the help of over 1400 volunteers! What an inspiration and it's all right in our backyard. Visit the center if you haven't had the chance and we might just have them back soon, it was such a wonderful presentation.

Coming up this weekend, more hopeful things at Earth Day - come learn more about bikes, butterfly habitats, green burial, regenerative agriculture and more! All while enjoying treats from Birdland Bakery, Upside Coffee, making art, free face painting and bike powered smoothies!

The weather is all over the place right now but we'll be there rain or shine. We hope to see you there!

Wishing you a safe and joy filled weekend!



PARC Meeting Summary

At their April 17th meeting, PARC discussed the following items:

• Discussed PARC work/activity plan including upcoming events and alternative schedule for events, TCSD communications (e.g., signage for events), preliminary budget resources for FY25-26, and goals and priorities for 2025.

• Discussed the options to repair or replace the rings on the play equipment in Eastwood Park. Recommended one option to replace the rings

• Discussed the proposed shade structure in Kay Park and determined the dates the Commissioners would walk the neighborhood to inform the adjacent residences of the proposed shade structure.

• Discussed scheduling an “Open House” in the Rock Garden to hear from the community on proposed improvements to the area

THE STRAIGHT FLUSH

A Reminder to Review Your Winter Water Bills

• TCSD’s wastewater service annual charge has one fixed component and one variable component. The variable component is the usage charge which is dependent on your winter water use. 
• Winter water usage (i.e., estimated wastewater flow) is based on water usage for the January and March bi-monthly billing periods (4 months total), as provided by Marin Water. 
• If you noticed a drastic increase in your water usage, we hope you have already contacted Marin Water and addressed the cause. For any leaks that may have occurred (between December 2024 and March 2025) and have been corrected recently, please be advised that you could be eligible to receive a bill adjustment on your next wastewater bill (end of September 2025).
• Resolution 2023-08 updated the solid waste and wastewater billing adjustment policy.

Learn more and view the resolution and the rate adjustment form here.

TRASH TALK

Zero Waste Earth Month

Happy Earth Month! April is a time to reflect on how our daily choices impact the planet, and how we can make changes to reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect our environment. Small shifts in our habits can make a big difference! We have five practical zero waste tips you can adopt this month (and beyond). We will be posting a tip each week in April.

Shop Secondhand: From clothing to furniture to electronics, buying used helps keep items out of landfills and reduces demand for new products, which saves energy, resources, and emissions from production. Check out local thrift stores, vintage shops, or online secondhand marketplaces.

Check out our local resource, The Vintage Ruse at The Junktion! Jules will be at Earth Day with an art project - head down to the shop afterwards to find some treasures.

Want to increase your impact? Chat with your friends about what new habits you’re adopting!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Earth Day

April 26th at 11am

Tam Valley Community Center

Join us for our second annual Earth Day Festival at the Community Center. We will have lots of fun activities for the whole family!

We are hoping the weather clears and is blue skies ahead but if it's raining we will still have our festival! We will move inside the Community Center and stay cozy. So come on down, rain or shine!

Fun things to look forward to:

• Monarch Butterfly information with Michael Bogart and Mia Monroe with milkweed seeds and starts available!
• Yummy treats (pies, tarts and muffins) Birdland Bakery - available for purchase.
• Coffee from Upside - our newest coffee addition to Tam Junction!
• Bike info from Priority Bikes, Xtracycle and Safe Routes to School
• Fabrice Florin from Green Change - make the pledge!
• Compost How To and Compost to take home!
• Kids area with face painting, art projects and more...
• More to come so stay tuned!

We'll have a new design to print on canvas totes - free while they last! We did a little test run this week at Xtracycle - a HUGE thank you to Jamie and Joe for helping us make this Earth Day a little more custom!

Common Ground Documentary Film Showing

2pm

Tam Valley Community Center

Join us in the Community Center for a screening of Common Ground - a new movie about the power of regenerative agriculture. This is a film filled with hope - we can reverse climate change, one acre at a time.

Watch a preview here.

Woolly Egg Ranch Spring Tour

April 26th at 9:30am. - SOLD OUT

Woolly Egg Ranch

Wow! Such excitement for this seasonal tour of our local farm in Tam Valley.

Thank you all who signed up. It's on even if it's sprinkling in the morning. You should have received information about the tour but if you have any questions, please reach out at events@tamcsd.org.

Rhubarb Revue

May 2,3 & 9,10

Tam Valley Community Center

Don’t miss the Rhubarb Revue, Tam Valley’s wildest night of the year! Think SNL style comedic sketches with all original material performed by the same folks who brought you this year’s sold-out murder mystery, Murder on the Bocce Court. Pack a picnic dinner, grab a bottle or two and party with your friends and neighbors and support community theater. This is a Tam Valley tradition that you won't want to miss. 

Get your tickets here!

Good Canine Citizen Workshop

May 10th

10-11:30am

Eastwood Park

Join us to learn from professional instructors about how to maximize your and your dog’s experience in “voice control” settings. The information will be helpful for all, whether you’ve just gotten your first puppy, you’ve had dogs all your life, your current companion is a senior, or even if you’re contemplating adding a dog to your family.

Workshop will include demonstrations with trained dogs. We ask that you leave your furry friends at home so that we can all focus on the lessons at hand without new dog dynamics. There will be plenty of time for Q&A.

This free event is sponsored by the TCSD Parks and Recreation Commission for the benefit of our entire community.

Please register here to reserve your spot.

Senior Bingo

Every Wednesday at 11am

Tam Valley Community Center

Free and lunch provided

Join us for bingo, every Wednesday at 11am, in the Community Center. Jack Schwartz calls the numbers and keeps everyone entertained. Lunch is included and usually served around 12noon. Come on down and join the Bingo Bunch!



RESOURCES

Mill Valley Evacuation Drill and Public Safety Fair

Saturday, April 26

During the drill, participants will drive a designated evacuation route, simulating a real emergency evacuation. The route begins on Miller Avenue, continues to Camino Alto, briefly follows East Blithedale, then moves onto Roque Morales, and exits the community via Hamilton Drive—which is normally closed to southbound traffic but will be open for evacuation purposes during the drill.

This event is open to everyone in the 94941, and broad participation helps strengthen safety and preparedness across the entire community. Tam Valley residents are encouraged to take part!

Find out more about how to register

Chipper Days

The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) is providing FREE chipping service for most areas in Marin County six times in 2025. 

For addresses in Tam Valley, the first event will take place during the week of April 21st; subsequent events will take place roughly every five weeks afterwards. NOTE: A separate registration is required for each event/date.

Watch a "How To Prepare" video here.

Marin Wildfire is providing this service to residents within the Southern Marin Fire District's service area, which includes Tam Valley, as well as to those residents within the jurisdiction of other MWPA member agencies.

Click here to register.

It is an honor to bring you the news of Tam Valley each week. If you have any questions about our newsletter, want to see something included or would like more information about our events, please reach out to me at events@tamcsd.org.



Camille

Communications & Events Coordinator