October 3, 2020 Dear Friends,  I turn around and all of a sudden it's October, with two moons to grace our collective skies this month. On Thursday I celebrated Harvest Moon (the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox) with friends to mark my 101st consecutive swim in Tomales Bay. My mostly morning swims are an anchor for me in what often feels like a free-fall year. With 2020 full of dire milestones – including this week's news that over 1 million people are now lost to COVID-19 worldwide and wildfires have burned 4 million acres of California – there's never been a time when it's felt more important to mark the little and big things that sustain us.

FIRE STEALS THE SHOW A week from today we will gather as we have for 11 years to celebrate Point Reyes National Seashore. As the Woodward fire continues to burn in the interior of the park in a contained fashion, we take a cautious sigh of relief. Fire around the Bay Area and western United States reminds me of the fragility of life, but at this year's first ever virtual Dinner on the Pacific Plate we will hear about how strong partnerships and science have made managing our particular fire a success to date.

I'm thrilled to share our fire ecology line up for our virtual Dinner on the Pacific Plate: • Acting Superintendent, Carey Feierabend • Dr. Sarah Allen, National Park Service Scientist, Retired • Dr. Alison Forrestel, Chief of Natural Resources, Golden Gate National Recreation Area • Dave Press, Natural Resources Program Manager, Point Reyes National Seashore PRNSA Board Member Seth Rosen and I will co-host live from the Pacific Plate just a week from today... October 10th starting at 6:00 pm. We will round out our one hour show with music by the Dirty Red Barn, games, and special guest appearances. To get in the party mood, attached is a "Make it at Home" menu with recipes from our friends at A Fork Full of Earth and Hog Island Oyster Co. and drinks created by PRNSA staff. Stick around for the after party for more music and conversations. Tickets are FREE this year, so register today!

SCIENCE AND SERVICE Some of the unsung heroes of the Woodward fire are the visiting scientists and specialists who are expertly managing the fire and creating plans to guide staff to implement fire recovery plans. Read about the Burned Area Emergency Recovery (BAER) team's work to map out what's next for the park post-fire. If you are looking for something to give you hope, I can't recommend enough checking out our recent Caring for Coho Salmon webinar with PRNSA intern Carter Perez Adamson. Carter's passion for conservation and his expert presentation skills inspire me in my own work. In this issue we also highlight the service of volunteer John Bielenberg who passed away in August. A kinder soul you would not meet and I will miss the wonderful talks John and I had over the years at the Bear Valley Visitor Center. AN EVENTFUL MONTH Last, but not least, make sure keep reading to learn about our upcoming events, including a fabulous program organized as a fundraiser for us by Point Reyes Books featuring author Terry Tempest William's new book, Erosion: Essays on Undoing. It's perfect for the times. I'm also thrilled to share the re-scheduled talk with Dr. Carolyn Finney about themes from her book, Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors. Thank you to the Marin County Free Library for co-hosting this important conversation.

It's a once in a blue moon kind of a year, so make sure to find that space in nature that regenerates you. See you at one or all of our events this month! Stay well, ‌ Executive Director Point Reyes National Seashore Association

It's not too late to sponsor our event; and if you have not already done so, please reserve your FREE ticket today! (You'll need that ticket to access event details)

THANK YOU SPONSORS

Maureen Kennedy Doune Trust Fund

Todd and Blanca Johnson Melissa Nelken and Ronald Lee Anonymous William and Linda Tichy

Pamela and John Casaudoumecq Mike Deverell and Susy Muscatell Execushield, Inc. Ron and Amanda Mallory Kirk Marckwald and Christina Desser T.M. Ravi and Francine Lejeune

Barbara Beno and Peter Crabtree Allan and Sydne Bortel Anonymous Anna Kondolf and Peter Brock Peggy and Dick Mitchell Caren and Nick Orum Michelle and Edward Sarti Anne Scanlan-Rohrer and Scot Rohrer David and Miriam Wilson Pamela Wright

Mike and Bonnie Barr Anne Baxter Bruce Baum and Sue Brown Sandy and Connie Calhoun Betty Anne Carlin Ed and Nancy Conner Commonweal Cowgirl Creamery Danny Dawson and Claudine Co Kathy Dickson and John Geesman The Entrekin Foundation Donna and Steve Faure Ilona Frieden and Mark Jacobson Richard and Louisiana Gale Jane Gitschier Lucile Griffiths Holly and John Hanke Kelly and Alexander Harcourt Burr Heneman and Lexi Rome Mark and Shawn Klender Mary Jane Large and Marc Levinson Mike and Mary Malloy Kate and Michael Matthay Charles and Kathleen Mills Doug Moore Johanna Muth and Harris Nussbaum Palace Market David Powers and Beverly Schor Seth and Molly Rosen Pat and Glenn Rudebusch Christine Sansom Judith Shaw Small Blue Planet Events + Consulting Ken Taymor and Beth Parker Patty and David Wimpfheimer Rich and Diane Zimmerman

A Fork Full of Earth Sarah Allen and Dudley Miller Anonymous Anonymous Millicent Bogert and Scott MacDonald Brickmaiden Breads Josie Brownback Julia and Bruce Burke Richard and Lisa Cohen Steve Costa and Kate Levinson David and Vicki Cox Ruth Dundas and Jim MacDonald Good Earth Natural Foods Michael and Nancy Jo Heaton Heidrun Meadery Hog Island Oyster Co. Caroline Kindrish Clare Miller Watsky and Paul Watsky Mari Loria and Alden Mudge Patty McCrary and Dale Fehringer Regina Phelps Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Jeanne Reisman and Len Goldschmidt Anne and Boyard Rowe Lorelei and Jerry Sontag Michael Warren and Mary Pieper-Warren Zac and Amy Weinberg Margaret Wu and Ciara Cox Lena and Gabe Zentall

Mark Anderson and Kimberlee Stryker Steven H. Brock and Leah Sirkin Dick and Deane Bunce Paul and Helen Chapman Phillip Chavira Heather and Jeff Clapp Barbara Goodyear Claudia and James Harrison Robert Houghteling and Elizabeth Fishel Sally Jones Belinda Kremer Ilene Levinson Ivan and Leah Light Ralph and Mae Mihan Lawrie Mott Emily Murphy Catherine Porter Jeannene Przyblyski and Eric Jaye Phyllis Silverberg Sol Food Restaurant

David Ackerly Earl Blauner and Linda Marks Anne Cook Maureen Cornelia and Peter Sheremeta Monica and John Salusky Timothy and Sherry Stanton Susan Tillett Maureen Tracy

PARK UPDATES

WOODWARD FIRE UPDATES Visit this website to get the most up to date information on the fire, including park closures. Visitors are reminded to respect trail and road closures. The fire continues to burn in the interior in large stumps and downed logs. Keep yourself and first responders safe by staying out of the closure zone. go.nps.gov/pore/woodwardfire Fire crews have been clearing hazards and chipping downed fuels in closed areas of the #WoodwardFire. This photo gives us a glimpse of what the work looks like on the Bear Valley Trail. After the Type 4 team leaves, there will still be a lot of work to be done. The park will continue the work to reopen trails and roads affected by the #WoodwardFire.

IN REMEMBRANCE John Bielenberg

We are sad to share that beloved volunteer John Bielenberg passed away on August 28, 2020. For three years John worked at the front desk of the Bear Valley Visitor Center welcoming people to the park, answering their questions, and helping them plan amazing days in the park. He also eagerly swore in Junior Rangers after children completed the requirements for this honor.  John donated 1,456 hours of his time, often working twice per week for at least six hours each day, double the minimum commitment asked of volunteers for this position. He was dedicated to making a difference and to being of service. Point Reyes National Seashore not only lost a volunteer but a friend for those who knew and worked with him. We will truly miss John as a member of the Point Reyes family. His family has created a memorial website and requests that donations be made to the Point Reyes National Seashore Association in John's memory.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS

Terry Tempest Williams Talk: Erosion: Essays of Undoing Friday, October 16, 7 pm

Terry Tempest Williams's fierce, spirited, and magnificent essays are a howl in the desert. She sizes up the continuing assaults on America's public lands and the erosion of our commitment to the open space of democracy. She asks: "How do we find the strength to not look away from all that is breaking our hearts?" Erosion is a book for this moment, political and spiritual at once, written by one of our greatest naturalists, essayists, and defenders of the environment. She reminds us that beauty is its own form of resistance, and that water can crack stone. Click here to register

PRNSA Community Book Read & Conversation with Author Dr. Carolyn Finney Rescheduled to: Thursday October 29, 4-5pm

Since midsummer, members of the Marin County Free Library & PRNSA community have been reading the book Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors. On Thursday, October 29th at 4pm PST, we will be joined on Zoom by author Dr. Carolyn Finney, who will elucidate our discussion of the histories and critiques in her book. We encourage typed questions using the Zoom Q&A, and a limited number of attendees will be invited to join our panel. Click here to register! Copies of the book are still available at both Inverness and Point Reyes Libraries. Please call and reserve a copy for pickup, or stop by during curbside hours and request the book. Black Faces, White Spaces is also available on Hoopla through the library with no wait. Instructions for downloading to Hoopla on the library's website: https://marinlibrary.org/ebooks/

FIELD INSTITUTE CLASSES

Cervids with a Smile: Getting to Know the Tule Elk Saturday, October 17, 10am – 2pm Learn How to Use Poles for Hiking & Outdoor Exercise Saturday, October 17, 10am – 4pm Ghost Tour: Shipwrecks of Point Reyes Saturday, October 31, 10am – 5pm

Point Reyes National Seashore | (415) 663-1200 x 310 | [email protected] | www.ptreyes.org

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