LAKEPORT
Rotary Club of Lakeport honors memory of Ruth Darling with donation to Lakeport Elementary School PTO
The Rotary Club of Lakeport is proud to announce a heartfelt donation of $2,500 to the Lakeport Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) in memory of Ruth Darling, a cherished member of our community who recently passed away. Ruth Darling, who was deeply involved in the Lakeport community and beloved by the Rotary Club, dedicated her time and energy to various charitable causes, including supporting the education of local children.
Ruth Darling’s connection to Lakeport Elementary School was profound, as her own children were students of the school in the past and her grandchildren currently attend. Recognizing her commitment to education and her invaluable contributions to the Rotary Club of Lakeport, the decision was made to honor her memory with a donation that will directly benefit the school’s Parent Teacher Organization.
“The Rotary Club of Lakeport is deeply saddened by the loss of Ruth Darling, who was not only a dedicated member of our club but also a passionate advocate for education in our community,” said Mark Lipps, President of the Rotary Club of Lakeport. “Through this donation to the Lakeport Elementary School PTO, we aim to honor Ruth’s legacy by supporting initiatives that she held dear to her heart.”
“Ruth Darling, a pillar of our school community, has long been a beacon of generosity and dedication. Her unwavering support and commitment have played an integral role in shaping the vibrant tapestry of our educational community. As a passionate advocate for education, Ruth tirelessly championed the enrichment of the lives of our students.
Today, we extend our deepest appreciation to Ruth Darling’s Family and the Rotary Club of Lakeport, for the recent generous donation to the PTO. This contribution will undoubtedly fuel the PTO’s mission to enhance the educational experience for all students, fostering a nurturing environment where every child can thrive. Ruth’s commitment to the betterment of our school community serves as an inspiration to us all, reminding us of the profound impact one individual can make.
“My Mom always valued education, not only for the academic benefits that it provided, but also for the social connections that it cultivated. Growing up, she was a constant in the schools, whether it was volunteering in the classroom, being a Yard Duty, or attending numerous Site Council meetings over the years. Even now, I have people that I went to school with all those years ago reminiscing about her memory and what she meant to them growing up. Her kindness and generosity continues to live on and she never tired of ensuring that the school her children were attending was the best it could be. In her words, “It doesn’t cost me anything to be Kind” said Kori Pierson, daughter of Ruth Darling.
The Rotary Club of Lakeport remains committed to upholding Ruth Darling’s legacy of service and philanthropy, continuing to support initiatives that enrich the lives of individuals and families in the Lakeport community.
—Submitted
UKIAH
Mendocino College Dance Department 42nd Annual Spring Dance Festival 2024
A student-driven spring performance and art celebration. Original dance works, live music, and visual arts collide in celebration of student, alumni, faculty, and guest artists’ work. Directed by Eryn Schon-Brunner, contemporary, ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, Middle Eastern, Ballet Folklorico, performance art, music, and more will enliven the Mendocino College Center of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre on May 2, 3 & 4 at 7:30pm, May 5 at 2 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to view compelling new choreography by Peter Campbell, Julie Castillo, Gerard L. Juszczak, Isabella Marino-Hernandez, Randi Page, Rocio Ramos, Paloma Victoria Rodriguez Irizarry, Shianne Robertson, Kirsten Turner, Eryn Schon-Brunner, Megan Youell, musical stylings of Larsen Brunner and Cassius Mayhugh and lighting design by Eduardo(Lalo) Torres, Jasmine Norris and Greg Krouse .
According to Eryn Schon-Brunner, director of Mendocino College Repertory Dance Theater and adjunct professor of dance at Mendocino College, “Each spring brings a new group of young choreographers, dancers, musicians, artists, and lighting designers who dare to imagine and tell a story that is important to them in this moment. Sometimes their vision is filled with laughter and sass, sometimes love and tears, sometimes it is a political statement, and sometimes it is a flight of fancy—just because. The results are inspiring!”
Mendocino College Art Gallery Student show will be open for viewing prior to the show and during intermission. And, thanks to a fun collaboration between Jazzmihn Moore”s Life Drawing class and the choreographers of the Spring Dance Festival, her students will share their larger than life drawings on the CVPA stage accompanied by music performed by pianists Lars Brunner and Cassius Mayhugh.
Both Lars and Cassius will also accompany dances choreographed by Eryn Schon-Brunner and Paloma Victoria Rodriguez Irizarry. Lars Brunner will play piano for the premiere of Eryn Schon-Brunner’s works Icarus and In Time, which are danced by Dakota Laiwa-McKay and Gwen van Wyk. Paloma’s original work Watch, Feel, Understand? will be performed by Mendocino Ballet Dancers to the accompaniment of an original piano composition by Cassius Mayhugh, who began composing in eighth grade. Lars and Cassius attend Ukiah High school, and they are students of Michael Coughenour at the Ukiah School of Music.
Join us on Friday, May 3 at 7pm for the Spring Dance Festival pre-show Scholarship Gala celebration, with wine generously donated by Saracina and Frey Vineyards. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres catered by the talented Mendocino College Culinary Students, followed by the performance at 7:30pm. We will be honoring this year’s Dance Club Scholarship recipients, Gwen van Wyk and Gerard L. Juszczak, and the Kalya Grace Chesser Scholarship recipient, Isabella Mario-Hernandez. These scholarships are made possible by funds raised through Dance Club show concessions, private donations, and the Scholarship Gala. A huge thank you goes out to those who support our up-and-coming dance artists!
—Submitted
