By Dave Mitchell
West Marin Lions Club and the Volunteer Center of West Marin will sponsor a community gathering at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in the Red Barn for healing and renewal in the aftermath of the Inverness Ridge fire.

The celebration will be for the entire West Marin community, all the firefighters who worked the fire, and all the people from other agencies who volunteered their time to help during the crisis.

It is the community's way of thanking the people who gave of their time and skills and risked their lives to help save homes and park land.

It will be "an opportunity for all the members of our West Marin family to come together for a community-wide hug, where we can offer support to each other," noted organizer Bonnie Fisk-Hayden of Point Reyes Station.

There will be music by local bands, a barbecue and an exhibit of children's art work inspired by the fire. "This will be potluck, so bring something to put on the barbecue, a dish to share -- salad, main dish, or dessert -- and something to drink," she said. West Marin Lion's Club will provide a no-host bar.

In conjunction with the celebration, there will be other activities going on sponsored by the Shoreline Trust for Educational Program Services.

West Marin Coastal Radio station on Horizon Cable (call numbers TBA) will broadcast live from the Red Barn covering the celebration and interviewing those present.