Reader Submitted: American Cancer Society Holds Open House and Ribbon Cutting

By Cynthia Farshore

On Sunday January 26 the Relay For Life of Second life held an Open House and Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the re-opening of the American Cancer Society Campus with a new and much improved sim that was later followed by a special live broadcast of Relay Rap"ACS Day" on T1 Radio. The event started at 12 noon SLT with the open house. The American Cancer Society Campus is a new full estate sim with Information Center, Hope Haven Support Group Building, Events Information building,Catt Gable Memorial Garden,and even an ACS Museum plus more.All is set out in a large open environment and in sections making it easy to go directly to what you are looking for.There is a lot on the sim and you will spend some time covering it all.For a relayer certainly worth it. There were volunteers around to answer questions and give tours.

One of the most touching parts of the campus is the Catt Gable Memorial Garden. It's simple but charming with pictures on easels placed in a square on square multi-layer platforms with just enough plants to add a garden environment. Touching the pictures will give you a note card telling you information about the person. A sign as you enter the memorial garden allows you to place a candle or flowers at the memorial of your choosing that will last for 30 days. If you wish to erect a memorial in honor of a person who has died from cancer contact Zander Greene, ACS Memorial Garden Curator.

 While walking through, I found the picture of Artistic Fimicloud, who was one of the Sunweaver community members we lost to cancer. I took a picture, and afterwards I realized it's like she's looking at me as if saying 'Don't forget me.' And seeing that the old team, the Passionate Redheads, has carried on to become the Sunbeamers. No Fimi, you are not forgotten, and we have not quit the fight.

At 3PM SLT people gathered on the roof of the Hope Haven Building and the Ribbon Cutting began with Stingray Raymaker, who is the American Cancer Society Staff Director for the American Cancer Society, Relay For Life of Second Life performing the ribbon cutting.

 After 30 minutes of small talk and more coming to take a seat the relay staff sat on a stage and T1 Radio personality Trader Whiplash opened the stream.

For around an hour and a half,they spoke about the things to be found in the various buildings including relay tools, banners, lots of info, and personal interaction with caregivers and survivors. They covered what the relay has done over the years in Second Life which has lead up to over one billion Lindens donated! Then the plans and schedule for this year was discussed. There was much to cover since this year everything is much earlier than prior years. Events included the Home and Garden Expo coming in February and the Fantasy Faire coming in April.

For more information concerning the Relay for Life of Second Life check out the web site at -https://secure.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY20VirtualEvents?pg=entry&fr_id=97294

You listen to Relay Rap on Sundays at 3:30pm SLT during Relay season on these channels.
Inworld Second Life - http://t1radio.serverroom.us:8242
On TuneIn App:http://tunein.com/radio/T1-Radio-s113797

Cynthia Farshore

1920s Berlin Project Fifth Anniversary's Open House

On Thursday May 29, The "1920s Berlin Project" held it's "Open House" as part of it's fifth anniversary events. Normally closed to nonhuman avatars, it was open that day to them.

On this day everyone is welcome to visit our sim ‘as they are’, with other words, you can ignore our strict 1920s dress code and you can also use non human avatars. Several of our tenants will also open their doors and an ‘Open House’ sign will show you where you can enter and explore how the people in the city live.

Near the teleport entry was a train station, which I used to go further into the city.

Looking around, I found some activity at an open-air cafe. The radio played music of the time period.

Both local residents and visitors were there. Community owner Jo Yardley herself was there serving drinks to everyone, both those in respectable positions, and even once dancer in "that vulgar Eldorado club." There was a tip jar people could drop a few Lindens into.

Besides sitting down for a "beir," one could also dance for a bit, "Well, now I can say I (am) finally dancing in Berlin....and with a fox!"

I wasn't the only fox around, others preferring nonhuman avs also taking the chance to visit. Most visitors chose to stick with outfits close to the era's fashion though. When I asked what was the most unusual avatar seen, one answered they saw a kind of mermaid floating around.

Later on would be events just for locals, such as a soap box derby. Jo told of some antics in the past, "once, my friend Jan, crashed into a pile of fresh fish on the docks ... we all stank of fish there, but it was fun to see." "Soapbox derby is serious stuff," another commented, "Kids don't fool around these days."

There was also a "Frau Jo" (joeldorado) joking around some distance away. Jo pretended to be upset, "Don't make me hit you into the hospital you cow. ... that evil woman pretends to be me. ... she dances at that vulgar Eldorado club, trying to ruin my reputation. If she knows whats good for her, she better stay out of my way." Other locals took this banter with amusement, "I would pay money to watch two Jos fight." "Unless you want to see your club on fire, you better not put that woman on stage again!"

It was a night of meriment, as visitors had fun with the locals. But except for Monday June 2nd, other days of the anniversary would be just for the locals. Besides the soap box derby, there would be  a Miss Berlin Pageant, a talent show at one club, a scavenger hunt at the train station, and more.

Jo would write on her blog, "I could have never imagined it to turn out to become such a huge success, a sim with a the most amazing community, a sim that in stead of being just a bit of fun turned into a huge part of my life. And not just my life, I’m very proud to have tenants who have been living in this city for 2,3, 4 and even 5 years! Many of whom I’d call close friends. I’ve loved every minute of this time traveling adventure and it still is only the beginning."

She mention the possibility of starting a second historical RP area, though "I'm not making any promises."

Besides her 1920s Berlin Project, Jo Yardley's also known for her blog of goings on in Second Life. One can read it here: http://joyardley.wordpress.com/.  She also cohosts Daxtor Despress in the Drax Files Radio Hour. 

Bixyl Shuftan