Memorial Service For Rita Mariner

 

 

On Saturday evening August 1, it was time for the Sunweaver community to say goodbye to a special friend: it's founder Rita Mariner. A number of people gathered to give their farewells, sometimes saying a few words about her. Complicating things were technical glitches which prevented some people from being there, so ways had to be found to work around them. But the event would proceed, with much spoken. 

 

Read the story in People.

 

A Farewell To A Friend And Community Leader

 

Saturday August 1 at 6PM SL time was Rita Mariner's memorial service. The event for the Sunweaver's departed community leader was held at Sunweaver Air next to Farshore Field, with Shockwave Yareach and Cynthia Farshore being the organizers. Unfortunately our sadness was mixed with frustration as despite this being a full sim, the capacity was capped much lower than it should have been. Cynthia tried restarting, but that didn't work. So Nydia had to broadcast it on her Discord channel while Lom copy-pasted the chat onto the Sunny group.

 

For those who missed it, I'll soon have a more detailed article of what those who could be there spoke about Rita. 

 

 Shockwave would also add Rita Mariner to the Sunweaver Memorial in Sunweaver Eclipse. He would comment on Facebook since she was the community leader, she would get the biggest flame, which went up like a beam when the sim was viewed at night. 

 

She joins others whom have passed on, Zorro, Alleara Snoodle, Jessicabelle Dayafter, Akea Gromet, Artistic Fimicloud, and several others. Time has taken it's toll on the community.

 

But while memorials are supposed to be lasting, sadly this may not be the case. With the future of the sims in jeopardy,  it's very possible that the memorial will fade away into the virtual nether. 

 

Stay tuned for more information.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Reader Submitted Picture: Thanksgiving With The Sunweavers And Angels

 

 From Marusame (Marusame Arai). This picture is probably from the mid to later 2010s, an inworld  Thanksgiving dinner with a number of Sunweavers and Nydia's Angels, with Shockwave Yareach playing the part of a dancing turkey.

 

Maru head the news of Rita's passing late, and regretted not seeing her in her later days online. She would comment, "Sometimes, a relationship can be like having a book on a table that you read a sentence or two or even full pages at a time, and over the years you keep the book open and read a few passages, it collects dust, you dust it off. Then one day you go to continue the book and it was suddenly closed and put back on the shelf, you forget the book and what page it was, but you remember enjoying it."

 

Sunbeamers RFL Team To Disband

 

Talking to Cynthia Farshore and Shockwave Yareach yesterday, Monday July 27, they stated with team captain Rita Mariner passing away, this will be the last year the Relay for Life's Sunbeamer team will be active. It will not be coming back for the 2027 season.

"Sunbeamers was Rita's team," Cynthia told me, "fitting to let it go." "The team can retire now," Shockwave added. 

Both are already members of Team ACTS and will be relaying under their banner next year, "ACTS can use our powers I'm sure," Shockwave commented.

 

The Sunbeamers are not the only noted team to disband this year. During the Relaystock, the Relay Rockers announced they would be closing the team after twenty years of Relaying.

Rita Mariner founded Team Sunbeamers in 2013, following the decision to officially fold the Passionate Redheads team, some months after it's captains stepped down. Over the past thirteen years, it went from a small performer to being one of the top dozen teams in terms of fundraising, "the little team that could," in it's past few years reaching Ruby Level fundraising, well over one million Linden dollars. Cynthia Farshore and Shockwave Yareach were key to the team's rise with events such as the weekly Moon Dance and annual Air Show. 

Bixyl Shuftan

RFL Team Sunbeamer Bid Me Results

 

The results of the three Bid Me fundraisers this month by the Relay for Life's Team Sunbeamers are in.  

 

Cynthia Farshore

 

Stay Normal: 500L

Change : 9000L

 

Cynthia becomes a gray male furry wolf for three weeks.

 

Shockwave Yareach

 

Stay Normal: 200L
Change: 9000L

 

Shockwave becomes a white female furry goat
3 weeks

Charlee Harmony
 

Stay Normal: 0L

Change: 20,000 L

Charlee becomes a black-furred vixen for ten weeks, two and a half months.
 

As of now, the Sunbeamer team has raised a total of 1,109,028 Linden dollars, eighth of 189 teams. 

 

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

*Update* We originally reported the results of Charlee's kiosk was 9000L. It seems there was another donation, bringing the total up to 20,000 Linden dollars.  

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

RFL Sunbeamers Bid Me Events: April 2026

 

The Relaystock is over, and the Relay's Team Sunbeamers has passed the one million Linden fundraising mark (inworld and offworld combined), But the team's far from done raising cash for the American Cancer society. Three vic-er, volunteers have put their looks on the line for charity in the latest of the team's "Bid Me" events. These fundraisers are based on the "Bid Me Bald" ones popularized by the Relay Rockers team.

 

Cynthia Farshore and Shockwave Yareach have an unusual pair of Bid Me events. They are each offering to be a clone of one another: Cynthia as Shockwave and vice versa. For both of them, they each have a pair of kiosks in the back of Club Cutlass, Cynthia's the left pair, Shockwave's the center pair. For every 3000 Linden dollars donated in the right kiosk, rounded down, they have to be a clone of the other for a week, Cynthia as a male wolf, Shockwave as a female goat. 5999 Lindens would mean one week, 6000 Lindens would mean two weeks. As with most other Bid Me events, there's a default kiosk for those wanting to keep them their current looks. If the left kiosk is greater than the one on the right, nothing happens.

 

The third Bis Me event is by Charlee Harmony.  She's offering to change from her usual red fox avatar to a black vixen. For every 2000 Lindens in the right kiosk, rounded down, she stays in her new look for a week. 3999 Lindens would mean one week, 4000 Lindens would mean two. 

 

The kiosks are in the back of Club Cutlass, and so far a total of 18,500 L have been raised in all three. Donations are being accepted until Saturday April 25 when they will presumably be closed at the end of the party that night at 8PM SL time and the results final.

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Bay/114/117/757

 

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

DJ Shockwave At The "Battle of The DJs" By RFL Sugar Skols

 

Sunday evening was one of the first events of the Relay season, the "Battle of The DJs," hosted by team Sugar Skols in the Bohemian Rhapsody sim. The event was well-attended by a good crowd.

Among those taking part was DJ Shockwave (Shockwave Yareach) of the Sunbeamers. The event host, Rafe Odinson (Rafe Grumpypants) would say, "This is Shockwaves second battle with us and we are honored to have the Sunbeamers on our stage again this year! ... I am so happy Shockwave agreed to battle with us again this year!!!! He was at the top of my list!" Speaking on his stream before playing his music, he would say he was DJ at the event "because I am sick of friends of mine dying." But he soon returned to his more jovial self by playing songs such as "Code Monkey." Someone would comment, "This had shock written all over it - hahaha!"

 

Rafe also pledged to match every Linden donated, "Every single linden you spend tonight WILL BE MATCHED!!! How does that work? Well, Nae and I will be matching every total at the end of the night to the home team of that DJ! Tonight that means The Sugar Skols, Sunbeamers, Hope Floaters and yes we will be donating to Belle Ame in Sal's honor as well!"

 

Shockwave would get third place, and his total alone was over 50,000 Lindens. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Reader Submitted: Sunbeamers Prepare for Relay

 

With the 2026 RFL season fast approaching, the Sunbeamers team held a planning meeting on Sunday, Jan. 25.  Rita Mariner opened the meeting, attended by Cynthia Farshore, Shockwave Yareach, FluffyFoxy and Liska daLantros.  

 

Rita will be sponsoring our (Relay Weekend) region, where we will be joined by Cure Chasers and Roos With a Dream.  Cynthia will be in charge of campsite construction. We discussed tentative plans for the design, which will not be revealed yet, as we don't want to spoil the surprise. 

 

Cynthia will also be running the highly successful Air Show again.  Last year's event was well attended, with four aerobatic teams performing awesome maneuvers ovey rhe Roos.  This year's tentative date for the air show is April 18, but watch the Newser or the RFL of SL calendar for updates.  

 

Other topics discussed included the annual Relaystock concert, Shockwave's annual Easter Egg Hunt, and Bid-Mes.  With off-season fundraising already putting the team at "Jade" level, it looks like the Sunbeamers are on target for another successful Relay For Life season.

 

 LiskaDaLantros2

 

Bits of SL Life And Times

 

As I wrote earlier, yours truly can be very busy in real life sometimes. So sometimes there's very little time to write. And so things I would like to put my pen down to get postponed, sometimes again and again. So here's a few things that I couldn't find the time to write down earlier, such as cool Halloween looks, an alt experience, and a wrestling match.

 

Read, and see, the tales and pictures in People.

 

Crim Mip Honored At Sunweaver Memorial

 

Yesterday, Monday September 15, Shockwave Yareach informed me the Sunweaver Memorial, where members of the community who passed away have permanent candles burning in their memory, was expanded and a marker placed for Crim Mip whom died last week. :"A grim day," he commented, "The Sunweavers memorial had to expand to hold so many.  I didn't plan this thing to hold over 10 people."

 

Crim's marker is next to Lacy Musketeer's, with whom he was partnered with in the past. 

 

The Sunweaver memorial is located at:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver Eclipse (68/240/21) 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

RFL Team Sunbeamer Bid Me Results

 

It was a week ago on Saturday May 17 in which the results of the Relay's Team Sunbeamers' last three "Bid Me" fundraisers were announced.

 

Cynthia Farshore
Stay Goat - 100 L
Go Wolf - 14,500 L
 ( Goes Wolf for 4 weeks)
 
 Shockwave Yearch
 Stay wolf - 1000 L
 Go Goat - 14,500 L
 ( Goes Goat for 4 weeks)
 
 Rita Mariner
 Stay Bunny - 0 L
 Go Pink - 3000 L
 ( Goes Pink for 1 week) 

So Team Captain Rita Mariner has been "in the pink" for a week, and Cynthia and Shockwave have pledged to switch species. 

The "Sunnies" still have two Moon Dance events left, then comes the Relay Weekend.

 

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

RFL Team Sunbeamer Moon Dance

 

 The days until the Relay Weekend are getting short, and last night yours truly went to one of the last of Team Sunbeamer's weekly Moon Dance events. The provided landmark led not to one Moon cannon as I've previously seen, but three. It certainly helps when multiple people drop in at once. 

The event was multi-team with a number of Relay Teams showing up such as Dragon Heart, Purple Tears ...

 

 Meli's Maniacs, a number of "Roos With A Dream," and others. Shockwave Yareach was spinning the tunes, which included theme music from some sci-fi shows and movies.

 

And at the end, fireworks roared overhead as everyone wished each other well, and further luck in the fight against cancer. 

As of now the Sunbeamers have raised 1,264,519 Linden dollars,  or $5,058 USD

 

 Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

RFL Sunbeamers "Bid Me" Events

 

The Sunbeamers Relay for Life team may have gotten Emerald level after passing the one million Linden dollar mark. But that hasn't stopped them from going after more. The team currently has three "Bid Me" events going, inspired by the "Bid Me Bald" fundraisers of the Relay Rockers. All involve kiosks at Club Cutlass in Sunweaver Bay.
 

The first has Shockwave Yareach as the volunteer, "Bid Shockwave Goat," in which the Sunnies' master builder as well as of parody tunes is putting his looks on the line. For the fundraiser, two kiosks are involved. For every 3000 Linden dollars dropped in the one on the right, rounded down, Shockwave has to spend a week as an anthro goat. 5999 Lindens would mean one week, 6000 L would mean two weeks. There's also a "keep Shockwave Wolf" kiosk on the left for those wanting him to stay as he is.

 

Cynthia Farshore, the team's other master builder, whose work as won awards, has volunteered for her own "Bid Me" event, "Bid Cynthia Wolf."  For every 3000 Linden dollars dropped in the right kiosk, rounded down, the Sunbeamers' ever hardworking nannygoat becomes a wolfess for a week. 5999 Lindens would mean one week, 6000 L would mean two weeks. There's also a "keep Cynthia Goat" kiosk on the left to keep her hooved and horned. 

And last but hardly least, team captain Rita Mariner has also volunteered to put her looks on the line for "Bid Rita Pinkie." For every 3000 Linden dollars dropped in the right kiosk, rounded down, the Sunnies' "killer rabbit" becomes a pink anthro pony for seven days. 5999 Lindens would mean one week, 6000 L would mean two weeks. There's also a "Keep Rita Bunny," kiosk for those wanting to have her avoid becoming a color she is not looking forward to being.

 

All three fundraisers are going on until Saturday May 17th. Usually the kiosks take donations until just before 8PM SL time when the Cutlass Saturday parties are about to end. But there has been an exception or two.

Once again, the kiosks are accepting bids until May 17.

 

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Bay/114/117/757

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Sunbeamers Reach One Million Linden Mark After Raising 100,000L At Relaystock

 

 This weekend, the Relaystock took place, with various teams getting campsites and a musician, sometimes with dancers, on stage. At 3PM Saturday April 5th, it was the turn of Team Sunbeamers. With DJ Cynthia spinning a set of classic rock tunes, a number of other 'beamers got on stage with her and the team danced away on stage, often cracking jokes and puns, "I get by with a little hemp from my friends..."

 

 

The results were a smashing success for the "wackiest team in Second Life," raising a hundred thousand Lindens for the time they were on stage, a new record. Two Sunnies then lived up pledges they made if this was done, Shockwave, the team's wolf, donning a grandmother's nightgown, "HOW do I get talked into doing this?" And Brian became a brightly pink fennec in a tutu, "Okay Brian!!! Strip to the tutu!"

For the team, another milestone was reached. They'd achieved Emerald status fundraising, the one million Linden dollar mark. This marks the fourth year in a row they've done so, and the earliest they've done so ever. Currently, the Sunbeamers are sixth out of 177 teams.

While the Relaystock is over, the camps are still up for people to see, and don't forget the "Bid the Lindens Bald" event later this week.

 

More pictures later.

 

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay!

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: Annual Halloween On Caledon Downs

 

You are invited to enjoy the fun of the annual "Halloween On Caledon Downs". Ride the Ghost Train, A scary ride along haunted rails of doom, along with the return of the Ghost Hunt and Pumpkin prizes. Open throughout the month of October and closing on the 31st with the annual Halloween dance in the Goblin Cave 6 to 8 PM SLT.

Ride the Ghost Train that runs through sights and sounds of horror and gore. Starting at the old depot the trains materializes at your touch of the coffin and it then precedes across the region and down into the darkness.

The Ghost Hunt is a region wide hunt for certain ghost that appears randomly for short periods of time that you shoot with any collision (prim firing) weapon. You can use any such weapon you have. There is no sign-up needed, the person and scoring is automatically recorded and the top four scores are displayed on a post in the Goblin Cave. Ghost Hunt has linden prizes of L$1500 first place, L$1000 second, L$500, and L$250 for fourth place. The hunting lodge" so speak is the Goblin Cave Community Center located in the southern hills of Caledon Downs. In there is located the information panels and the totals counter. The hunt will last till the end of the Halloween Dance at the Goblin Cave on Oct 31 at 8PM SLT then the winner of the bounties will be announced.

The Jack'o Lantern search is for 5 pumpkins deposited at certain locations about the region. Each Jack'o Lantern contains a prize delivered upon touching BUT mind you only touch once or well you'll get something scary! An example of the Jack'O lantern is displayed at the information board in the Goblin Cave. The information board will deliver the hints as to where these prize givers are. 

The starting point is the Goblin Cave Community Center there you can pick up the info and hints for both the Ghost Hunt and Jack'O Lantern search. Also you can enjoy the music and dance as well as games in the lower levels. Just take the spiral stairs down.  The region is completely open and filled with sights and games.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Downs/127/43/41

Have any questions contact Duchess Cynthia Farshore or Duke Shockwave Yareach.

 

Mirror at The SL Newser Office

 

 With both the Linden and Firestorm viewers now having the PBR update, Shockwave Yareach made a working mirror. He placed it at the Newser office at HV Community. So if anyone wants to try out the latest Firestorm update to see how mirrors work, they can head here. HV Community, (140, 85, 25)

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Reader Submitted Picture: Wolf In A Nightgown

 

 

 Brian (BrianL61 Landar) took this picture of Shockwave Yareach of the Relay's Team Sunbeamers at the Relaystock stage on Saturday May 11. The Sunnies were on stage, and Shockwave made a challenge, saying if the kiosk, which had been reset at the start of the set, was bumped up to 25,000 Lindens, he'd wear a nightgown, "Not that I'm worried.  You guys don't wanna see a Wolf in a white cotton nighty."

Well, someone did. It was, and he did. 

 

St. Patrick's Moon Dance Almost Falls Apart, Leprechauns Blamed

 

 

 Every Thursday, the Relay for Life's Sunbeamer team holds their weekly Moon Dance. On the one around St. Patrick's Day, they do a special one by making the moon green, which gets it's share of jokes of green cheese along with the green beer. But on the one for Thursday March 14, there was a problem. Much of the set just up and vanished, notably the lunar surface. This left new arrivals arriving via the Moon Cannon plummeting back to the ground, at least until Shockwave Yareach inserted a temporary floor. 

Cynthia Farshore, who hosts the event, had been knocked off, but was soon back, and the normal lunar surface was restored, and she was playing the tunes. Somehow Yogi Bear snuck in (perhaps looking for picnic baskets?)

But this being the St. Patrick's dance, it wasn't too long before we had the green moon back.

 

People were saying the reason things fell apart was because of leprechauns. But no one saw any.

At the end, team captain Rita Mariner, along with Shockwave and Cynthia, thanked everyone for coming. 

The Moon Dance is every Thursday at 6PM, and is BYOK (bring your own kiosk) with all Relay teams, and everyone else, invited.

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Space/108/113/50 (Moon Cannon)

Bixyl Shuftan

 

"Have An Ice Day" At The Sunweaver Lands

 

 

Dropping by the Sunweaver Community, the winter season in real life was reflected at Sunweaver Eclipse with their water being frozen. One could walk about over most of the surface. There was a ramp conveniently placed for anyone who wanted to jump while skating. Most of the community is free of snow, though. Some residents have stated they see more than enough of it in real life and don't want it on their homes here. 

 

"Have an ice day."

Bixyl Shuftan

Announcement: New Years at the Goblin Cave

 

 

The Duchy of Caledon Downs invites you to the annual New Years At The Goblin Cave! Come gather at the Goblin Cave on New Years Eve at 8 PM SLT to enjoy great music and watch the ball drop at each of the four time zones followed with 2 minutes of fireworks till the last zone you get a full 5 minutes. There will be a wide range of music covering various genres. Music will be DJed by the Duchess of Caledon Downs Cynthia Farshore who will take request. Also enjoy riding the Christmas Express around the region and even pay a visit to Santa on his hidden aerial abode. The Caledon wide sleigh ride awaits there too to take you on a 30 minute round trip tour of every region of Caledon! So come enjoy and if you can't stay long who cares just drop in and say Hi!! All the Christmas rides and sites will still be up until the next day January 1st so you still have time to enjoy a sleigh ride with Santa.

Their Grace, the Duke and Duchess of Downs
Shockwave Yareach & Cynthia Farshore