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."

 

A Few More Articles About Rita Mariner

 

 

Rita Mariner and The Sawyer Squad (2017) - read in People. 

 

Rita Mariner, Head of The Sunweavers (2013) by Grease Coakes - read in People. 

 

Interview With Sunweaver Leader Rita Mariner (2021) by Penny Shuftan - read in People. 

 

Rita Mariner and the History of the Sunweavers (2014)

 

With Rita Mariner's passing, the Newser has written about her about every day since. Some readers might be asking "So who is she and how did the Sunweaver community start?" I would interview her in 2014, asking her those questions. 

 

Since then, a number of things have changed. A few sims were added. A road network, then a railway, were laid out. Nydia Tungsten and Cynthia Farshore ended up swapping sims. And sadly, some people would pass away or their real lives took over and they were seen less and less until gone. 

 

Read the 2014 interview in People.  

 

Taking A Few Pictures

 

 With the future of the Sunweaver sims in doubt, been going around taking pictures of the place. One was the Sunbeamer HQ where Rita would hold occasional meetings, and place items that brought back memories.

 

 

An ariel view of SunWaterOne

 

These are just a couple of those I've taken, and others have been taking some as well.

 

In the meantime, efforts to save a little of the land continue.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Announcement: Memorial Service For Rita Mariner on Friday

 

Event: Memorial Service for Rita Mariner

 

When: Friday July 31 at 6PM SL time

 

Where: Farshore Field, Sunweaver Estates 

 
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunlight%20Bay/115/87/23 

 

Developing ...

 

The situation in the Sunweaver community and Estates is still developing, with more than a little chatter between residents, sometimes people who haven't spoken to one another in months, or years. We are mourning the passing of our community leader and friend, and wondering what happens next with this place online we've called home for years.

There is talk that a couple sims *might* be saved. Nothing is certain though. Much depends on Rita's family in real-life, and Linden Lab. But there's reason for cautious optimism.

 

Stay tuned for more information.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

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

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club Closes Indefinately, Club Cutlass and Club Squeaks Temporarily Suspending Events

 

With the sims of the Sunweaver Estates, save one, likely to close sometime after the end of the month, this is affecting the clubs that call the place home. Yesterday, Monday July 27, Brandi Streusel announced following the event Club Squeaks had that day, the club would be closing temporarily, reopening some time in the future. 

 

turns the lights out and closes the door, stops, turns and pats the door      "We'll be back . . . "
 

Club Squeaks in recent times has had one event most weeks, on Mondays, though it hasn't been a guarantee with the DJ and owner's real life.

 

Club Cutlass, the main club of the Sunweaver community, is also having it's regular events temporarily suspended.  There will be a memorial service for Rita Mariner soon. While it may be at the club, it's equally likely it will be at a larger location. The time regular events will be resuming has not yet been decided. 

 

Club Cutlass normally has events Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 6 to 8 SL time.  

 

But one club is closing it's doors indefinitely, probably for good.  On Sunday July 26, the Bouncing Bunny Beach Club would hold one last event. In honor of Rita, DJ Snowbuns played songs such as "Angel Flight," "In The Arms of An Angel," and others. 

 

Since this was the last Sunday of the month, the sim would likely be gone. Because of this, it was talked about what to do earlier, and it was decided with too few places available to place clubs, the place would have to be shelved indefinitely, probably for good. And so after the event, hostess Kylee Gracemont gave a goodbye message.

 

Thank You for all the Fish !
Unfortunately we are sunsetting Bouncing Bunny Beach Club because of Rita's passing.
Thank You All for the great memories !
Keep on Hopping Along and See You Elsewhere Everyone ! 

 

Club Zero Gravity, Xanadu, and the Happy Vixen Beach Club, the latter which isn't considered on Sunweaver land but is a favorite of the Sunweaver Community, are unaffected. 

 

Stay tuned for more information later,

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Fimi's Memorial Treehouse Relocated

 

 With the Sunweaver Community and it's land in an upheaval following the death of it's leader and main landholder Rita Mariner, there are some small bits of good news. Among them, whatever happens to Rita's sims, the Fimi Memorial Treehouse is safe, relocated to HV Community, the one sim on the estate that was owned by someone other than her.

 

This was the home of Artistic Fimicloud, the pink foxgirl in the early days of the Sunweaver community and Passionate Redheads Relay team, known as Stephanie Koslow in real life, an artist. Sadly she passed away from cancer in May 2008 at age 49.  But the community and Relay team remembered her, her treehouse preserved as a lasting memorial to her. Fortunately, Cynthia Fareshore had permission to move her objects, and so the tree, and the objects inside, were be able to be moved, " I took my time in edit and ctrl key looking move a bit find what wasn't selected , did that a number of times till finally had it all selected and slowly moved it over."

 

Much is still going on. Yours truly has been taking pictures of some of the land, though it seems the treehouse might not have already be the only thing picked up.  One club has announced it will be closing indefinitely, perhaps permanently. Club Cutlass and Club Squeaks are closed temporarily. The Happy Vixen, Club Zero Gravity, and Xanadu are going on as scheduled. 

 

Stay tuned for more information.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

SL Video: "Sunbeamer's Bring Your Own Kiosk Moment"

 

 (click here if the music does not play)

 

From Baine Finch on May 31, a pan-around of the Sunweaver Estates, "Having some fun at a Sunbeamer's BYOK"

  

Sunweaver Community Leader Rita Mariner Diagnosed With Stage Four Cancer

 

Sad news for the Sunweaver community, and the Sunbeamer Relay team. Rita Mariner, the community's "Chieftess," as well as the captain of it's Relay team, announced on the evening of Friday June 27 that the surgery for her cancer earlier this year in March was unsuccessful, that it had spread to the point it was Stage Four. 

 

 Turns out they waited too long to treat the cancer on my head. It spread to (the lymph) system and has spread throughout my beautiful bunny bod. PET Scan shows tiny cancers everywhere. Now instead of a  cure, best I can hope for is  add time to my life.

Love you all.

There were numerous words of well-wishes from both the Sunweavers as well as from the Relay volunteers group. 

 

Hopefully things aren't as bad as they seem for Rita

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Jenni Greenfield Stepping Down From Cutlass, Taking Break From SL

 

Jenni Greenfield has been a familiar sight at Club Cutlass, the main club of the Sunweaver community for many years. But she recently announced she will be taking a break, possibly a permanent one.

 

Had to make a hard decision, but decided to hang it up with SL. The reasons for this is my health is declining, and I have actually become bored with the internet. As you may know, I was recently in the hospital, and they misplaced the meds I took with me. they said they would set me up with new prescriptions, but they seem to be having a problem getting them through. Without them, I have medical issues and a near total lack of energy. Thank you all for putting up with me all these years. 

 

Talking with her, Jenni wasn't sure if this was a hiatus in which she would be back, eventually, but a lasting one, bringing up her lack of energy.

 

Hopefully her health problems will resolve soon and she'll soon be back.

 

Best wishes Jenni,

 

Bixyl Suftan 

Sunweaver Leader Rita Mariner in Hospital

 

Some bad news for the Sunweaver community, as well as it's Relay team the Sunbeamers. It's "chieftess," Rita Mariner, is now in the hospital for treatment of skin cancer. The following was announced a few days ago: 

 

Here's the latest on Rita, she has being treated now for the skin cancer on her head but now she has been admitted to the VA hospital for radiation treatments for the next 6 weeks. She has no computer at least not right now, hopefully get one to her somehow. So she will miss the air show and this may have a impact on what rides and planes we will have.
 

Hopefully her treatments will be shorter than expected. For now, the community, and it's Relay team, are continuing on while she gets better.

 

Bixyl Shuftan.  

 

Goo-Goo-Googly Eyes

 

 Longtime visitors to Club Cutlass in the Sunweaver community may remember the "drama llama," a lama's head trophy on the wall as a warning to those who create drama, "Drama llamas will be shot and mounted (not necessarily in that order)." Hostess DeniseUnicorn Toonie recently pointed out to me someone had stuck "googly eyes" on it. 

 

Guess "the eyes have it."

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

New Year's Eve 2025

 

Many people in Second Life, perhaps most, love a good party. And New Years Eve had a number. Some places had a special twist on regularly scheduled happenings, and others were open just for this special night. Yours truly dropped by a few from Wooburn, to Caledon, to Bay City, and his own home community the Sunweavers as they bade 2025 good bye, and hello to 2026. 

 

See the pictures in Events.  

 

Announcement: New Years Eve Party At Cutlass - 6 PM

 

(Tonight) at 6pm SLT, will be the Club Cutlass New Years Eve Party! DJ Perri will be here playing music for your old 2025 year ears! There will be a contest but the only theme is just to be who you are. :) Going past 8pm SLT will be at DJ Perri's discretion. Contest prize will begin at L$10,000! Also, the balloon spawner has been improved! :)

 

Party goes from 6PM to when the last person leaves.

Sunweaver Bay (114/117/757).
 

Following the Cutlass event, be sure to head on down to the Goblin Cave for the New Year's bash there - 

Caledon Downs (105/36/42). 

 

Here's to You, Alleara Snoodle

 

It was four years ago this month on December 2, 2021 in which the Newser reported on the death of Alleara Snoodle. A longtime member of the Sunweaver community, she was gifted with both brains and a good heart. She was able to build many things, including the seeming impossible. But she would also take time for many friends, including myself. So who was she? Like much about our beloved gypsy, the answer is both simple and complicated. 

 

Read more in People.  

 

Scenes From Christmas Eve With the Sunweavers

 

 Yours truly has been busy getting over a cold and working in RL, as well as finishing a longer article that will be up tomorrow, so I'm a little late in posting a few pictures from Christmas Eve.

 

 Wednesday December 24 from 4-6 was the Christmas party at Club Zero Gravity. DJ Snowbuns came out of her holiday hiatus to play tunes for the two hour set. 

 

 At 6 PM came the Cutlass Christmas Party, and there was a treat: physics balloons. Touching the rezzer would release a bunch over the dance floor. 

 

 Shockwave would play the tunes for this event, and he played some interesting ones.

 

 It was good music with good friends and good chatter. 

 

 

The party would last a bit beyond 8PM, as not everyone here was with family in real-life. 
 

 Following the Christmas parties, I would drop by Calas Galahon Park for a bit with a friend. 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

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