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Description
In this oral history, longtime Mill Valley resident and tireless contributor to the community Tia Smirnoff discusses her life, family, work, hobbies, and the changes she has witnessed in town over the decades. Born in San Diego, Tia moved up to Mill Valley more than 50 years ago after marrying her husband Andrew. She and Andrew raised four children together, but because of her work in after-school care for many decades Tia's "children" number many more than this. Tia recounts how she originally got involved in after-school care at Marin Terrace School and later at Tamalpais Valley School, as well as the story behind her iconic wardrobe of coveralls, engineer's cap, and reflective sunglasses. Tia describes her decades-long involvement with the Girl Scouts, her work with the Special Olympics, a period of coaching Little League, and a period of teaching art in Mill Valley's elementary schools - taken all together, an extraordinary amount of love and labor that she has contributed to the community. Tia reminisces about old Mill Valley, recalling many shops that used to exist downtown, where she would go to buy groceries, clothes, and household needs. And, finally, she describes her love of arts and crafts, which include making teddy bears, marionettes, and dolls.
Identifier
1E37C5DD-EE26-4BA5-BCE4-811976558560 2016.095.001
Subject
Art education Buses - Marin County Buses - Mill Valley Crafts (Handicraft) Curtis, Edward Depot Devilbiss, Robert "Bob Dolls Girl Scouts Hamby's Hats Horses Kay Park Little League Marin Terrace School Marionettes Mill Valley Lumber Yard Mill Valley Public Library Oral history - Volunteerism, activism Parks Shopping Smirnoff, Andrew Smirnoff, Michelle Southern Marin Horseman's Association Special Olympics Sunglasses Sycamore Park Tam Junction Tamal Fair Tamalpais Valley School
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