Gender fluidity flows like the Russian River after a torrential rain in the Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts Department production of Orlando. Laura Downing-Lee directs the Sarah Ruhl-penned adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s 1928 novel. The show runs in the Frank Chong Studio Theatre in the Burbank Auditorium on the SRJC Santa Rosa campus through Sunday, March 10.
Orlando (Lizzy Bies) is a 16-year-old wanna-be poet whose “shapely legs” catch the eye of Queen Elizabeth I (Jean-Colin Cameron). He’s made a page in the queen’s court and becomes quite the companion to the queen. But, boys being boys, Orlando’s eyes wander. He spots a beautiful Russian girl ice skating and soon becomes infatuated with her. Sasha (Millie Dotta) and Orlando run off together.
But not for long. Sasha betrays Orlando, and after an unwelcome pursuit by a randy Archduchess (Jimmy Toro Ruano), he escapes to Constantinople. After sowing some more wild oats, Orlando falls into a deep, days-long sleep. When he awakens, he is quite surprised to discover that he has become a woman.
And so they shall live as such for the next couple of hundred years, as Orlando searches for their true self and personal fulfillment, regardless of gender constructs.
The audience would do best to throw away their own biases and expectations when it comes to gender roles, as Orlando is the kind of show where anyone can play anything. Theater has long been a place where gender-bending is commonplace, but Orlando revels in it, and gloriously so.
Bies meets the challenge of playing a character of both genders and delivers a committed performance, never more so than when dealing with a significant costume malfunction. Ruano also does double duty as the Archduchess and Archduke, with very amusing results that brought to mind the work of Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. Cameron’s alternately haughty and giddy queen manages not to be overshadowed by their regal couture.
The sheer, draping scenic design by Nathaniel Gillespie and lighting design by Chris Cota brought good technical support to the overall sense of fluidness. Costume coordinator Colleen Scott Trivett had her hands full dressing the cast in a couple of centuries’ worth of costumes.
Beyond the gender issues, Ruhl’s use in Orlando of a mix of third-person narration and dialogue can also be challenging for an audience. But stick with it, as your ear will adjust.
Maybe your thoughts about gender will adjust, too.
‘Orlando’ runs Weds–Sun through March 10 in the Santa Rosa Junior College Burbank Auditorium Frank Chong Studio Theatre, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Weds–Sat, 7:30pm; Sat & Sun, 2pm. $15–$25. 707.527.4307. theatrearts.santarosa.edu.
Leah Richardson is juggling community college and work, but her job doesn’t pay enough to cover the cost of living in Sonoma County.
Often, she relies on a food pantry, despite receiving thousands of dollars in financial aid from her school, Santa Rosa Junior College.
Now, a new program will pay her for every hour she spends in class and on homework. The $30 million state program, called Hire UP, is an experiment modeled on the state’s many guaranteed income programs. It focuses on students who are formerly incarcerated, like Richardson, as well as former or current foster youth, and those receiving CalWorks benefits, the state’s cash aid program for low-income adults with children. Ten community college districts received the money, and some schools, including Santa Rosa Junior College, are beginning to distribute it now. Others have yet to set a timeline.
Richardson, 37, is one of the first recipients. On a recent morning, she sat at a cafe next to campus, where students hurried by, but she didn’t notice them as she stared at her financial aid statement on her iPhone.
“I’m a little in shock,” she said as she used her fingers to zoom in on the web page that showed her current grants.
She’ll receive monthly payments of nearly $2,000, starting today. Those payments are calculated based on the state’s minimum wage, $16 an hour, for each of the 30 hours she spends every week on school.
Richardson couldn’t afford to attend full-time when she enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College in 2021. Then, she was still adjusting to a new routine after spending time in and out of jail and substance use treatment centers. She decided to take classes in the afternoon and work from 4:30am until about 1:30pm at a Safeway store most days of the week. When she wasn’t working at Safeway, she took shifts at bakeries.
“I was exhausted—a lot,” she said. Since then, she’s tried to work less and study more. “Now that I have this money, I don’t have the weight of having to go back to a job that’s going to drain me.”
Gina Browne, an assistant vice chancellor with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, said the office is monitoring how well colleges administer the Hire UP program and how the money affects students’ outcomes.
“Some students who are working now may be able to stop working or reduce their hours,” she said. “We want students to focus on taking those units so they can get through (college).”
Student Aid Offers ‘Glimmer of Hope’
NEXT MOVE Student and Second Chance staff member Matthew Domingos works part-time for SRJC as he finishes an associate degree and prepares to transfer to Cal Poly Humboldt next semester. Photo by Laure Andrillon
Every Tuesday, formerly incarcerated students at Santa Rosa Junior College gather in a multi-purpose conference room on campus, part of a state-funded support program known locally as Second Chance. Men with scraggly beards or neck tattoos wave to younger men and women as they walk in. Some students wear T-shirts, while others are in button-downs or blouses. It’s a cross-section of the college and the city at large. Modeled like a 12-step recovery meeting, students speak up, one by one, sharing their stories about navigating work, school and life after prison.
Matthew Domingos, 42, helps moderate. He works part-time for the college as he finishes an associate degree and prepares to transfer next semester to Cal Poly Humboldt. As a full-time student, his financial aid package totals around $10,000 a semester, but it doesn’t leave any wiggle room, he said. “I feel like I’m one trip to the emergency room away from homelessness,” Domingos revealed. He was selected for Hire UP, but he doesn’t yet know how much money he’ll receive.
Richardson can’t always attend the weekly meetings because of her work and school schedule, though she wishes she could. She pays about $1,100 a month toward rent and hundreds more on utilities, food and transportation. “I don’t spend money,” she said. “There isn’t any to spend.”
There are roughly 160 formerly incarcerated students who enroll each year at Santa Rosa Junior College, all of whom may apply for Hire UP, said Jessy Paisley, a counselor for the Second Chance program on campus.
That money is a “glimmer of hope,” she said. “How do you focus on turning in your Canvas assignment if you don’t even know where you’re going to charge your computer tonight, or sleep, or get your next meal?”
What Happens When the Money Runs Out
The average cost of attending Santa Rosa Junior College, including living expenses, is about $20,000 to $30,000 a year, depending on whether students pay rent, said Rachael Cutcher, the college’s director of financial aid. For in-state students, tuition is less than 7% of their total annual expenses. The rest is rent, transportation, food and books.
Many students at the community college qualify for financial aid. However, the amount of aid typically depends on the number of classes that students take. At Santa Rosa Junior College, most students are part time. Cutcher said the average financial aid package is around $10,000 a year.
The Sonoma County Junior College District, which oversees Santa Rosa Junior College, received just over $2.6 million for Hire UP, but the money can’t help all the students who qualify. The college has roughly 600 students who are formerly incarcerated, current or former foster youth, or CalWorks recipients, according to data from the chancellor’s office. If all of those students were to get a portion, the money would run out in a few months.
“We’re prioritizing our formerly incarcerated students as our first tier,” Cutcher said, later adding that the other populations are already eligible for their own special scholarships or government grants. “Then if we have enough funding, we’ll go to foster youth, then CalWorks. If it’s successful, I’d advocate for it to be renewed and offered more broadly.”
Other schools, such as those in the San Diego Community College District, expect to exhaust most of the money in the first two years, said Susan Topham, the vice chancellor of educational services for the district.
“We want them to run out of money,” said Browne. If community college districts spend it all and the benefits of the money are apparent, she said the chancellor’s office can advocate for more funding, either for this program or for similar ones.
California’s Financial Aid Is Stuck in 1969
Compared to other state and federal financial aid programs, the money from Hire UP is relatively small.
In the 2022-23 academic year, California gave community college students more than $700 million in state aid, according to data from the chancellor’s office. The same year, the federal government gave out nearly $1.7 billion in grants to community college students, including Pell grants for low-income students as well as one-time money from various Covid-19 spending bills. But on a per-person basis, the money doesn’t always go far. For example, community college students typically receive just over $1,600 a year for non-tuition costs from the state’s cornerstone financial aid program, the Cal Grant.
The average cost of attending Santa Rosa Junior College, including living expenses, is about $20,000 to $30,000 yearly, depending on whether students pay rent.
That grant amount was first set in 1969, said Manny Rodriguez, the California director of policy and advocacy at The Institute for College Access and Success. “If it kept up with inflation, it should be worth between $7,000 and $8,000 today.”
For years, advocates like Rodriguez have worked with the chancellor’s office to push the state to give students more cash. In 2022, California legislators passed a new law that would slowly increase the amount of state money provided through the Cal Grant program.
However, the increases to Cal Grant will only go into effect if Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature agree to put the money into this year’s budget. Newsom has until May to release a revised state budget proposal, which includes the financial aid program. But with a multi-billion dollar projected deficit looming, advocates are worried that reforms may have to wait.
The federal and state financial aid programs also come with requirements many students fail to meet. The state’s largest financial aid program for community college students, the Student Success Completion Grant, requires students to take a full course load, typically at least four classes each semester.
Hire UP is structured differently. Part-time students can qualify, as long as they take at least two classes. The money is disbursed and recalculated every month, depending on how many classes the student took.
Domingos is a full-time student, so he qualifies for the Completion Grant. It’s one reason why he receives more financial aid than the average student. However, Richardson has never been able to receive the Completion Grant because her work schedule prevents her from taking more than three classes. While Domingos receives federal aid, Richardson’s income is too high to qualify.
Richardson will receive over $8,000 in Hire UP payments during the spring semester. That will be in addition to the $4,000 in financial aid she was already getting for the same time period.
Santa Rosa Junior College may run out of money for Hire UP, but Cutcher said the financial aid department has budgeted the program so that students who receive initial payments are guaranteed money until they graduate. That means Richardson could receive more than $20,000 from Hire UP before she graduates next year.
“No matter what,” she said. “I’m going to be ecstatic with whatever the state can offer me.”
Adam Echelman covers California’s community colleges in partnership with Open Campus, a nonprofit newsroom focused on higher education.
Being a bit obvious, I had to launch this “Locals” column with Janeen Murray, director of Go Local, a cooperative that supports 400 North Bay businesses and nonprofits.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: Tell us something unexpected about yourself.
Janeen Murray: I am an accordion player in the Hubbub Club marching band.
CH: Amazing! Janeen, besides co-branding with the iconic, Go Local logo, what services do you provide to your co-op members?
JM: Advertising, market research, networking lunches, and listing on our website and printed pocket guide. Made Local Magazine highlights the stories behind local businesses.
CH: Though I have been trained to say it, why should we support local?
JM: Supporting local is like planting seeds with rich soil. So that more vibrant things grow in our community. We’re not a monoculture. We’re a beautiful diversity.
CH: That is a lush and poetic vision of our community. Could you bullet point some benefits?
JM: There is the economic multiplier effect. Local purchases lead to local purchases lead to local wealth. Money spent at online mega-retailers shoots up out of the community like a helium balloon and is gone. Also, there is less inequality and inequity in communities with more local businesses. There’s more employment, better jobs. There are ecological benefits to local too—compare the carbon of a light truck driving 20 minutes versus a 16-wheeler truck driving eight hours to deliver the same fruit.
CH: Wow. Those are the great issues of our time, all helped by our local purchases. Janeen, is “Go Corporate” winning?
JM: Yes, for now. Our local economy is severely and dramatically threatened by global corporate companies.
CH: There doesn’t seem to be a week where social media doesn’t announce the closure of an iconic local business. Each hurts our sense of place. Janeen, is there room for hope?
JM: There is! Seventy percent of the local economy is local consumer spending. That means we’re in the driver seat. It’s our choice what future we have.
CH: What is your most important call to action?
JM : Move your money to a local bank. They invest in local businesses. National banks don’t.
CH: What is the motto of Go Local?
JM: “We are stronger together.”
Learn more: This interview is taken from a longer audio interview available at ‘Sonoma County: A Community Portrait’ on Apple, Google and Spotify podcasts. linktr.ee/cincinnatushibbard.
Although summer may seem far away in terms of calendar days, many Sonoma County parents have already started to consider summer camp plans for their children. And though it may still be winter for a few more weeks, children’s summer camp spots fill up fast, so it’s best to get a headstart and reserve a space while there are still plenty of open spots left.
So, where can all these kids go when the days get long and hot and school is no longer in session? Well, Sonoma County is full of perfectly suited summer camps, well-equipped to curate programs with the same engaging atmosphere, social environment and enriching, possibly even educational experiences.
From science and engineering, arts and crafts, theater, sports, nature, animals and oh so much more, it’s hard to walk away from a list like this without wishing (at least a little bit) that adults could attend summer camps as well.
Charles M. Schulz Museum
For those who don’t know about this little tidbit of famous animation history right at the North Bay’s fingertips, consider Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Museum, built to commemorate and remember the cartoonist behind Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang.
The museum dedicated to Schulz’s illustrative accomplishments opened in 2002 and has since brought millions of visitors and helped make millions of memories. This includes camps, classes and workshops for artistically inclined children to enrich and educate themselves in theater, animation, art exhibitions and more.
Charles M. Schulz Museum is located at 2301 Hardies La. in Santa Rosa. For more information, call 707.579.4452 or visit the website at schulzmuseum.org/classes-camps.
Flynn Creek Circus
For the children who dream of running away with a circus or simply want to have fun and learn a unique skill set that is as fun as it is useful, Flynn Creek Circus is worth considering.
Flynn Creek Circus will see those kids flying, twirling, flipping, tumbling, walking the tightwire, juggling and more—all of these acrobatics are guided under the careful supervision of professional performers and in the best environment for lessons like these…in an actual circus tent. This is one camp that kids will remember for quite some time, especially when sharing what they did over the summer: “I joined the circus,” they’ll say, before backflipping away.
For more information about Flynn Creek Circus, call 707.684.2115, email ci****@**************us.com or visit the website at flynncreekcircus.com.
Farm Camp California
One of the many benefits of going to summer camp in California’s Bay Area is the sheer number of choices for children with all kinds of interests. This extends to STEAM programs, artistic work and, in the case of Farm Camp California, agricultural pursuits too. This coed overnight camp for children aged eight to 17 was established in 1952 and is located on 500 acres of nearly-coastal farmland.
At Farm Camp California, kids can choose five farm chores (in line with their personal preferences) and tend to animals like horses, cows, donkeys, pigs, sheep, chickens and so on, or they may work in the garden, woods, recycling and other more camp-related activities instead. Other activities include arts and crafts, horseback riding, forest exploration, music, sports, drama, water activities and even evening entertainment after all the excitement of the day winds down.
Farm Camp California is located at 34285 Kruse Ranch Rd. in Cazadero during the summer and at 1480 Moraga Rd., Ste C #392 in Moraga during the winter. For more information about Farm Camp California, call 707.847.3494, email in**@********ca.com or visit the website at farmcampca.com.
Hanna Center
For a less conventional, but equally important, children’s camp in the community, consider Hanna Center, which provides trauma-informed services to the North Bay community with a specific focus on providing an environment equipped to care for at-risk youth. Programs at Hanna Center are meant to empower and assist those who need it most by providing summer camps with recreation and education for all.
The summer camps at Hanna Center aim to provide a tranquil, constructive environment to facilitate safe and fun socialization, connection and activities. All-day recreation camp at Hanna Center, which provides that quintessential summer camp experience, is for children aged five to 14. Hanna Center also offers Morning Specialty Camps including Culinary Camp (for ages seven through 11), Soccer Camp, Tennis Camp, Lacrosse Camp, Baseball Camp and Basketball Camp.
Hanna Center is located at 17000 Arnold Dr. in Sonoma. For more information, call 707.996.6767 or visit the website at hannacenter.org.
Transcendence Theatre Company Kids Camp
Transcendence Theatre Company is a well-known epicenter of theatrical spectacle in the North Bay. Most everyone enjoys the performances put on by this popular theater company, a staple in Sonoma County’s artistic community, which is especially beloved for Skits Under the Stars and, of course, summer camps for kids.
For the children out there who have a theatrical flair, Transcendence Theatre Company has the perfect camp led by Broadway artists. Children aged eight through 12 may attend this local theater company as junior artists, while those ages 13 through 17 are grouped separately—both age ranges will be able to enjoy Transcendence’s week-long summer camp program and learn to sing, dance, act, do improv and so much more.
To top it all off, Transcendence Theatre Company is an all-inclusive organization that aims to create an inclusionary space accessible to all who want to participate.
Transcendence Theatre Company is located at 19201 Sonoma Highway #214 in Sonoma. For more information, call 877.424.1414, email in**@*******ma.org or visit the website at transcendencetheatre.org.
Santa Rosa Recreation & Parks
And if this list of children’s summer camp options in Sonoma County just isn’t quite hitting the mark for one’s kid’s specific and unique interests, consider checking out the Santa Rosa Recreation & Parks website.
There, curious parents may peruse a comprehensive summer camp list that includes day camps, adventure camps, art, dance & drama camps, STEM camps, sports camps and even work experience camps. And some of these camps are cool enough to make the parents wish they could join in, with options like a royal ballroom dance camp, fashion design camp, youth yoga camp, hand sewing camp, jewelry-making camp, twilight tennis camp and even a camp about mermaids, faeries and voodoo.
Santa Rosa Recreation & Park’s list of camps also includes camps for special populations, which extends to the Kamp Kennedy day camp for children and teens with developmental disabilities and the UCP Camp Kaos day camp from United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay.
The Santa Rosa Recreation & Parks summer camp offerings can be found at srcity.org/864/Summer-Camps.
Results from the primary election yesterdayare still trickling intoday, so we’re a ways from knowing who and what won — especially in the tight races. Here are some early trends as of Wednesday morning, though. For the statewide U.S. Senate seat left empty when Dianne Feinstein died last year, there are two candidates with a significant lead, which should take them both to the general election this November: DemocratAdam Schiff, a longtime state politician, and Republican Steve Garvey, a former professional baseball player who’s new to politics. For our local seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Mike Thompson and Republican John Munn are leading in the fourth district and Democrat Jared Huffman and Republican Chris Coulombe are leading in the second district. As for that contentious race to replace Jim Wood, who’s giving up his seat in the second district of the California State Assembly (covering much of Sonoma County, and the rest of the North Coast): Republican Michael Greer is in first place, and a few of the Democratic candidates are neck and neck for the other spot. Santa Rosa City Councilmember Chris Rogers is just barely leading the pack Wednesday morning, with California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks right behind, followed by Healdsburg Mayor Ariel Kelley. In the State Assembly’s twelfth district, incumbent Democrat Damon Connolly is way ahead; the two Republican candidates are coming in close for that second spot, but it looks like Andy Podshadley has a slight lead. The race for the third district of the California State Senate is fairly tight, too — with Republican Thom Bogue and Democrat Christopher Cabaldon in the lead, and Democrat Rozzana Verder-Aliga not too far behind. Measure-wise, that statewide one about mental health funding is almost at a dead tie, with a sliver of a lead for “Yes” — and Measure H for more fire-department funding in Sonoma County is more of a landslide “Yes.” Lastly, Biden and Trump will move forward in the race for president, of course. You can click through to the state and county election websites to monitor the results in real time, as well as check out the other races for local judges, committees and measures. (Source: California State Government & Sonoma County Government & Napa County Government & Press Democrat; paywall)
An investigative reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle had the tough gig of heading up to the wine country recently to figure out whether all the cute sheep roaming around our vineyards this winter are a genius farming tool or a trendy PR stunt. In short? Chronicle reporter Esther Mobley found evidence of both. She writes: “Driving around Napa and Sonoma this time of year, you’re bound to see some adorable visitors roaming among the grapevines. Sheep have become an inescapable fixture of Wine Country in the winter, prized for their natural mowing and fertilizing abilities. Instead of running a diesel-fueled tractor through the vineyard or spraying herbicide on sprouting weeds, a vintner can simply let loose a hungry herd. The ecological advantage, compared to these mechanical and chemical methods, is clear. Of course, there’s another advantage, too: The sheep are just so darn cute. And they look great on social media. As their use explodes in popularity, some vintners and herders are wondering whether these animals are being reduced to a marketing ploy.” One sheep herder from Lake County, Robert Irwin of the Kaos Sheep Outfit, tells the paper that he calls this phenomenon “the 50 token sheep” — aka, when wineries “get 50 sheep that aren’t really functionally making a difference in the vineyard, but they put them up by the tasting room for people to look at.” (He’s also reaping major benefits from the trend: The Chronicle reports there’s now “massive demand” for his company’s 6,000 sheep, compared to 10 or 15 years ago. “There’s not enough sheep in California to do the work that people want to be done,” the Lake County sheep herder tells the paper — allowing him to charge up to $300 per acre.) Another skeptic, a “biodynamic farmer” and winemaker in Napa, tells the Chronicle that he’s “concerned about greenwashing” — aka, when wineries use the sheep to “project the image of an environmentally responsible vineyard without committing to it fully.” Another Napa winemaker from Cuvaison Winery observes: “It’s kind of amazing to see how people respond to the sheep.” And yet another Napa winery dude, this one from Jason Phelps Vineyards in St. Helena, predicts: “This is going to be the golden era for sheep.” The herds have pretty important jobs in the off-season, too — spending “summertime in open grazing land, which the sheep mow down for wildfire protection,” and “autumn in row crops… where the animals clean up the unharvested fruit.” You can read the full sheep story in the Chronicle — featuring plenty more passionate arguments hailing these incidental Insta traps as miracle ecology cogs. (Source: SF Chronicle; paywall)
Bacteria and fungi are increasingly evolving into “superbugs” immune to existing treatments. According to the World Health Organization, this phenomenon, known as antimicrobial resistance, is one of the top 10 public health threats currently facing humanity. In 2019, antibiotic resistance was associated with more than 170,000 deaths in the United States and nearly 5 million deaths worldwide.
The U.S. government has a long and mostly successful history of responding to national health crises, from funding Operation Warp Speed to accelerate the development of Covid-19 vaccines to establishing the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness in response to the anthrax attacks of 2001.
Better stewardship alone won’t combat the superbug threat. We also need to develop new antimicrobials. Many antimicrobials are often only prescribed briefly, like several days or weeks. Consequently, low sales make it hard for inventors to recoup the significant investments required to develop any new medicine.
As a result, many companies developing new antimicrobials—most of which are small—have been unable to commercialize new products successfully. Eight antibiotics developed by small companies have received FDA approval since 2013. Since their approvals, these companies have either filed for bankruptcy, been acquired or left the antibiotics space entirely.
One fix would be to replace the volume-based sales model with something like a subscription, in which drug developers are compensated for new treatments based on the value of the treatment to public health, regardless of the number of doses patients need.
Legislation that would do this is under consideration in Congress. A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the PASTEUR Act. Under the bill, the government would contract with a company for a set amount of funds for reliable access to an effective new antibiotic, essentially stabilizing a return on investment.
Passing PASTEUR should be one of Congress’ top priorities. AMR is a national security threat we know how to prepare for. It’s time our political leaders take advantage of that opportunity.
Phyllis Arthur is senior vice president for infectious disease and emerging science policy at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.
Mr. Dan Savage’s advice for people who attend sex parties (“Savage Love,” Bohemian, Feb. 29, 2024) is to “maybe consider using condoms.”
I’m a semi-retired professional sex surrogate partner and sex educator, and a person who has occasionally attended a wide variety of events like sex parties and sex and tantra workshops. I’m also a polyamorist. My advice for Mr. Savage’s readers is to definitely at all times use condoms and other “safer sex” items and practices.
The only exception would be if there is a “closed loop” of polyamorous people who have been tested for at least the more popular STIs. There are about 30 STIs ready to be transmitted. Most of them are asymptomatic in their early stages.
Barbara Daugherty
Santa Rosa
Burrito Babies
Your readers may by now be aware that the Alabama Supreme Court has issued a ruling that frozen burritos—be they “beef, bean and cheese, chicken, or any combination thereof”— are, in fact, legally recognized as children.
What impact this decision will have on commercial burrito sales in roadside dining emporia in Alabama and across the country is unknown at this time.
What we do know is that “the moment the frozen burrito is placed in its plastic sleeve, it becomes human life in the image of Our Higher Power.”
Stay tuned to your favorite news outlets to learn more about this breaking story.
Lauded bassist Michael Manring and noted guitarist and poet Brian Gore join forces for a few sets—solo and duet—Thursday, March 14, at The Lost Church. Gore, known for his fingerstyle guitar playing, founded International Guitar Night and has performed with six-string legends like Pierre Bensusan, Ralph Towner, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, D’Gary and Lulo Reinhardt. His sets will draw from his album, Seek the Love You’re Yearning. “Michael Manring … can do more with a bass than even the most creative individual could imagine,” according to the Napa Valley Register. Beyond his virtuosity, as Tom Darter wrote in Keyboard Magazine, “his brand of transcendental chops … is all in the service of … the joy of making music.” Doors open at 7:30pm. The venue is located at 576 Ross St., Santa Rosa, thelostchurch.org. $25.
Petaluma
Docent Days
Petaluma Historical Library & Museum seeks volunteer desk docents for shifts from 10am to 1pm and 1 to 4pm, Thursdays and Fridays. The volunteer position entails greeting the public, helping guests navigate the exhibits, mentioning upcoming museum events, explaining the benefits of museum membership and answering general questions. One need not be an expert on Petaluma to volunteer. Those interested in joining the museum’s fellowship of desk docents may contact membership manager Mary Rowe at mr***@************um.org or 707.778.4398.
St. Helena
FORK2FILM Fest
A four-day film fest that showcases the best feature-length narrative and documentary films about food, farming and wine, FORK2FILM Festival serves up its cinematic offerings from Thursday, March 14 to Sunday, March 17. “Throughout my 16 years of programming for the Cameo, CinemaBites has stood out as a favorite among patrons, especially when we connect audiences with a filmmaker or chef,” says founder and owner Cathy Buck. “It’s been a dream of mine to program a festival that centers around food, farming and wine, three things that make the Napa Valley stand out.” Over the course of the festival, attendees will partake in epicurean film screenings, food and wine experiences, filmmaker Q&As and more. This year, FORK2FILM Festival programmers have selected 14 independent movies to be screened alongside culinary classics and award-winning standouts, all screening at the Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena. For complete programming information, visit cameocinemafoundation.org/fork-2-film-festival.
Novato
Comedy Cuvee
Headliner Dan Gabriel (as seen on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Showtime, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and CBS’s Star Search) brings the laughs to Novato’s Trek Winery with a set that pairs well with pinot noir (we’re assuming). Gabriel honed his chops in San Francisco’s comedy scene and is now a seasoned Los Angeles-based comedian. He has appeared on several major TV shows, won competitions, co-developed a TV series, hosts a podcast and has released two comedy albums. Gabriel performs at 7pm, Saturday, March 16, at Trek Winery, located at 1026 Machin Ave., Novato. Special guest Jeff Applebaum will also perform. Tickets range from $20 to $30. For more information, marincomedyshow.com.
Some students are reportedly getting paid to go to school at the Santa Rosa JC. We’re talking more than just a loan or scholarship: These are actual wages being deposited into students’ bank accounts, as if they were working a job, KRCB news radio reports. Where the job is going to class and doing homework. This new experiment at our local JC is part of a $30 million pilot program called “Hire UP” that was just launched by the state in 10 different community college districts, according to KRCB — another way of testing the theory that a period of “guaranteed income” can give a leg up to someone who’s struggling to make ends meet, and allow them to thrive on their own in the future. College officials will reportedly be monitoring “how the money affects students’ outcomes.” KRCB news reporters talked to Leah Richardson, a 37-year-old student at the JC who’s enrolled in the state’s new program. She’s one of hundreds of formerly incarcerated JC students who can now apply to get paid from this $2.6 million pool. From the story: “On a recent morning, she sat at a cafe next to campus, where students hurried by, but she didn’t notice them as she stared at her financial aid statement on her iPhone. ‘I’m a little in shock,’ Richardson said as she used her fingers to zoom in on the web page that showed her current grants. She’ll receive monthly payments of nearly $2,000, starting today. Those payments are calculated based on the state’s minimum wage, $16 an hour, for each of the 30 hours she spends every week on school. When she enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College in 2021, she couldn’t afford to attend full time. She was still adjusting to a new routine, after spending time in and out of jail and substance use treatment centers. She decided to take classes in the afternoon and work from 4:30 a.m. until about 1:30 p.m. at a Safeway storemost days of the week. When she wasn’t working at Safeway, she took shifts at bakeries. ‘I was exhausted — a lot,’ Richardson said. Since then, she’s tried to work less and study more. ‘Now that I have this money, I don’t have the weight of having to go back to a job that’s going to drain me.'” Going forward, if the Hire UP program goes well and state funds keep flowing in, word is the JC might also extend these benefits to more students — including ones who grew up in the foster-care system and ones “receiving CalWorks benefits, the state’s cash aid program for low-income adults with children.” (Source: KRCB)
Gender fluidity flows like the Russian River after a torrential rain in the Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts Department production of Orlando. Laura Downing-Lee directs the Sarah Ruhl-penned adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s 1928 novel. The show runs in the Frank Chong Studio Theatre in the Burbank Auditorium on the SRJC Santa Rosa campus through Sunday, March 10.
Orlando (Lizzy...
Leah Richardson is juggling community college and work, but her job doesn’t pay enough to cover the cost of living in Sonoma County.
Often, she relies on a food pantry, despite receiving thousands of dollars in financial aid from her school, Santa Rosa Junior College.
Now, a new program will pay her for every hour she spends in class and on...
Being a bit obvious, I had to launch this “Locals” column with Janeen Murray, director of Go Local, a cooperative that supports 400 North Bay businesses and nonprofits.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: Tell us something unexpected about yourself.
Janeen Murray: I am an accordion player in the Hubbub Club marching band.
CH: Amazing! Janeen, besides co-branding with the iconic, Go Local logo, what services...
Although summer may seem far away in terms of calendar days, many Sonoma County parents have already started to consider summer camp plans for their children. And though it may still be winter for a few more weeks, children’s summer camp spots fill up fast, so it’s best to get a headstart and reserve a space while there are...
Results from the primary election yesterday are still trickling in today, so we're a ways from knowing who and what won — especially in the tight races. Here are some early trends as of Wednesday morning, though. For the statewide U.S. Senate seat left empty when Dianne Feinstein died last year, there are two candidates with a significant lead, which should take them both...
An investigative reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle had the tough gig of heading up to the wine country recently to figure out whether all the cute sheep roaming around our vineyards this winter are a genius farming tool or a trendy PR stunt. In short? Chronicle reporter Esther Mobley found evidence of both. She writes: "Driving around Napa and Sonoma this time...
Bacteria and fungi are increasingly evolving into “superbugs” immune to existing treatments. According to the World Health Organization, this phenomenon, known as antimicrobial resistance, is one of the top 10 public health threats currently facing humanity. In 2019, antibiotic resistance was associated with more than 170,000 deaths in the United States and nearly 5 million deaths worldwide.
The U.S. government...
Safe Sex Party
Mr. Dan Savage’s advice for people who attend sex parties (“Savage Love,” Bohemian, Feb. 29, 2024) is to “maybe consider using condoms.”
I’m a semi-retired professional sex surrogate partner and sex educator, and a person who has occasionally attended a wide variety of events like sex parties and sex and tantra workshops. I’m also a polyamorist. My advice...
Santa Rosa
The Case for Bass
Lauded bassist Michael Manring and noted guitarist and poet Brian Gore join forces for a few sets—solo and duet—Thursday, March 14, at The Lost Church. Gore, known for his fingerstyle guitar playing, founded International Guitar Night and has performed with six-string legends like Pierre Bensusan, Ralph Towner, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, D’Gary and Lulo Reinhardt. His...
Some students are reportedly getting paid to go to school at the Santa Rosa JC. We're talking more than just a loan or scholarship: These are actual wages being deposited into students' bank accounts, as if they were working a job, KRCB news radio reports. Where the job is going to class and doing homework. This new experiment at...
