Free Will Astrology: Week of Oct. 15

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Life is tempting you to tiptoe to the brink of the threshold of the rawest truth, the wildest beauty and the most precious love. Your ancestors are conspiring with your guardian angels to lure you into the secret heart of the inner sanctum of spiritual truth. I am totally sincere and serious. You now have a momentous opportunity—a thrilling opening to commune with subtle powers that could provide you with profound guidance.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the forests of America’s Pacific Northwest, “nurse logs” lie fallen but fertile. These dead trees host seedlings, mosses and new saplings that rise from their decaying trunks. I regard this as a powerful metaphor for you, Taurus. Something old in you is crumbling, like outdated beliefs, outmoded duties or obsolete loyalties. Part of you may want to either grieve or ignore the shift. And yet I assure you that fresh green vitality is sprouting from that seemingly defunct thing. What new possibility is emerging from what was supposed to end? Resurrection is at hand.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A deeper, wilder, smarter version of love is beckoning you from the horizon. Are you ready to head in its direction? I’m not sure you are. You may semi-consciously believe you already know what love is all about, and are therefore closed to learning more. It’s also possible that your past romantic wounds have made you timid about exploring unfamiliar terrain. Here’s my assessment: If you hope to get exposed to the sweeter, less predictable kinds of intimacy, you will have to drop some (not all) of your excessive protections and defenses. P.S.: At least one of your fears may be rooted in faulty logic.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Princess Diana transformed the British monarchy because she insisted that royal duty should include genuine emotional connection. Her generosity wasn’t merely ceremonial but was expressed through hands-on charity work. She had close contact with youth who had nowhere to live. She walked through minefields as part of her efforts to rid the planet of that scourge. She hugged people with AIDS at a time when many others feared such contact. “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward,” she said. Her ability to maintain grace while remaining emotionally authentic reflected a genius for blending strength with sensitivity. Can you guess her astrological sign? Cancerian, of course. Now is a perfect time for you to draw inspiration from her example. Express your wisely nurturing energy to the max.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Certain African lions in Kenya have no manes. Scientists theorize it’s an adaptation to heat or a reflection of extra aggressive hunting strategies. But symbolically, it challenges expectations: Is royalty still royalty without the crown? I bring this to your attention, Leo, because I suspect you will soon be asked to explore your power without its usual accouterments. Can you properly wield your influence if you don’t unleash your signature roar and dazzle? Will quiet confidence or understated presence be sufficiently magnetic? Might you radiate even more potency by refining your fire? I think so. You can summon strength in subtlety and majesty in minimalism.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): During the next nine months, you will face a poignant and potentially inspiring choice: whether to wrangle with an endless tangle of mundane struggles, or else to expand your vision to the bigger picture and devote your energy intensely to serving your interesting, long-term dreams. I hope you choose the latter option. For best results, get clear about your personal definition of success, in contrast to the superficial definitions that have been foisted on you by your culture. Can you visualize yourself years from now, looking back on your life’s greatest victories? You’re primed to enter a new phase of that glorious work, rededicating yourself with precise intentions and vigorous vows.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I’m pleased to inform you that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to make a big wish upon a bright star. But I must also tell you how important it is to be clear and exact. Even a slight error in formulating your wish could result in only a partial fulfillment. And aiming your plea at the wrong star could cause a long delay. Sorry I have to be so complicated, dear Libra. The fact is, though, it’s not always easy to know precisely what you yearn for and to ask the correct source to help you get it. But here’s the good news: You are currently in a phase when you’re far more likely than usual to make all the right moves.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): During World War II, Scorpio actor and inventor Hedy Lamarr developed frequency-hopping technology to prevent enemies from jamming torpedo guidance systems. Her solution rapidly switched radio frequencies in hard-to-intercept patterns. The technology was so advanced that no one could figure out how to fully adopt it until years later. Engineers eventually realized that Lamarr’s invention was essential for WiFi, GPS and cell phone networks. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, you, too, have the potential to generate ideas that might not be ready for prime time but could ultimately prove valuable. Trust your instincts about future needs. Your visionary solutions are laying the groundwork for contributions that won’t fully ripen for a while.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I guarantee you won’t experience a meltdown, crack-up or nervous collapse in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. What unfolds may bring a similar intensity, but in the opposite direction: a personal breakthrough, a cavalcade of illumination or a surge of awakening. I urge you to be alert and receptive for relaxing flurries of sweet clarity, streams of insights that rouse a liberating integration or a confluence of welcome transformations that lead you to unexpected healing. Can you handle so many blessings? I think you can. But you may have to expand your expectations to welcome them all.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1959, a Swedish engineer named Nils Bohlin designed the three-point seatbelt, revolutionizing car safety. Working for Volvo, he insisted the design must be made freely available to all car manufacturers. Bohlin understood that saving lives was more important than hoarding credit or profit. Capricorn, your assignment now is to give generously without fussing about who gets the applause. A solution, insight or creation of yours could benefit many if you share it without reservation. Your best reward will be observing the beneficial ripple effects, not holding the patent.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your exploratory adventures out on the frontiers have been interesting and mostly successful, Aquarius. Congrats. I love how you have avoided tormenting yourself with self-doubt and roused more boldness than you’ve summoned in a long time. You have managed to ignore useless and superstitious fears even as you have wisely heeded the clues offered by one particular fear that was worth considering. Please continue this good work. You can keep riding this productive groove for a while longer.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Korean tradition, mudangs are shamans who endure a personal crisis or illness and emerge with supernatural powers. They perform rituals to seek the favor of spirits. They heal the ancestral causes of misfortune and ensure good fortune, prosperity and well-being for the people they serve. I don’t mean to imply you’re following a similar path, Pisces. But I do think your recent discomforts have been like an apprenticeship that has given you enhanced capacity to help others. How will you wield your power to bless and heal?

Discovery to Destiny: Vinarosa’s Chef Sergio Howland

Executive Chef Sergio Howland leads the kitchen at newly revitalized Vinarosa Resort & Spa in Santa Rosa. He grew up in Mexico City, lucky to know at 10 what he was destined to do. Upon immersion in a set of Discovery Channel videos, “Great Chefs, Great Cities,” he recreated each dish from the show for his family. 

At 18, firmly set upon a culinary life path, he enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York, launching him into an international career guided by some of the world’s best chefs. That global expertise shines through the truly farm-to-table menu at John Ash, including impressive housemade breads; Howland’s passion for sourdough baking shows off well.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Sergio Howland: I’ve been cooking professionally for more than 25 years, a career that has taken me from New York to Colorado, Florida, Barcelona and Mexico. I feel fortunate to have traveled so widely while refining my craft. Along the way, I developed a deep passion for wine, which makes my current role especially meaningful. When the opportunity arose to move to the Russian River Valley and lead the culinary program at Vinarosa, I didn’t hesitate.

Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.

Back in culinary school, my very first wine class hooked me completely. I remember diving into the subject, eager to learn as much as I could about this incredible world. My true ‘aha’ moment came with a glass of Barolo from Piedmont. The aromas, the complexity, the layers of flavor—everything about that wine was captivating. From that moment on, I knew wine would be more than just an interest; it would become a lifelong passion.

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

Usually when I get home, my wife and I cook dinner. We usually have a glass of white wine while cooking and then a glass of red for dinner. We don’t really drink hard liquor. We stick to local craft beer and wine.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

I love to visit wineries and taste what they are doing. Yesterday on my day off, we visited Bacigalupi. I also like to visit Cooperage and Russian River breweries.

If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?

If I’m stuck on a deserted island, I’d probably be grilling fish or making ceviche, so a crisp white wine would be my go-to. Something bright and refreshing, like an Albariño or a Sancerre—perfect with all that seafood. Of course, I’d hope I washed up with a corkscrew too… Otherwise, it could get tricky.

Vinarosa Resort & Spa, 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa, 707.575.7350. vinarosaresort.com.

Critter Carnival, a Paws-itively Perfect Day in Sonoma

It’s that time of year again when Sonoma’s most adorable citizens take center stage—some furry, some feathered, all indubitably fabulous. 

Pets Lifeline’s Critter Carnival returns Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11am to 2pm at the organization’s state-of-the-art shelter on 8th Street East in Sonoma, promising a free, family-friendly day of music, games and good vibes—all in the service of our four-legged (and occasionally winged) friends.

“The Critter Carnival is a celebration of community and compassion,” says Mary Serafini, events coordinator at Pets Lifeline. “It’s a day where families, friends and animal lovers can come together to enjoy fall festivities, connect with our mission and just have fun.”

And fun is indeed the order of the day. Think live music by Curley & Curlier, Aunt Betty’s famous corn dogs, pumpkin and face painting by Mama Mary, gelato from Fiorello’s and enough cotton candy to make a raccoon reconsider its diet. The carnival will also feature classic games courtesy of Sonoma Party Rentals, plus a raffle for a basket of local goodies—a collection of community-made treats and treasures fit for both humans and their loyal companions.

When I spoke with Serafini recently, the affection she and her team have for the animals—and the community—was palpable. “We’re not just going to have dogs and cats here,” she says. “We actually might even have birds. We hate to narrow it down—our day-to-day is focused on cats and dogs and their welfare, but we’ve invited some folks to bring other critters too.”

Among them is a local bird enthusiast who strolls around with parrots and parakeets perched on his shoulders, delighting children and charming the crowd. Serafini notes with a laugh, “Everyone will be separate in their own little zone—dogs, cats and birds alike.”

Upstairs in the shelter, the cats enjoy what she calls their “private loft,” lounging in individual rooms with access to an outdoor catio—essentially a screened-in terrace for safe feline sunbathing. “Some of the cats can go outside and hang out in the outdoor air and view the public from atop,” she says.

The Critter Carnival isn’t a fundraiser, Serafini emphasizes. It’s a community open house—an invitation for locals to meet adoptable pets and maybe, just maybe, fall in love. “It’s the season for people to nest a little bit,” she says. “No better way than to have a furry creature to come home with and nest at home for the holidays and the fall season.”

A quick scan of the Pets Lifeline website confirms that falling in love is practically guaranteed. There’s Cloudy, a cat currently in foster care who’s “really playful and fun,” says Serafini, and a host of dogs—some photographed in full fall regalia, including one named Jackson Browne in a Superman costume. The team just rescued 11 new dogs from Contra Costa County shelters, who will soon be up for adoption and ready to meet their new families at the event.

Pets Lifeline has been part of the Sonoma landscape since the early 1980s, founded by a handful of determined locals who began rescuing animals long before there was an official shelter. Their once-humble operation has since evolved into a state-of-the-art facility, completed in 2021, surrounded by pollinator-friendly gardens and built to provide comfort for both animals and the humans who care for them.

Whether one comes for the corn dogs, the kittens or the raw energy of Curley & Curlier, the Critter Carnival is the ticket to feel-good fall fun. Meow.

Pets Lifeline Critter Carnival, 11am–2pm, Saturday, Oct. 18, 19686 8th St. East, Sonoma. Free and open to the public. petslifeline.org/critter-carnival.

‘Seasons of Change’ at Fort Ross

One may get a head start on the festive season at Fort Ross Conservancy’s annual Harvest Festival, happening Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10am to 4pm.

This year’s theme, “Seasons of Change: Stories of the Land—Stories of the Sea,” celebrates Sonoma County’s coastal heritage through food, film, music and community.

Visitors can witness live performances by Kedry (traditional Russian song and dance), Gradina (Balkan folk) and The Barn Wreckers (Americana), alongside a screening of Sequoias of the Sea by Natasha Benjamin and Ana Blanco, and a presentation by author Josie Iselin (The Curious World of Seaweed).

The event also features a silent auction of fine wines, dinners and seaside getaways—supporting the conservancy’s new Coastal Academy, which funds marine ecology field trips and citizen science programs.

Fort Ross State Historic Park, Hwy. 1, Jenner. Free admission; State Parks parking fees apply. Food and drink available. fortross.org.

Sebastopol Bloom Fest Weighs In

Jonathan Pinkston, the “psychedelic” candidate for mayor of Sebastopol, leads the small but determined “Hub” coalition.

The Hub advisory committee consists of Jim Corbett, Bear Heart, Debra Guisti, Jonathan Greenberg, Kai Harris and Pinkston. Hub’s headquarters is at Soft Medicine Sanctuary, which Pinkston co-owns. Ahead of Sebastopol’s next city council contest, Pinkston has called his first vote. This vote will not take place at the ballot box, but at the ticket booth—as Hub organizes “The Bloom Festival” of “music, yoga, food, medicine, dance and wine”—a three day “takeover” of Sebastopol, beginning Oct 24.

The Acid Test

This event will be a flashingly brief energetic image of the vision Hub has for Sebastopol, and a strong step forward in realizing that vision—demonstrating city-wide leadership, broadening their coalition and disseminating the Hub platform.

From city and county campaigns and post, Hub intends a hugely ambitious reform package including new green space for Sebastopol, new below-market housing, resistance to several hugely unpopular “wine county” hotels proposed by developers, attracting young hippie entrepreneurs to the fast aging town and decriminalizing (taxing and regulating) psychedelic medicine in a first-of-its-kind scheme to make Sebastopol a regional hub for psychedelic healing. (See “Jonathan Pinkston : The Psychedelic Candidate” for free at bohemian.com.)

It’s an invigorating vision for dear old Sebastopol. Progressive, but in agreement with the spirit of ’76 and ’67. Bloom fest will be a first step—that is, if Hub lands that big step. Like all of Hub’s plans, Bloom is hugely ambitious on the page and complicated in the implementation. And there are early signs that building their political coalition may bring some of their intended reforms into real world conflict.

Sebastopol Blooming

Per their website, pinned to their masthead, is a statement of intent—for Hub inasmuch for Bloom. “Sebastopol Bloom is a vibrant celebration of food, movement, music and community. Join us for an unforgettable weekend that will show you what the world can really be like, when we deeply connect to place and each other.”

Lovely. And with that moral compass the website also provides a festival map.

It’ll make one whistle. In a diagonal across Sebastopol (a crossroads village), Bloom fest will incorporate all of the important and large format venues in town—the Sebastopol Community Center, The Barlow, the town square, Soft Medicine, SebArts and Ives Park.

Bloom is a complete town take-over. And at its geographic and true heart—a center of city tensions—an all new venue will be debuted, Sebastopol’s “temporary use” park. It is the large vacant lot, opposite the town square, where Piazza Hospitality of Healdsburg still intends to build its tourist-fetching $500 a night hotel.

Dotted across the festival map are many fun extras, such as an upcycled bizarro bike

race; a bath house; several art openings; all day yoga, dance and Hindu chanting; a sprawling makers’ fair; a biohacking fair; and a visionary lecture series.

Not pictured on the map, in a wide littoral arc around the central venues, hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfests, Airbnbs, camps and glamps will be eagerly anticipating sell-out business. For a great many tourists from within the North Bay and abroad will be needed to fill venues that normally compete.

As for the music—this is principally a music festival—Hub has booked big names

including Polish Ambassador, Mamuse, Dogon Lights, Whiskerman, Porangui and Alya Nero. They will be backed and supported by an undercard packed with local heroes like DJ Dragon Fly, Black Sheep Brass Band and King Dream (visit sebastopolbloom.com for a longer list and three-day schedule).

If these names aren’t familiar, the stages are informally named “the Guayaki stage,” “the beer stage,” “the wine stage” and “the cacao stage”—four zones which are not, coincidentally, the principle voting blocks of Sebastopol. This festival is designed to please everyone (except, perhaps the NIMBY Alka-Seltzer crowd).

But will it? As I write, three weeks out, my spies at the ground level of this vast organizational push suggest perhaps more than their fair share of year one disorganization. But I think they will pull it off.

The cleverness of the Bloom Festival design is that it is largely dependent on autonomously operating venues and organizations (such as the Sebastopol Community Center team or Soft Medicine) packaging and co-branding them as Bloom. And, with a rope drawn around the whole of Sebastopol, every independent spa, wine bar, movie theater, farmers market, drum circle, cafe, pizza parlor and ice cream shop in that charming town can be considered a “festival amenity.”

The Art of the Deal

On the Bloom website, just below that lovely statement about what the festival

(and Sebastopol) could be, is a second statement. It is a second statement of intent, and it fits the festival into Hub’s policy objectives for leading Sebastopol into that more beautiful world:

“All net proceeds of the Sebastopol Bloom Festival will go to design and support downtown green spaces. One of these projects we are working on: visual and structural improvements and upkeep of a temporary community park/event space at the future site of Hotel Sebastopol (currently set as a 2 year temp use, pending funding and full city approval)… This 5X increase to the size of the usable downtown square area will help beautify Sebastopol. We are very lucky to be working with Piazza Hospitality on this temporary green space that will connect Main Street to the Barlow shopping district, the same way the eventual Hotel Sebastopol project aims to do.”

When I read this, I was somewhat taken aback. My understanding had been that the aim of Bloom, as an annual event and fundraiser, was to progressively buy out the land from under the unfunded and resisted Piazza hotel deal. Arranged this way, the festival would have been a masterstroke, realizing two (and three and four) of Hub’s policy objectives (green space and no bougie hotels) even before the city council election (and the power needed to complete their agenda).

The festival date is even set for one week before Piazza’s building permits are set to expire. At least, that had been my understanding when I spoke to Pinkston in the spring and agreed to cover the festival. It could be that I misread the charismatic and somewhat mesmeric Pinkston those months ago. But then again, I openly record our conversations. Clearly something has shifted.

As recently as August, in a story carried by the Press Democrat, Piazza remained adamant. Despite setbacks and unfavorable conditions, they will build their Healdsburg-style hotel in the heart of Sebastopol. Perhaps Pinkston and Hub have changed their minds about gentrifying downtown hotels over the summer?

I only speculate, but perhaps Hub is banking on worsening economic conditions and

hardening opposition to the hotel—as Sebastapudilians get used to their vastly enlarged town square. With agonizing and exquisite ambiguity, the improvements the fest is now funding (grading, rebuilt sidewalks, increased parking at the lot) will suit both park and hotel construction. Time will tell what wins out.

If two of Hub’s aims for Bloom are (maybe) deflected from their ends, two others remain trained on their mark—provided the event is a big hit. These being the aim unifying the town and building their coalition with a three-day celebration of Sebastopol’s best. And also the aim of raising Sebastopol’s profile nationally for a specific demographic—the young crunch money that tour “transformative” festivals each summer.

Attracting business investors and home buyers of this demographic had been the stated

objective of Hub’s struggling “Co-Create”—an “intentional” business incubator.

Underscoring that point, Pinkston and Hub have successfully attracted big names Bella

Silberfein and Mark Abadi, lead organizers of the Bhakti Festival, to take over Ives Park

during Bloom with a lush three-day experience of yoga and Kirtan (call-and-response chanting of sacred Hindu texts). Bhakti fest has helped establish Joshua Tree (near the town of Coachella) as a year-round home and investment location for affluent, post-burner, Millennial hippies.

Effectively, Hub is putting a proven magnet inside its unproven magnet. Very clever. Although, in making Sebastopol a proven destination for affluent tourists, Hub might be making it easier for Piazza to secure the $40 million needed to break ground.

The Vote Before the Vote

Assuredly, the Bloom Festival weekend will be a party to remember. And it will be a party with a purpose—a party that continues as a political party. I love the deal, and I love the bash—I’m not sure what excites me more about this.

If success blooms for Sebastopol Bloom, Hub will move forward into the polls and the psychedelic future with an unbeatable momentum. If Bloom fails, Hub may falter and turn inward for a time. Always one to hedge his bets, Pinkston has just had a new baby girl.

Learn more:The first annual Bloom Festival will be held Oct. 24-26 at various Sebastopol venues. It is both free and ticketed. Follow the link for tickets and more: linktr.ee/bloomfestLINKS.

Phone Zone: Escaping the Small Screen

See Eddington? If the answer is no (or even “What’s Eddington?”), don’t worry—few people did.

A sprawling, cynical and brutally bleak comic Western from horror film auteur Ari Aster, Eddington tells the story of a fictional town going through the very real crisis of the Covid pandemic in the summer of 2020.

Most who’ve seen the film, whether they love or hate it, agree that it conjures a frighteningly recognizable atmosphere of paranoia and political polarization. In Eddington, nearly every character is glued to their smartphone, hypnotized by a constant stream of clickbait and conspiracy theories. (Aster has joked that his pet name for the film is Phones: The Movie.) All of this, perhaps all-too relatable, alienated audiences: At most U.S. theaters, Eddington was pulled from screens just two weeks after its July 18 release.

Far more people have already seen Paul Thomas Anderson’s pulsating political action drama, One Battle After Another. Like Eddington, Anderson’s film has been described by critics as indelibly capturing our current political moment. Battle’s star, Leonardo DiCaprio, has described the film as “holding a mirror up to society now, the divisive nature of where we’re at.” He’s also said that Anderson initially wanted to avoid showing smartphones in the film completely.

Aster would surely find these two statements totally contradictory: How can a film hold a mirror up to modern society without being all about smartphones, like Eddington?

Here, we may get some insight into why Eddington alienated while Battle is shaping up to be a modest hit. Eddington, set so firmly within the real recent events of 2020, hinges on the anxiety that in our current moment we are on the brink of some imminent doom—civil war, the AI singularity, etc. This gloomy thesis is situated in the unpleasant details of a very specific, very recent point in our actual history. It’s only honest, and accurate, for every scene to be populated with smartphones—our depressingly ubiquitous technological addiction.

Battle tells a more universal story. Yes, it’s full of reminders of our current moment, but at its core it’s a story of love, betrayal and family that could take place at any point in history. While Eddington is gripped by the fear that this point in time is uniquely perilous, Battle says that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And maybe the latter attitude is more appealing to a cinemagoer looking for some escapism on the big screen after a long day of being terrorized by the small one in their pocket.

Ham(let) on Wry

Reed Martin, of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, brings his (and co-playwright Austin Tichenor’s) frenetic Hamlet “prequel” to the Studio Theatre at Santa Rosa Junior College and enlists an eager ensemble to answer several apparently burning questions about Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy: Why didn’t Ophelia learn to swim? Why did Hamlet know so much about the theater world? And, why was Ophelia’s mom never mentioned in the original play?

These questions left this reviewer with potentially even more after seeing the opening night performance of The Comedy of Hamlet! (a prequel), now running on the SRJC Santa Rosa campus through Oct. 12.

Such as: How much time elapsed between this story and the original? In Hamlet, the character of court fool Yorick is but a skull. Yet in this prequel, Yorick, played by Gwenevieve Nelson (making fun choices and executing a tricky Foley sequence skillfully), is very much alive. So how did they decompose so quickly? Did it have to do with the soil composition in Denmark? It’s a bit nebulous, but inspired.

Aside from inspiring this reviewer to go down the endless scholarship of Hamlet rabbit hole, the cast is energetic and sets a good pace, even in the exposition-heavy first act, which pays off with the sharper second act. Everyone gets moments to shine in a Vaudevillian sequence performed with fluid comedic timing.

Hamlet (Orion Pudoff) just wants to study philosophy, but his father, the king (boisterous Jathan Reynolds), demands he study under Yorick to learn the craft of acting.

Meanwhile, Ophelia (Josie Porter, truly committed) grapples with her unrequited love for Hamlet and the cold machinations of her mother, Lilith (Sophia McCann, a bit stiff but with obvious stage presence, and wearing two stunning costumes by Melody Decker.).

When disaster strikes, it’s Ophelia who saves the day. This play feels much more hers than Hamlet’s, though the ending discards her in favor of the titular prince, leaving a huge reveal between the two hanging in the ghostly ether. Also, once the impediment to O’s pursuit of swimming is removed, why is it suggested she drop the notion entirely?

This is a cast full of promising young actors, and they’re to be commended for their dedication to this goofy addition to the Shakespearean theatrical universe.

‘The Comedy of Hamlet! (a prequel)’ runs Weds–Sun through Oct. 12 in the Frank Chong Studio Theatre in Santa Rosa Junior College’s Burbank Auditorium, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Thur-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $12–$25. 707.527.4307. theatrearts.santarosa.edu.

Winners of the 2025 NorBay Theater Awards

More than 150 members of the Sonoma and Napa County theater communities gathered at The California in Santa Rosa on Sunday, Sept. 28 for the 2025 Norbay Theater Awards.

The awards, which began in 2015 as the Marquee Theater Journalist Association Awards, returned after a five year pandemic-induced hiatus to celebrate outstanding work in the 2024-2025 season.

Originally limited to Sonoma County productions, the reboot of the awards (with the support of the North Bay Bohemian) expanded award qualification to Napa County theater companies.

MTJA members include Weeklys contributors Harry Duke, Caitlin Strom-Martin and Beulah Vega; Marin Independent Journal theater critic Barry Willis; and former Marinscope Community Newspapers theater critic Cari Lynn Pace.

The evening began with the presentation of the Outstanding Collegiate Production Award to the Napa Valley College production of a musical version of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Awards for outstanding technical work then followed, with Donnie Frank being recognized for their Outstanding Costume Design for the 6th Street Playhouse production of The Pirates of Penzance. Eddy Hansen’s work on the Spreckels Theatre Company production of Mary Shelley’s Body was recognized for Outstanding Lighting Design. Mercury Theater’s Jared Emerson-Johnson’s audio work for Meet Me at Dawn was recognized for its Outstanding Sound Design. Barry Martin, Gary Green and Kade Morrill shared the award for Outstanding Scenic Design for Lucky Penny’s Other Desert Cities.

Rob Broadhurst received the Outstanding Musical Direction Award for Lucky Penny’s The Real Housewives of Napa Valley while Karen Miles’ work on Spreckel’s Beautiful: The Carol King Musical received the Outstanding Choreography Award.

Performance and production awards were divided by genre. For drama, the Outstanding Supporting Performance Award was presented to Max Geide for his work in Lucky Penny’s Other Desert Cities. Chris Johnston was named Outstanding Lead for his work on the Cloverdale Performing Arts Center production of 1984. Mercury Theatre’s Meet Me at Dawn was named the Outstanding Drama Production.

For comedy, Laura Downing-Lee’s work on Left Edge Theatre’s POTUS received the Outstanding Supporting Performance Award, while Jenny Veilleux was named Outstanding Lead for Sonoma Arts Live’s Rumors. Also, 6th Street Playhouse’s The Importance of Being Earnest was named the Outstanding Comedic Production.

For musicals, Daniela Innocenti-Beem gave the Outstanding Supporting Performance in Sonoma Arts Live’s Little Women. The Outstanding Lead was Elliot Davis in the Raven Players’ The Bridges of Madison County. And 6th Street’s The Pirates of Penzance was named the Outstanding Musical Production.

A complete listing of nominees and recipients and event photos is at northbaystageandscreen.com.

Winemaking Minimalist: Anaba Wines’ Katy Wilson

Katy Wilson lives in Napa, but her work is deeply rooted in Sonoma County. She’s winemaker of Anaba Wines as well as her own low-intervention brand, LaRue.

After Cal Poly, she chased harvest seasons across hemispheres at wineries including Joseph Phelps, Testarossa, Torbreck in Australia’s Barossa Valley and Craggy Range in New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay.

Returning to California, she knew that pinot noir was part of her destiny, and she joined Flowers Winery on the Sonoma Coast as harvest enologist before advancing to assistant winemaker.

Wilson launched LaRue in 2009, producing at Kamen’s facility, where she worked under Mark Herold through 2014. Though their winemaking philosophies differed dramatically, that contrast proved transformative. By 2012, she had formed a consulting partnership with Ross Cobb (for Claypool Cellars and Banshee Wines) where they connected with Noah Dorrance, who launched Reeve Wines in 2015, inviting the two to be winemakers for the new label.

In 2014, she departed Kamen and began collaborating with Smith Story Wine Cellars. A friend then introduced her to John Sweazey at Anaba Wines—the fit was perfect.

They later constructed Anaba’s winery facility, which now houses several projects. Currently, she serves as winemaker at Anaba, consulting winemaker for Reeve and Smith Story, while continuing LaRue Wines.

Wilson is known for her minimalist winemaking style that highlights Sonoma County’s special vineyard sites. It is obvious, through her collaboration and work with top tier labels, that she is doing what she was meant to do.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Katy Wilson: I grew up on a walnut orchard, and knew I wanted to be in agriculture. When I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and discovered that wine could be part of a future career—combining creativity and chemistry—I immediately began a double major in wine & viticulture and agricultural business.

Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.

I don’t really have one big ‘aha’ moment, but I do remember while working for Eberle Winery while in college, the owner let us pick any bottle from his personal cellar during a company holiday party. I chose a 1983 Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon. It was delicious.

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

Champagne or a gin and tonic.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

Zuzu in Napa has a fun gin and tonic bar.

If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?

Pinot noir.

Anaba Wines, 62 Bonneau Rd., Sonoma, 707.996.4186. anabawines.com

Preventing WWIII

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world has coalesced into two opposing blocs: NATO—comprising most of Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan and South Korea—versus Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and India.

Each side aids its allies through weapons, trade or troops. Yet negotiations to end the conflict have stalled, largely due to Vladimir Putin’s reluctance to engage. NATO continues to supply arms while avoiding direct troop confrontation, mindful of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. The result is a protracted stalemate that risks widening into a global war.

If the Ukraine-Russia conflict escalates, it could trigger World War III. The United States faces a choice: Continue supplying weapons and sanctions in hopes of forcing Putin to negotiate—or take a more visionary approach by addressing the root cause of war itself.

Most nations still resolve disputes through the law of force, not the force of law. Yet the European Union offers a model for peace: Once bitter enemies, France and Germany now settle disagreements through the European Parliament and courts, not battlefields.

Why has the EU succeeded where the United Nations has not? Because the UN operates on treaty law—voluntary agreements without the enforcement mechanisms of real law. The UN cannot compel nations to act against their perceived interests, leaving it largely ineffective in preventing war.

What’s needed is a reformed, democratic and empowered United Nations—one capable of enforcing international law rather than merely recommending it. Under Article 109 of the UN Charter, member nations can convene a conference to modernize the institution and create a true system of global governance based on enforceable law.

Such reform would not instantly end the Russia-Ukraine war, but it would establish the framework to prevent future conflicts. The alternative—a continued slide toward greater war and destruction—is untenable. It is time for the world’s nations to invoke Article 109 and begin building a new UN, one designed not for another century of war, but for lasting peace.

Jerry Tetalman is the chair of the development committee of Citizens for Global Solutions.

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Preventing WWIII

Open Mic writers express their perspectives on a variety of topics.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world has coalesced into two opposing blocs: NATO—comprising most of Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan and South Korea—versus Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and India. Each side aids its allies through weapons, trade or troops. Yet negotiations to end the conflict have stalled, largely due to Vladimir Putin’s...
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