Free Will Astrology, June 24

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): The interesting struggles you’ll wage in the coming weeks will require your vulnerability: showing up exactly as you are when you might rather fight or escape. Your warrior nature probably prefers a clear enemy or a definable problem you can confront, but the truer conquest will come from laying down your weaponry. I suggest you meet aggression with curiosity and engage chaos with receptive stillness. At least for now, your greatest strength will be to remain undominated by your own reactive impulses. Think of it as an advanced martial art.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to be inspired by this wisdom from artist Pablo Picasso: “I am always doing that which I cannot do in order that I may learn how to do it.” He’s proposing that we treat a lack of expertise not as an embarrassment but as a doorway. Instead of waiting until we feel ready, trained and confident, he suggests we head into territory where we fumble, guess and feel awkward. Our discomfort may lead to gratifying growth. So I dare you to ask yourself whether there’s a capacity or skill you’d love to add to your repertoire but are too shy or timid to try. Then take small, imperfect steps toward it, trusting that each move will teach you how to do what once felt impossible.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Hummingbirds keep track of every flower they visit and know how long it will take each one to replenish its nectar. They maintain mental maps of many feeding sites and visit them on precise schedules. To ensure their survival, they can’t waste energy on flowers that aren’t ready yet. Your mind could work like this if you want it to, Gemini. Which people, places and projects need time to refill before you visit them again? Who have you been approaching too frequently, seeking their nectar before it has had time to regenerate? In the coming weeks, practice strategic patience with your resources. In your secret conversations with yourself, call yourself “Hummingbird.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Now is an auspicious time to declare a sweeping amnesty and observe a personal season of pardon. To the best of your ability, release your clenched feelings about people who have caused you pain. Banish blame. Purge any lingering resentment and regret that has curdled into self‑reproach. Celebrate atonement and absolution. Most vital of all, exonerate yourself. Shed the guilt you’ve carried for missteps and missed chances. And please offer yourself a sweet gift: a ritual of renewal.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If you happen to be swallowed whole by a dragon or whale sometime soon, don’t freak out. It’s far preferable to being chomped into bits first, which absolutely won’t happen. You may indeed spend a brief spell inside the creature’s dark belly, but I confidently predict you will ultimately be deposited on the outside in one intact piece, after which you will only need to find your meandering way back home. The whole episode may be confusing or humbling, but I bet it will also scrub you free of a load of old karma.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Bees perform what scientists call a “waggle dance” to communicate the location of flowers to their hive-mates. But the directions are sometimes imprecise, and the apparent sloppiness actually helps the hive. It forces other bees to explore more broadly, discovering new food sources that the original bee missed. Perfect information would make them too efficient to be adaptable. Your precision is one of your gifts, Virgo, but right now I think you need strategic vagueness and fuzzy logic. Leave some directions unclear. Mistakes and misunderstandings might lead to discoveries that your perfect plans would have eliminated.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In ancient Greek thought, kairos referred to the opportune moment. It meant the right timing, when circumstances aligned for action to be most effective. The term chronos, on the other hand, was about sequential time, which blindly marched forward without any regard for special moments or auspiciousness. Most of us are more or less hypnotized by chronos-consciousness. We measure our lives by calendar dates and external schedules. But in the coming weeks, Libra, I recommend you stay on high alert for kairos-rich pivots. For now, suspend inquiries like “Am I on schedule?” and ask, “Are the circumstances ripe?”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Ravens are strongly motivated to engage in elaborate play: aerial acrobatics, complex games, sliding down snowbanks and sharing food with non-relatives. These behaviors lack an immediate payoff, yet support learning, motor skill development and social relationships. They seem to be both emotionally rewarding and indirectly advantageous for survival and success over the long term.​ Let’s apply this to you, Scorpio. Let’s conclude that delight isn’t wastefully frivolous and that pleasure doesn’t need to justify itself through productivity. In the coming weeks, you may face pressure to explain or defend your joy, as if to prove it’s worth it in some utilitarian way. Refuse. Like the ravens, engage in purposeless beauty and fun simply because it feels so good.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Glaciologists studying ice cores can read Earth’s climate history going back 800,000 years. Each layer contains trapped air bubbles. These are time capsules that preserve the atmospheric composition of each moment. The ice remembers everything. You accumulate similar records, Sagittarius. Each of your experiences leaves its trace. And in the coming weeks, you will have extra access to these archived layers of your own history. Memories and patterns you thought were lost will surface with intriguing clarity. I hope you study these revelations to glean insight about your long-term patterns and cycles. It’s time to see the Big Picture.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Many people forget, but you know: Structure is the foundation for freedom, not a suppression of it. While others fantasize about escaping responsibility, you know that mastery is key to every emancipation. When properly practiced, your flair for discipline adds vigor as well as rigor. More than any other sign of the zodiac, you are adept at using limits to give unlimited possibilities their specific shape. I trust you will express all these Capricornian powers to the max in the coming weeks. People in your life need them even more than usual.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Horticulturists practice “deadheading.” They remove spent flowers from plants to encourage new vitality. Faded flowers drain energy that could go toward fresh growth. Plants that have been deadheaded produce more abundant blooms than those left to manage their own decay. I recommend a metaphorical version of this practice to you, Aquarius. You’ll be wise to deadhead your emotional garden. Certain attachments, once vibrant and nourishing, have expired. They’re not evil or wrong; they’re simply finished. It’s best not to keep directing precious energy toward maintaining their faded forms. With gratitude for the old beauty, clear the way for new beauty.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): For maximum safety, be as uninteresting as possible. Shun risks that might shake up your beliefs, and avoid adventures that could expose you to people who aren’t similar to you. If you really want to be certain about preserving your security and stability, as I’m recommending, the surest method is to retreat to your power spot and do nothing at all. WAIT. STOP. Dear Pisces, everything I just said was pure misdirection. I was joking. In fact, the opposite is true. The true way to nurture genuine safety and security is to pursue what sparks your curiosity and lights up your zeal. And the coming days are likely to provide you with plenty of chances to do exactly that.

Homework: Imagine what life would be like if you half-dissolved a big fear. https://tinyurl.com/55zz55xx

Your Letters, June 24

Personals

I really enjoyed the article “Sex in the Country” by Carin Jacobs (Bohemian, June 17, 2026). Her writing style is engaging, and so many of the points that she covered resonate with so many folks of a particular age. As a proud unicorn, who doesn’t embrace the digital world, I say, bring back the personal ads; generate a little income for the paper.

Will Morris
Bodega

Summit Up

The recent G7 “summit” conference demonstrated one thing for sure: Our president is widely regarded as a buffoon, an invalid and a man who could be incapable of holding a job as a caddy at a miniature golf course.

Anyone else unhappy with this? Republicans? Democrats? Bueller? Anyone?

Craig J. Corsini
San Rafael

101 Problems

Every weekday around 2pm, Highway 101 northbound between Petaluma and Cotati undergoes one of modern civilization’s great mysteries. Traffic slows to a crawl. Brake lights bloom across the asphalt like some sort of synchronized performance art. And for what?

The cows? They’ve been there for years. The vineyards? Not new. Are drivers suddenly overcome by the pastoral majesty of Sonoma County and compelled to reduce speed to contemplate the fleeting nature of existence? 

How about contemplating the speed limit and getting with the program, people? Some of us have yoga classes to get to, and sound bathing appointments, and even jobs. So, what’s the hold-up?

If anyone can explain this phenomenon, please do.

Cassady Caution
Petaluma

Chew on This: The Frightful Cost of War and a Bubble Gum Card

During the four years of World War I, at least 8.5 million combatants were killed, many more were wounded and close to 10 million non-combatants perished. In terms of economic expenditure, the war cost between $185 billion and $200 billion, roughly equivalent to $6 trillion today. 

World War II was even more devastating in terms of lost lives and economic costs, running between $4 trillion and $5 trillion in 1940 dollars. The Vietnam War cost approximately $168 billion. The Gulf War of 1990-91, though brief, ended up devouring approximately $600 billion, and the Iraq-Afghanistan wars around $8 trillion. The cost of the current conflict in Iran is expected to exceed $1 trillion.

The Iran war raises a fundamental question peace advocates have been asking since the conclusion of World War I: Shouldn’t the wealth of nations be spent improving the lives of their citizens instead of wasting it on war? Curiously, this question was conveyed in a popular bubble gum trading card marketed shortly before the advent of World War II. That card, “The Frightful Cost of War,” resonates just as loudly today as it did 88 years ago. 

“The Horrors of War” collection became an instant financial success, producing some 100 million cards and netting the company more than $40,000 a week. Indeed, the collection remains the most popular non-sports card set ever manufactured. The initial set consisted of 240 cards. Another 48 were added later. These cards contained crisp depictions with colored artwork―illustrating and describing the various military conflicts and bombings of civilians then taking place—on the front of each 2.5”x 3” rectangular card. 

This message was powerfully conveyed in the narrative on the back of the card. “War costs money … billions of dollars,” it declared. “War takes human lives … millions of them. War makes children old, breaks parents’ hearts, kills morale. War destroys cities, art treasure, civilization.” 

Unfortunately, the set soon fell victim to the very evil it sought to eradicate. Less than a year after the complete set was produced, another global conflagration was underway―the most destructive war in human history. In this context, the message of the bubble gum card was quickly forgotten.

Charles Howlett is professor of education emeritus at Molloy University in Rockville Centre, NY.

Wrap It Up: Matthew Blair Rolls Forward

Matthew Blair is the co-founder and president of World Wrapps, a Bay Area-born fast-casual concept that helped introduce the wrap format to mainstream American dining. 

In 1995, Blair and three friends opened the original location in San Francisco, offering globally inspired, customizable meals at a time when that approach was still uncommon in quick-service restaurants.

Blair stepped away from the brand before returning in 2015, when he and co-founder Keith Cox reacquired World Wrapps and launched what they refer to as World Wrapps 2.0. The revived concept has since expanded to six locations across the Bay Area, including Corte Madera, with plans to continue growing throughout Northern California.

Today, Blair oversees the company’s ongoing growth with an emphasis on globally inspired cuisine and consistent hospitality and operations. His work centers on building a fast-casual brand that holds to the same core values it was founded on, which includes way more than just wraps, by the way. Protein bowls, salads, loaded baked potato fries and all kinds of treats and drinks are on the menu.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Matthew Blair: I’ve always loved food and the idea of having a place of my own. The idea for World Wrapps actually came together while I was vacationing in Cancun, Mexico, with three friends. At the time, most tortilla-based concepts focused on the standard rice, pork and beans approach, and we saw an opportunity to do something different. 

We started imagining our favorite global dishes and flavors wrapped inside a tortilla instead. We were also inspired by brands like California Pizza Kitchen, who helped pave the way for rethinking traditional formats and introducing more globally inspired flavors.

What is your favorite thing to cook (or eat) and why?

Sushi is my favorite thing to eat. I’ll order it whenever possible. 

What ingredients do you use or eat the most?

Most weeks, my meals revolve around fish and salads because they’re simple, fresh and versatile.

What are some of your go-to places to go out for a sit-down meal? What about take-out?

For dining out, I really enjoy sushi restaurants because it’s my favorite cuisine overall. For something more casual or quick, I’ll usually go with In-N-Out Burger since you know exactly what you’re getting every time. Buckeye Roadhouse has always been a local favorite, too. It’s owned by friends of ours, and one of those iconic Marin spots that’s been around forever for a reason.

Last meal on Earth?

For a last meal, I’d definitely take the ‘go big or go home’ approach: prime rib and caviar.

World Wrapps, 208 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.3663, worldwrapps.com/locations/corte-madera.

What’s Opera, Doc? Mercury Theater Brings Opera Back to the North Bay 

Opera is the theatre art with which I have the least familiarity. Interestingly enough, the very first live performance of any kind that I remember attending as a child (excluding Disney on Ice) was a production of Bizet’s Carmen but since that 5th or 6th grade adventure, the number of opportunities to experience a fully-produced opera have been few and far between.

Like many, I’ve derived most of my knowledge of opera from Bugs Bunny cartoons. 

Due to the efforts of the late Marvin Klebe, local audiences have for over 50 years been able to partake in an evening or afternoon of opera in a quaint former schoolhouse sitting atop a hill in Petaluma. Mercury Theater now occupies that building on Petaluma Blvd. N. and continues to fulfill Klebe’s quest to bring accessible opera to the North Bay.

Mercury Theater, in a co-production with San Francisco’s Pocket Opera, is presenting Giacomo Puccini’s La rondine, an opera in three acts. The final two performances are this Friday, June 26 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, June 28 at 2 pm. It then moves to the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on July 17, the Hillside Club in Berkeley on July 19, and the Gunn Theater at The Legion of Honor in San Francisco on July 26. 

The first act introduces us to Magda (Michelle Allie Drever), a Parisian courtesan who is chafing under the tutelage of her wealthy patron Ramboldo (Michael Kuo). She meets the bohemian Ruggero (Max Ary) at a party she is throwing and is soon entranced. After the party, she disguises herself and heads out for a restaurant he and his friends patronize. They meet again in the second act, chat, and fall instantly in love.

The third act finds them running away to the French Riviera where Ruggero proposes marriage. Magda, not wanting to bring ruin to Ruggero and his family should her previous “position” be known, admits her deception and returns to Paris and an unhappy life with Ramboldo. Cue the violins.

Attending an opera is like attending a foreign film in that your ear and brain need time to adjust to what they are hearing and the style in which it is being delivered, even if what you’re hearing is in English as is the case here. I didn’t get that opportunity in the first act due to the boorish behavior of a couple of patrons who arrived late, sat next to me, and proceeded to spend the next thirty minutes fidgeting, “surreptitiously” taking pictures and pawing each other.

It wasn’t until the second act, before which I had relocated to the other side of the theater, that I was really able to focus and enjoy what was being presented to me.

Stage director Elly Lichenstein and music director Mary Chun have gathered a group of seventeen stage performers and twelve musicians, draped the actors in magnificent costumes (design by Adriana Gutierrez), placed them on an expansive set by Joe Elwick that fills the relatively small Mercury stage but never feels crowded, and delivered a terrifically engaging production.

What a treat to hear the trained voices and witness the character performances of dramatic coloratura soprano Drever, tenor Ary, and the rest in such an intimate setting.

Lest you think it’s an evening of nothing but dreariness and regret, there’s plenty of comedy to be enjoyed as well, particularly with the secondary characters of Prunier (Alex Taite) and Lisette (Melissa Sondhi) who delighted in their roles.

The evening ran along at a very good pace with the three acts running about 40 minutes each, with two ten-minute intermissions between them allowing for the audience (and performers) to take a break and absorb what they’ve seen (or give their vocal chords a rest.)

If you’ve steered yourself away from attending an opera because you think it might be confusing, stodgy or depressing, Mercury Theater/Pocket Opera’s La rondine would be an excellent introduction to what it really can be—a robust evening or afternoon of very entertaining musical theatre.

Mercury Theater presents ‘La rondine’ through June 28 at 3333 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma. Fri, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $25–$55. 707.658.9019. mercurytheater.org

World Cup Runneth Over with Champagne

Petaluma’s La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge and Taittinger team up for USA–Turkey match

The road to the FIFA World Cup runs through Petaluma for one evening when Petaluma’s La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge and Champagne Taittinger (one of the last remaining independent, family-owned champagne houses in the world) host an outdoor watch party for the USA–Turkey match on Thursday, June 25.

Adjacent to La Dolce Vita’s outdoor seating, Theatre Square will be transformed into a virtual stadium by a giant projector, while guests cheer on Team USA with glasses of Champagne and freshly shucked Tomales Bay oysters close at hand. A limited-edition FIFA World Cup commemorative bottle from Taittinger will also be available. 

For more than a decade, Taittinger has maintained its connection to soccer’s biggest stage, marking the latest tournament with a limited-edition release of its Brut Réserve NV. Produced in a run of 350,000 bottles, the commemorative packaging pays tribute to the 2026 host nations, incorporating blue, red and green accents inspired by the movement, geometry and visual rhythm of the game itself.

Inside, the wine remains Taittinger’s flagship Brut Réserve, a blend drawn from more than 35 vineyard sites. Composed of 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier, the Champagne spends a minimum of three years aging in the cellar before release, resulting in the house’s signature balance of freshness, elegance and complexity.

For those looking to elevate the experience, reserved tables for four are available in the La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge with a $150 food-and-beverage minimum. International soccer, sparkling wine and summer evening vibes—an elegant way to watch the game.

6pm, Thursday, June 25, at La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge, 151 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma. Kickoff at 7pm. Reserved tables available with $150 food-and-beverage minimum per table. More information at ldvwine.com.

Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP

Serving the Bay Area and beyond for over 30 years.

Main Office
707-524-1900
90 South E Street, Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Petaluma Office
707-283-0000
11 Western Avenue
Petaluma, CA 94952

smlaw.com

The Face of Curated Pet Products

Retirement from the legal field lasted about six months for Dana Marie Knapp, the friendly owner of Pawsarotti’s Dog & Cat Boutique. So impressed by the topnotch service and North Bay California, CA local business, Pacific Sun newsquality products she witnessed there as a pet mom, she went from customer to proprietor in no time. Friday is her day to be on site at this warm and welcoming gem of a pet boutique, where the critters come first. High-quality brands, staff longevity and knowledge base as well as the Birthday Bar and support for local animal rescue groups are among the qualities that separate Pawsarotti’s from the rest of the pack.

Pawsarotti’s Dog & Cat Boutique
106 Calistoga Road, St. Francis Shopping Center, Santa Rosa
707-595-3357, pawsarottis.com

The Face of Women’s Retail Fashion

Andrea Caron and Melanie Goodpasture of Silk Moon have become trusted style guides for North Bay women and men seeking fashion that feels as good as it looks. Alongside their North Bay California, CA local business, Pacific Sun newsknowledgeable, personable styling team, they have created a lifestyle boutique known for quality, comfort, color and individuality. Located in the heart of Sebastopol, Silk Moon offers distinctive clothing, shoes, jewelry, scarves and accessories for both women and men, all carefully chosen for their feel, fit and style. For 16 years, Andrea, Melanie, and their talented staff have delighted customers with personalized styling, exceptional service, and a shopping experience built on relationships, trust, and genuine care.”


195 North Main St., Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-824-4300, silkmoonca.com

The Faces of Family Entertainment

Poppy Bank Epicenter is the ultimate place for families, young adults, old adults and anyone else looking for a time to remember. This massive, one-of-a-kind, 130,000-square-North Bay California, CA local business, Pacific Sun newsfoot Costco-sized facility puts sports, fitness and recreation plus a sports bar and restaurant under one roof and caters to every age and demographic. Owned by nine local families dedicated to reflecting the desires of Santa Rosa, Poppy Bank Epicenter is the North Bay’s largest destination for family entertainment and special events. It’s the only venue offering indoor sports fields, a game and arcade center, health club, event space, trampoline park and bowling center, and adds new attractions regularly.

Poppy Bank Epicenter
3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa
707-757-9051, visitepicenter.com

Free Will Astrology, June 24

Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The interesting struggles you’ll wage in the coming weeks will require your vulnerability: showing up exactly as you are when you might rather fight or escape. Your warrior nature probably prefers a clear enemy or a definable problem you can confront, but the truer conquest will come from laying down your weaponry. I suggest you...

Your Letters, June 24

Personals I really enjoyed the article “Sex in the Country” by Carin Jacobs (Bohemian, June 17, 2026). Her writing style is engaging, and so many of the points that she covered resonate with so many folks of a particular age. As a proud unicorn, who doesn’t embrace the digital world, I say, bring back the personal ads; generate a little...

Chew on This: The Frightful Cost of War and a Bubble Gum Card

"The Frightful Cost of War" was conveyed in a popular bubble gum trading card marketed shortly before the advent of World War II.
During the four years of World War I, at least 8.5 million combatants were killed, many more were wounded and close to 10 million non-combatants perished. In terms of economic expenditure, the war cost between $185 billion and $200 billion, roughly equivalent to $6 trillion today.  World War II was even more devastating in terms of lost lives and economic...

Wrap It Up: Matthew Blair Rolls Forward

Matthew Blair is the co-founder and president of World Wrapps, a Bay Area-born fast-casual concept that helped introduce the wrap format to mainstream American dining.
Matthew Blair is the co-founder and president of World Wrapps, a Bay Area-born fast-casual concept that helped introduce the wrap format to mainstream American dining.  In 1995, Blair and three friends opened the original location in San Francisco, offering globally inspired, customizable meals at a time when that approach was still uncommon in quick-service restaurants. Blair stepped away from the brand...

What’s Opera, Doc? Mercury Theater Brings Opera Back to the North Bay 

Opera is the theatre art with which I have the least familiarity. Interestingly enough, the very first live performance of any kind that I remember attending as a child (excluding Disney on Ice) was a production of Bizet's Carmen but since that 5th or 6th grade adventure, the number of opportunities to experience a fully-produced opera have been few...

World Cup Runneth Over with Champagne

Petaluma's La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge and Taittinger team up for USA–Turkey match The road to the FIFA World Cup runs through Petaluma for one evening when Petaluma's La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge and Champagne Taittinger (one of the last remaining independent, family-owned champagne houses in the world) host an outdoor watch party for the USA–Turkey match on Thursday,...

Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP

Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP
Serving the Bay Area and beyond for over 30 years. Main Office707-524-190090 South E Street, Suite 200Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Petaluma Office707-283-000011 Western AvenuePetaluma, CA 94952 smlaw.com

The Face of Curated Pet Products

The Face of Curated Pet Products
Retirement from the legal field lasted about six months for Dana Marie Knapp, the friendly owner of Pawsarotti’s Dog & Cat Boutique. So impressed by the topnotch service and quality products she witnessed there as a pet mom, she went from customer to proprietor in no time. Friday is her day to be on site at this warm and...

The Face of Women’s Retail Fashion

The Face of Women's Retail Fashion
Andrea Caron and Melanie Goodpasture of Silk Moon have become trusted style guides for North Bay women and men seeking fashion that feels as good as it looks. Alongside their knowledgeable, personable styling team, they have created a lifestyle boutique known for quality, comfort, color and individuality. Located in the heart of Sebastopol, Silk Moon offers distinctive clothing, shoes,...

The Faces of Family Entertainment

The Faces of Family Entertainment
Poppy Bank Epicenter is the ultimate place for families, young adults, old adults and anyone else looking for a time to remember. This massive, one-of-a-kind, 130,000-square-foot Costco-sized facility puts sports, fitness and recreation plus a sports bar and restaurant under one roof and caters to every age and demographic. Owned by nine local families dedicated to reflecting the desires...
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