Smashed: Petaluma PD arrests suspect DUI driver

Petaluma police arrested a man suspected of driving under the influence after getting involved in a four-vehicle crash and trying to evade officers in a foot chase through a residential neighborhood Sunday afternoon.

At 5:50pm Sunday, police responded to reports of a hit-and-run collision in the area of Lakeville Highway and S. McDowell Boulevard, where an SUV driven by 58-year-old Petaluma resident Charles Piezzi had reportedly rear-ended one vehicle and caused a chain reaction collision involving a total of four vehicles.

As a result of the crash, one adult female was taken to the hospital because of her injuries, while a 12-year-old child was treated on the scene for minor injuries.

Following the collision, the suspect reportedly drove his vehicle over a curb, parked it in a nearby parking lot and fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood, where police tracked him to the backyard of a home in the 1500 block of Rio Nido Way.

According to police, Piezzi disregarded their commands to surrender and entered the unlocked back door of the residence, jumped the rear fence of the property and entered another nearby backyard in an apparent effort to evade officers.

Officers gave chase, and the suspect was apprehended without further incident, Petaluma police said.

Upon his arrest, police learned that Piezzi’s blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit and that he had switched license plates with a different vehicle he owned. A records check showed the suspect was on DUI probation and his driver’s license was suspended as a result of his prior arrest.

Piezzi was later booked at the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on a slew of charges, including DUI with injury, DUI with injury over .08% blood-alcohol content, hit and run with injury, burglary for entering an occupied dwelling in the commission of a crime, resisting or obstructing peace officers, driving with a suspended license for DUI, displaying false license plate and violation of DUI probation.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

PQ

As a result of the crash, one adult female was taken to the hospital because of her injuries, while a 12-year-old child was treated on the scene for minor injuries.

Your Letters, Aug. 9

‘Progressive’ Marin

The letter writer dreaming of better treatment of minority communities, even in Marin, can at least dream on, eh? And write letters in angst, I suppose.

If one scratches the very thin veneer of Marin’s well polished progressive myth, one sees that like just about everywhere else, as long as public and private funds and resources continue to mostly flow in the right direction (see up!), those at the lower levels of the “progressive” token totem pole will always be wanting. ’Tis ever thus, no less in “progressive” Marin.

But hey, dream on.

Rand Knox

San Rafael

After Innocence

Our elected officials love to talk about all the “public service” activities in which they are involved. And though some are probably sincere, most feel we taxpayers serve them.

One organization that could use some actual public service is After Innocence (after-innocence.org), an Oakland-based nonprofit organization that saves the world one “exonerated” person at a time. When one wrongful incarceration ends, their work begins.

The organization has so far made free post-release assistance available to 800 people who were imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. Since 1989, more than 3,300 people (representing 27,000 years of wrongful imprisonment) have been exonerated, some with the help of After Innocence, which was piloted in 2014. Needless to say, the exonerated do not leave their former homes with a Lexus, a Nob Hill apartment and a fat 401k.

Craig J. Corsini

San Rafael

Free Will Astrology, Aug. 9

0

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Stephen King’s novel, It, a character named Beverly is in love with a man who projects a sense of authority but also listens well. He is strong-minded but receptive, confident but willing to be changed, self-possessed but open to influence. That’s an apt description of the allies I wish for you to attract into your life in the coming months. Whether they are lovers or partners, companions or collaborators, friends or colleagues, you need and deserve the high-quality, emotionally intelligent exchanges they offer.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Seventy-year-old Taurus-born Eric Bogosian is a prolific playwright and author renowned for his hard-edged satire. The title of one of his books is Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead. But one critic speculates he may be softening as he ages, noting that he “seems more amused than disgusted by the decaying world around him, as if his anger has been tempered by a touch of hope.” The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to cultivate a comparable reshaping, dear Taurus. Can you tenderize what has been tough? Is it possible to find redemption or entertainment in situations that have been challenging? Are you willing to add more levity and geniality to your perspective?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Decca is a UK-based record label that has produced the work of many major musicians, including Billie Holliday, the Rolling Stones and Tori Amos. They made a huge mistake in 1962, though. A fledgling group named the Beatles tried to get signed to Decca. An executive at the company declined, saying, “We don’t like their sound. Groups of guitars are on their way out.” Oops. The Beatles eventually became the best-selling and most influential band of all time. I don’t think you’re at risk of making as monumental a misstep, Gemini. But please be alert to the possibility of a key opportunity coming into view. Don’t underestimate it, even if it’s different from what you imagine you want.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’m a Cancerian who used to be overly reactive to people’s carelessness. If someone was in a bad mood and flung a rash insult at me, I might take offense too easily. If a friend misunderstood me, even with no malice intended, I may have sulked. Thankfully, over time, I have learned to be more like a honey badger, whose thick skin protects it well against stings and pricks. I bring this up because the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to practice my approach. First step: Understand how people sometimes direct their frustration about life toward undeserving recipients. Second step: Vow to take things less personally. Third step: Give yourself regular compliments. Actually say them aloud.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Now and then, there comes a time when I acquire an uncanny knack for seeing the totality of who you really are. I tune in to everything you do that few others know about or appreciate. I behold the big picture of your best possible future. One of those magic moments has now arrived. And it’s no accident that your energy matches mine. In other words, my power to consecrate you reflects your ability to bless yourself. So give yourself the ultimate gift, please.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the 17th century, Virgo musician Johann Pachelbel composed a piece of music he called the Canon in D. It soon went out of style and disappeared into obscurity. But over 250 years later, a French chamber orchestra rediscovered it, and by the 1980s, it was everywhere. Ever since, Pachelbel’s Canon has been used in many pop songs and is a common anthem at weddings and funerals. I’m predicting a comparable revival for you, Virgo. An influence, creation or person that has been gone for a while will re-emerge as a presence in your life. Be decisive in adopting it for your benefit.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Author Iain S. Thomas tells us, “There is magic even in gridlock, in loneliness, in too much work, in late nights gone on too long, in shopping carts with broken wheels, in boredom, in tax returns.” He says it’s the same magic that prompted Joan of Arc to believe that God spoke to her and empowered her to lead an army. I wouldn’t agree that it’s the same magic. But I do advise us all to be alert for enchantment and interesting mysteries even in the most mundane affairs. I am a champion of the quest for holiness, delight and marvels in seemingly unlikely locations. In the coming weeks, Libra, you will have a special talent for finding these revelatory joys.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Poet Rainer Maria Rilke said, “Self-transformation is precisely what life is.” If that’s true, you are in luck. Of all the zodiac signs, you are the most skillful self-transformer. Moreover, you are entering a prolonged phase when your instinct and talent for self-transformation will be even more potent than usual. I plan to observe you closely in the hope of learning your tricks for changing into an ever-better version of yourself. Show us all how it’s done, dear Scorpio!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Born under the sign of Sagittarius, Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was one of history’s most influential composers of classical music. His elegant, lyrical works are still widely played today. He was also a revolutionary innovator who expanded the scope of many musical genres. One composition, Piano Sonata No. 32, prefigures elements of ragtime, jazz and boogie-woogie—70 years before those styles emerged. In this spirit, I invite you to plant a seed for the future. You will soon get glimpses of creative shifts that will someday be possible. And you will have an enhanced ability to instigate the inventive momentum that generates those shifts.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Let’s be honest. Most of us—maybe all of us!—fail to grasp the world objectively. Our perceptions get filtered through our opinions and beliefs and habit minds. The events we think we see are shaped by our expectations about them. Our projections often overrule the possibility of unbiased impartiality. We are serial misinterpreters. But there’s no need to be ashamed! It’s a universal human tendency. Having said all that, however, I believe you will have a special knack, in the coming weeks, for observing reality with more clarity and open-mindedness than usual. You will have an unprecedented opportunity to see accurately and gather fresh, raw truths.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Is this a phase of your cycle when you’ll be prone to saying things like “Why do you take me for granted?” and “I’m feeling cranky” and “It’s not what you said; it’s the way you said it”? Or are you in a time when the following expressions are more likely to emerge from your mouth: “I have come to understand you in a totally new and interesting way” and “Life has blessed me by removing one of my unnecessary obstacles” and “I would love to learn more about the arts of cooperation and collaboration”? Here’s what I think, Aquarius: Which way you go will depend on how clearly you set your intentions. Life will respond in kind to the moods you cultivate and the specific requests you make.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Our bodies are imperfect. They are often less than 100% completely healthy. They don’t always do what we wish they would. Yet even when we feel less than our best, our body continually carries out millions of biochemical marvels, mostly below the level of our conscious awareness. As the creation of an evolutionary process that has unfolded for eons, our precious organism is an amazing work of art that we have every right to regard as miraculous. According to my astrological reckoning, the coming weeks are the best time this year to honor and celebrate your body. What does it need to flourish? Ask your intuition to show you.

Music, Musicals and Murals

Sebastopol

Homecoming

La Gente SF’s dynamic front person, Rafa Sarria Bustamante, is as much fun to watch as any one is likely to see. From the Bay and now based in Spain, the high energy La Gente SF, influenced by funk, hip-hop, salsa (and more!), is back in the North Bay for a series of shows that may whip up the dance in every body in sight. Catch them 8pm, Saturday, Aug. 12 at Hopmonk Sebastopol, 230 Petaluma Ave. 21+. $20 general admission tickets available at wl.seetickets.us/HopMonkSebastopol.

Sausalito

Sail Away

Board the Schooner Freda B in downtown Sausalito and sail over to the waters in front of Gabrielson Park as a unique way to enjoy the city’s iconic annual event, Jazz and Blues by the Bay. Take in sights around the bay after listening to this weekend’s show, Blues is a Woman. “Six bodacious women tear up the stage in a celebration of blues and blues women” describes the musical. 6:15-8:30pm, Friday, Aug. 11, Slip 465, Sausalito Yacht Harbor. Book in advance. $99 tickets available at bit.ly/freda-b.

Sonoma

Girl Gives Up Voice

The Little Mermaid Jr. is a Disney branded production of the classic tale “about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice to find love.” Though the framing is a little outre compared to more enlightened fare (Barbie, anyone?), the show features young actors, ages of 7–14, in two unique casts with two separate showtimes. It is said that the songs are among the best in the Disney canon. Cast A at 12pm and Cast B at 5pm on Friday, Aug. 11 at the Sebastiani Theatre, 476 1st St. East, Sonoma. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.sebastianitheatre.com.

St Helena

Calling All Artists

The St. Helena Art Mural Project is putting out a call for artist submissions for the first of three planned downtown murals. The first mural, slated for summer 2024, is fully funded by the St. Helena Chamber and the beautification foundation committee. “This art collaboration aims to infuse more life downtown with a mural that we hope sparks curiosity and inspiration,” says Amy Carabba, CEO of St. Helena Chamber. Two to four semi-finalists will be invited to create a proposal and design for the project. Experienced artists across the West Coast are encouraged to submit their qualifications and complete the application by Sept. 29. www.sthelenachamber.com/sthelenaartmural.

Gravenstein Apple Fair Celebrates 50 Years

Anyone driving the Gravenstein Highway has seen them: apple orchards. Apples—in particular Gravensteins—have been part of Sonoma County’s roots, growing in orchards and backyards for over 200 years since they were planted at Fort Ross in the early 1800s.

Accordingly, 50 years ago, in honor of the prolific, sweet-tart fruit, Sonoma County Farm Trails established the annual Gravenstein Apple Fair. Locals take note, because in celebration of the beloved fair’s golden anniversary, they’ll be throwing the grandest affair yet during the weekend of Aug. 12 and 13.

“We’re excited to throw the biggest party in our 50-year history,” said executive director and Gravenstein Apple Fair producer Carmen Snyder. “This year, we’re honoring the foresight of our founding farmers and their vision to preserve agriculture in Sonoma County.”

Revelers may join in the festivities at Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol to participate in this family-friendly and music-filled milestone celebrating and helping to preserve local farms in Sonoma County.

Over its long history, the fair has shared the delicious benefits of farm-to-table production and sustainability, with a particular focus on the Gravenstein apple, which Slow Food USA named a “heritage food” in 2005, and added to their “Ark of Taste.”

One may go with friends, bring a date or purchase a family or group pass and take the whole crew. VIP tickets are available this year too, and include free drinks and luxury tents, as well as allowing VIP patrons to skip the lines. Highlights of this year’s golden jubilee for all include music, food, drinks, hands-on demonstrations, kids’ activities and of course all things Gravenstein.

Attendees may get into the Gravenstein groove with live music both days from Bay Area bands including Poor Man’s Whiskey, Rainbow Girls and Royal Jelly Jive.

The fruits of the area may be tasted with Sonoma County’s celebrity vintners and chefs. Cider, wine and beer offerings include Slow Food award-winning apple cider from Tilted Shed, award-winning wines from Merry Edwards and Gold-medal lager from Seismic. Offerings from local chefs include pork from James Beard award-winner Black Piglet. And of course, an entire area will be dedicated to Gravenstein products.

Fair organizers know that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Kids aren’t forgotten in this festival for the entire family, with special activities for them including contests, ag activities, art projects, farm animals, bubbles and wandering entertainers.

The sweetest little fair in Sonoma County is dedicated to preserving agriculture for the next generation, with this year’s anniversary festival honoring legacy farmers, today’s producers and farm workers.

“We’re delighted to showcase the next generation of inspiring farmers and ranchers who are meeting the moment and cultivating a more resilient food system through regenerative agricultural practices,” affirmed Snyder.

Regenerative farming goes beyond sustainability leaving the land better than before. Accordingly, regenerative goals extend to the festival itself. Last year’s event was truly green at 95% zero-waste and received the first-ever “Green Resolution” Award by Sonoma County Zero Waste. So what’s next for Sonoma County farms?

“Our north star is to keep ‘farms forever’ in Sonoma County, and we continue to work toward supporting this guiding vision of a diversified and resilient food system in which regenerative agriculture and joyful gatherings are part of the solution to the challenges we collectively face,” Snyder said, “We look forward to another 50 years of serving our farmers and cultivating meaningful connections in our broader community.”

So raise a glass of cider and toast to agriculture and the Gravenstein apple, and to 50 years past and future of the Gravenstein Apple Fair in Sonoma County.

The festival runs 10am-6 pm, Saturday and Sunday, Aug 12 and 13 at 500 Ragle Rd., Sebastopol. Advance tickets: adult $23; child $10; under 5 free. VIP experience tickets: adult $150; minors $75; under 5 free. Family pass: (2 adults, 2 kids) $55. Group pass: (6 adults) $120. For more information, visit GravensteinAppleFair.com, farmtrails.org or call 707-837-8896.

Transcendence takes it off for ‘The Full Monty’

Buffalo, New York, is the setting for Terrance McNally’s 2000 adaptation—with music and lyrics by David Yazbeck—of the 1997 British film The Full Monty. Transcendence Theatre Company is running a Josh Walden-directed production at Glen Ellen’s Beltane Ranch through Aug. 20.

Originally the tale of a group of unemployed English steel workers, this Americanized version is the tale of unemployed mill worker Jerry Lukowski (Michael Burrell) who, desperate to pay back child support and maintain custody of his son Nathan (Zee Hubbard), enlists best friend Dave Bukatinsky (Jason Simon) to join him in a one-night-only male revue to provide financial relief to them and the men they recruit.

There’s Malcolm (Justin Anthony Long), a lonely soul who they save from taking his own life; efficiency-expert Harold (Jesse Swimm), who is more-or-less blackmailed into becoming the group’s choreographer; Noah aka “Horse” (Lee Palmer), an older gentleman who can really dance but has hip issues; and Ethan (Nicolas Garza), a young man who has no gift for dance but is “gifted” in another area.

With pianist Jeanette Burmeister (Mary Stout), a foul-mouthed show-biz veteran, they plan a show that’ll be up against a Buffalo Bills game. Jerry decides the only way to compete is to give the ladies something they’ve never seen before: the full Monty! Don’t ask how a British slang term finds its way into the mouth of an American steel worker.

Of course, all adversity is overcome by the group as they adapt to changing circumstances.

Which, coincidentally, is what Transcendence is trying to do. Having been booted from Jack London State Park, they are presenting this show at Beltane Ranch. It’s a lovely venue, but the positioning of the stage leaves the audience staring into the sun for the first hour, while the permit-mandated height of the stage makes seeing a great deal of the show challenging.

Which is a shame because so much of what you hear is very entertaining. The show is well cast, the singing is terrific and the live orchestra really delivers. Individual moments—usually involving audience favorites Palmer and Stout—stand out, but sightline limitations really hampered the enjoyment of this show.

Perhaps the repositioning of the stage is still possible, and the compacted seating might be spread out a bit to reduce the bobbing and weaving necessary to view the show.

This Full Monty and its artists deserve to be fully seen.

Transcendence Theatre Company’s ‘The Full Monty’ runs Fri-Sun through Aug. 20 at Beltane Ranch, 11775 Sonoma Hwy., Glen Ellen. Ranch opens at 5pm, show starts at 7pm. $45–$180. 877.424.1414. Contains adult themes and brief nudity. www.bestnightever.org.

A Year Later, Questions in David Pelaez-Chavez Shooting Remain

At Santa Rosa’s Courthouse Square last Saturday, July 29, dozens gathered to demand justice and honor the life of David Pelaez-Chavez, who was shot last year in a police pursuit through Knight’s Valley.

In the bright afternoon sun, people prayed. Silent moments became filled with the gusts of wind that rippled off a banner that read, “It’s been 365 days. Justice for David Pelaez-Chavez.”

Pelaez-Chavez’s family huddled together near the front of the crowd wearing shirts with his picture on the back, listening to speakers one by one express condolences and frustration. Then, one of them walked up to the microphone.

“We were supposed to have answers,” Jose Pelaez, Pelaez-Chavez’s oldest brother, said through an interpreter to the crowd. “We were supposed to have more information, and to this day, we don’t know anything.”

It has officially been one year since Sheriff Michael Dietrick fatally shot Pelaez-Chavez, and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s office has yet to make a decision to prosecute, making it difficult for the family and community members to move forward.

Last year Dietrick and fellow deputy Aaron Powers chased the immigrant vineyard worker up the yellow, sun-dried hills of Knight’s Valley and into a shallow creek after a nearby resident called 911, saying that Pelaez-Chavez attempted to break into their home. When Pelaez-Chavez stopped to catch his breath near the creekbed, the deputies surrounded him. He clutched a rock in one hand and a garden tool in the other. Dietrick then fatally shot him three times, in the head and the chest.

The Santa Rosa Police department conducted the initial six month investigation and then passed it onto the Sonoma County District Attorney’s office on Jan. 4. There is still a decision to be made to prosecute Dietrick or not. The DA’s recommended guideline for reviewing a case is 90 days. As of Saturday, it had been 206 days.

“It should have been a much quicker turnaround process,” said Joy Ayodele, a member of the North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP) police accountability task force. “[District Attorney Carla Rodriguez] verbally confirmed it would be a three, fourth month process, and now we’re going on six, seven months.”

The delay has caused a ripple effect by holding up other cases, which include a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Pelaez-Chavez family, the Independent Law Enforcement and Review and Outreach investigation looking into misconduct, and the sheriff’s internal affairs investigation.

The family is in limbo, simultaneously experiencing the worst year they’ve ever had.

Pelaez-Chavez’s brothers and sister-in-law are worried about their mom who stayed behind in Oaxaca, Mexico while her seven children immigrated to the United States.

“She’s fallen into depression. She’s out there, by herself; unfortunately, everyone’s over here. It’s hard for us to hear how she’s doing and not be able to do anything,” said Gloria Miranda, Pelaez-Chavez’s sister-in-law.

Jose Pelaez has taken on a lot of responsibility in dealing with his brother’s death. Oftentimes he speaks on behalf of the rest of the family, just as he did Saturday evening. Pelaez is the oldest of the siblings and stepped in to take care of Pelaez-Chavez, the baby of the family, when they immigrated to the United States.

“It is a hurt that lingers with us, and it does not want to go,” Pelaez said. “My brother was a good person; he wasn’t an animal to be hunted down.”

Alfredo Pelaez, another of Pelaez-Chavez’s seven siblings, was the last person to speak with him the day before he died. They talked about visiting Oaxaca that December, Pelaez-Chavez’s two children who live there, and having a beer together.

Going back for him has not been the same.

“It’s hurtful. I go every year to Mexico, and every time David’s son sees me, he says we look alike,” Pelaez said.

The amount of time that has passed while Rodriguez has been reviewing the case has led many to come up with their own reasons as to why it has taken so long.

“I don’t think it’s fair. They’re taking their time to make a decision on how to cover it up,” said Miranda.

According to the family and NBOP, which has been working closely with them, Rodriguez has not been communicative enough, which has led to tension and distrust.

This distrust has been a consistent worry from the beginning, as NBOP has also stated that the body camera footage of the incident has been overproduced by a contracted public relations consultant.

Richard Cieli, the DA’s lead investigator on the case, is a former officer who has also been investigated for fatally shooting two civilians. Ayodele worries that whatever decision they make will be met with bias.

“I think from the jump that’s been a pretty large issue, and that’s something that she hasn’t been super transparent in communicating,” Ayodele said.

Rodgriuez said that they have called in a “use-of-force specialist” to help them make their decision, which they predict to have in two weeks. Based on her track record with the case, members of the community aren’t quick to believe that.

Pastor Lee Turner, who came to show his support and lead the community in prayer, said that the county has not shown up enough for people of color, letting cases such as the death of Georgia Moses go unsolved for decades. “It doesn’t make you feel valued,” said Turner.

The sun began to set on Courthouse Square, and Rev. Lindsey Bell Kerr closed with remarks to remind everyone of Pelaez-Chavez’s value.

“In the presence of David’s family, I invite all of us to commit ourselves again to work for justice,” Kerr said. “This justice will only come from the power of our spirit and the work of our hands. Let’s pray together.”

The microphone was taken away, and the crowd began to disperse. Some dropped flowers, hues of pink and purple, by a picture of Pelaez-Chavez while the family placed two coolers on a table that was draped in a green serape blanket. They plated up those who stayed with home-made tamales of all kinds, including Oaxacan-style tamales, wrapped in banana leaves, to show their gratitude.

The family is grateful for the community support, but Jose Pelaez knows this could’ve been handled differently.

“They had the right to help him; that’s why they’re there, right?” he said through an interpreter. “They had the right to detain him until he was under control.”

Pelaez said that depending on the outcome, the family is prepared to march and continue advocating for Pelaez-Chavez and more accountability from the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department.

PQ

It’s been one year since Sheriff Michael Dietrick fatally shot Pelaez-Chavez and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s office has yet to make a decision to prosecute.

Your Letters, Aug. 1

Transit Woes

It’s heartbreaking to hear that Golden Gate Transit bus and ferry ridership is still at historic lows and revenue is down $1 million weekly. The ferry has long been a staple of Marin with service in Larkspur, Tiburon and Sausalito for commuters and tourists. Losing this mode of transportation would be a big loss for the county as a whole. So try riding the ferry every once and a while.

Adam Abolfazli

Sausalito

Shameful

It is shocking and shameful that our government representatives in Marin County are continuing to neglect, disrespect and abuse the people of Marin City and their legitimate concerns and wishes. It’s no coincidence that Marin City just happens to be home to the only concentration of African Americans in the entire county. The rest of us must stand up against this injustice, by speaking up to the Board of Supervisors and demanding either a course correction or a replacement of them by supervisors willing to stand up for long-denied justice and self-determination for our neighbors in Marin City.

Peter Oppenheimer

Via pacificsun.com

FloraLuna and Crooked Goat Partner on Hard Seltzer Project

Bubble, bubble toil and trouble—something wickedly delicious this way comes!

That’s right, Petaluma’s most powerful alchemist, Phaedra Achor, has paired up with Crooked Goat Brewing to turn water into liquid gold. With the help of friends, some—alleged—sorcery and the bitters and syrups from Achor’s FloraLuna Apothecary & Trading Co., the North Bay is about to experience the unveiling of a new and enchanting alcoholic beverage: the most topical, tropical hard seltzer to sip this summer.

This seasonal seltzer has sugar, spice and, as one might probably expect, everything nice. Pineapple and tangerine serve as the primary ingredients that help to create a fruit-forward flavor that is then supported with a careful selection of alchemist-approved bitters and syrups.

“We thought a tropical island-themed drink for summer sounded perfect,” Achor said. “And so we started looking at warm spices and tropical fruits and decided pineapple and tangerine would go well with my cardamom-and-clove syrup, combined with cayenne and ginger bitters. Together, they have a really cool and subtle spice aroma that rounds out and melds all of the other flavors together to create this amazing complexity and backbone.”

GRADS An archival photo of Phaedra Achor and Jessica Novak-Tiemann—wife of Crooked Goat partner Scott Tiemann—who have been part of the same sisterhood group since age 14. They graduated from Petaluma High School together in 1992.

Achor’s own cocktail lounge is unique in that everything served within the establishment is entirely alcohol-free, which makes this news of collaboration with Crooked Goat Brewing … extra intoxicating. But the drink’s true charm can be found in the extra pinch of magic that comes from the friendship, camaraderie and community collaboration behind this bubbly beverage.

“You can be really creative with making seltzer,” said head brewer at Crooked Goat Brewing, Rich Jeter. “I was thinking of doing something on the tropical side, and Phaedra came to the brewery with a bunch of bitters and syrups, and we basically poured a seltzer on tap and added some various stuff to decide what tastes good. And it turned out really well, essentially a tropical Mai Tai.”

Jeter has been with Crooked Goat Brewing since 2016 and, according to Acher, it was his creativity that catapulted the company successfully through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The process for fermenting the seltzer is, in Jeter’s words, “the easiest brew we do.” By combining sugar, hot water and yeast, and letting it sit for just a few days before dropping the temperature at the end of the fermentation process, Jeter can create the seltzer’s alcoholic base in less than a week.

Then, with a little bit of math—or arithmancy, as the more magical mathematicians might call it—the bitters and syrups and such are added for flavor and, after that, it’s as simple as setting up the seltzer to serve fresh from the tap in both Crooked Goat Brewing locations.

“I’m excited for our two local brands to come together and make something for the community,” Achor said. “And I’m excited to show the diversity of my products; that they can show up so beautifully in so many different applications.”

“Especially within the craft industry, I love it when our local businesses get together to do collabs,” said Jeter. “Everybody really supports each other up [in the North Bay], and there’s no competitive aspect or anything like that.”

This local cocktail-inspired seltzer collaboration has been brewing for quite some time—since the ’90s, to be more specific, when Achor and Jessica Novak-Tiemann, wife of Crooked Goat partner Scott Tiemann, attended high school together in Petaluma and became fast friends at age 14.

“The second connection that made this happen is knowing the head brewer for Cooked Goat, Rich Jeter,” Achor said. “He is married to Kathy Jeter, the woman I sublease my alcohol-free cocktail lounge space from. We are all great friends, and when he took over as head brewer, combined with my friendship with Jessica and the collaboration idea being discussed for a long time, we were able to move forward on the collaboration pretty quickly.”

And by quickly, Achor means a matter of weeks. In fact, it was just early July when the alchemist and brewing board gathered for their first, and last, official taste-test meeting. After that, it was a simple matter of delivering the bitters and syrups, fermenting the base and mixing it all together with enough finesse to impress any winemaker, wizard or witch.

“I’ve been trying out the new seltzer on our staff and so on, and everyone is saying that it’s the best hard seltzer that they’ve ever had,” Jeter said. “I’m expecting it’s going to be received very well. We’re probably going to run out of this first batch in just a week or two, if I’m projecting correctly. With all the flavors we have going on with Phaedra’s syrups and bitters, I can’t see [the seltzer] lasting very long.”

“Bitters … they’re the spice rack of the bar,” added Achor. “They can also be used in marinades, salad dressings, any sauces—my smoked salt-and-pepper bitters have even been used on oysters.”

“I really just have this love of alchemy and flavors and blending and creating flavors,” Achor said. “It comes from a lifetime of creating, as well as comfort in knowing I know how to bring elements together to make things taste good. I just have the ability I call ‘flavor wisdom.’”

As of Friday, July 28, both the Petaluma and Sebastopol Crooked Goat Brewing locations will carry the new summer seltzer on tap. FloraLuna Apothecary & Trading Co. sells bitters and syrups alongside to-go mocktails, infusion kits and more. Though these products are primarily sold as cocktail ingredients, they can and should be used to great effect poured over ice cream.

Future plans for the seasonal hard seltzer collaboration between FloraLuna and Crooked Goat Brewing are still in the works, though there is talk of a possible grapefruit flavor come fall. So, don’t miss out on summer’s hottest seltzer, since it’s bound to be bought out fast. Especially since there will be no canning or distribution initiative, though Crooked Goat does offer 32-oz. growlers.

Crooked Goat Brewery is open seven days a week and is located at 110 Howard St. in Petaluma and 120 Morris St. #120 in Sebastopol. FloraLuna is open Friday through Sunday and is located at 122 Kentucky St. in Petaluma. For more information, visit crookedgoatbrewing.com and floralunaapothecary.com.

Cultivating Farmers

I consider my days in the sun as a young, organic farmer to be the most rewarding work I’ve done. But for young people like me, becoming a full-time farmer is nearly an impossible dream.

According to the USDA, the median age for agricultural producers increased from 56.3 to 57.5 years old between 2012 and 2017—making farmers among the oldest workforces in America. People 35 or younger account for only 9% of the country’s farm producers.

Why are so few young people going into farming? The 2022 National Young Farmers Survey names access to land, funding, health care and the cost of production as the top challenges.

The average net income for family farms in 2023 is expected to be less than $40,000, lower in real terms than a decade ago.

Meanwhile, the costs of agricultural land and machinery have skyrocketed. Even a second-hand John Deere combine can easily run more than $750,000. The average price per acre of cropland reached $5,050 in 2022, nearly double the 2009 rate, according to USDA.

The federal government spends billions every year on farm subsidies, but most of the money goes to the largest and wealthiest operators. And because of systemic racism, Black and Indigenous farmers have faced particular difficulty in accessing these funds.

In 2021, Congress set aside $4 billion in loan forgiveness for minority farmers to address the long history of discrimination against Black farmers. But the courts blocked the program, claiming it would be unfair to white farmers.

If we’re serious about cultivating the next crop of young farmers in America, we need to do much more to clear the roadblocks stopping young farmers from taking their place in the agricultural workforce.

I want other young people to have the opportunity to share in the experience of cultivating the earth, connecting with nature and understanding the true value of sustainable food production.

Danielle Browne is a next leader at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Smashed: Petaluma PD arrests suspect DUI driver

Petaluma police arrested a man suspected of driving under the influence after getting involved in a four-vehicle crash and trying to evade officers in a foot chase through a residential neighborhood Sunday afternoon. At 5:50pm Sunday, police responded to reports of a hit-and-run collision in the area of Lakeville Highway and S. McDowell Boulevard, where an SUV driven by 58-year-old...

Your Letters, Aug. 9

‘Progressive’ Marin The letter writer dreaming of better treatment of minority communities, even in Marin, can at least dream on, eh? And write letters in angst, I suppose. If one scratches the very thin veneer of Marin’s well polished progressive myth, one sees that like just about everywhere else, as long as public and private funds and resources continue to mostly...

Free Will Astrology, Aug. 9

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Stephen King’s novel, It, a character named Beverly is in love with a man who projects a sense of authority but also listens well. He is strong-minded but receptive, confident but willing to be changed, self-possessed but open to influence. That's an apt description of the allies I wish for you to attract into...

Music, Musicals and Murals

Sebastopol Homecoming La Gente SF’s dynamic front person, Rafa Sarria Bustamante, is as much fun to watch as any one is likely to see. From the Bay and now based in Spain, the high energy La Gente SF, influenced by funk, hip-hop, salsa (and more!), is back in the North Bay for a series of shows that may whip up the...

Gravenstein Apple Fair Celebrates 50 Years

Anyone driving the Gravenstein Highway has seen them: apple orchards. Apples—in particular Gravensteins—have been part of Sonoma County’s roots, growing in orchards and backyards for over 200 years since they were planted at Fort Ross in the early 1800s. Accordingly, 50 years ago, in honor of the prolific, sweet-tart fruit, Sonoma County Farm Trails established the annual Gravenstein Apple Fair....

Transcendence takes it off for ‘The Full Monty’

Buffalo, New York, is the setting for Terrance McNally’s 2000 adaptation—with music and lyrics by David Yazbeck—of the 1997 British film The Full Monty. Transcendence Theatre Company is running a Josh Walden-directed production at Glen Ellen’s Beltane Ranch through Aug. 20. Originally the tale of a group of unemployed English steel workers, this Americanized version is the tale of unemployed...

A Year Later, Questions in David Pelaez-Chavez Shooting Remain

At Santa Rosa’s Courthouse Square last Saturday, July 29, dozens gathered to demand justice and honor the life of David Pelaez-Chavez, who was shot last year in a police pursuit through Knight’s Valley. In the bright afternoon sun, people prayed. Silent moments became filled with the gusts of wind that rippled off a banner that read, “It’s been 365 days....

Your Letters, Aug. 1

Transit Woes It’s heartbreaking to hear that Golden Gate Transit bus and ferry ridership is still at historic lows and revenue is down $1 million weekly. The ferry has long been a staple of Marin with service in Larkspur, Tiburon and Sausalito for commuters and tourists. Losing this mode of transportation would be a big loss for the county as...

FloraLuna and Crooked Goat Partner on Hard Seltzer Project

Bubble, bubble toil and trouble—something wickedly delicious this way comes! That’s right, Petaluma’s most powerful alchemist, Phaedra Achor, has paired up with Crooked Goat Brewing to turn water into liquid gold. With the help of friends, some—alleged—sorcery and the bitters and syrups from Achor’s FloraLuna Apothecary & Trading Co., the North Bay is about to experience the unveiling of a...

Cultivating Farmers

I consider my days in the sun as a young, organic farmer to be the most rewarding work I’ve done. But for young people like me, becoming a full-time farmer is nearly an impossible dream. According to the USDA, the median age for agricultural producers increased from 56.3 to 57.5 years old between 2012 and 2017—making farmers among the oldest...
11,084FansLike
4,446FollowersFollow
6,928FollowersFollow