Your Letters, July 2

Higher Yearning

Readers are no doubt hyper focused on the government’s “totally politically neutral” attacks on institutions of higher learning, such as Harvard. The universities say that the government’s attempt to impose ideological conditions on federally funded research “violates the Constitution and would corrupt the integrity of academic institutions.”

Further, by cutting federal funding essential to sustaining a robust university research environment at Harvard and elsewhere, the administration is depleting the next generation of scientific talent. 

I am a product of one of the institutions of higher learning that is under attack. It was there I learned to doubt, distrust, disbelieve, reject and minimize any initiative taken by any large organization, especially “democratic institutions” such as the United States government and Harvard University.

It was there I learned that governments lie, that large organizations pursue no valid interests outside their own and that the only reason that companies such as Chevron, Monsanto and Archer Daniels Midland exist is plunder. There is no dispute here.

We live in a country with no meaningful values, from an institutional perspective or any other, if we ever did. None.

And may I add that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an active buffoon, and not one of Trump’s golf courses is worth a sh**.

Craig J. Corsini
San Rafael

Poly Sci Poem

The lies propagate, and our freedoms unravel;
their cruel despotism stokes my fears.
Alexis de Tocqueville just sh** himself,
and he’s been dead for 166 years.

Rob Loughran
Windsor

Free Will Astrology: July 2-8

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Hawaiian word refers to a primal darkness from which all life flows. It’s not a fearsome void, but a fertile mystery, rich with future possibilities and the ancestors’ hopes. In the coming weeks, I invite you to treat your inner life as . Be as calm and patient and watchful as an Aries can be as you monitor the inklings that rise up out of the deep shadows. Have faith that the cloudy uncertainty will ultimately evolve into clarity, revealing the precise directions you need.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the 17th century, the Taurus polymath Athanasius Kircher constructed a fantastical machine called the Aeolian harp. It wasn’t designed to be played by human fingers, but by the wind. It conjured music with currents invisible to the eye. I nominate this sublime contraption as your power object for the coming weeks, Taurus. The most beautiful and healing melodies may come from positioning yourself so that inspiration can blow through. How might you attune yourself to the arrival of unexpected help and gifts? Set aside any tendency you might have to try too hard. Instead, allow life to sing through you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The painter Vincent van Gogh wrote, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” That’s good advice for you right now. Your ambitions may feel daunting if you imagine them as monumental and monolithic. But if you simply focus on what needs to be done next—the daily efforts, the incremental improvements—you will be as relaxed as you need to be to accomplish wonders. Remember that masterpieces are rarely completed in a jiffy. The cumulative power of steady work is potentially your superpower. Here’s another crucial tip: Use your imagination to have fun as you attend to the details.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Welcome to a special edition of “What’s My Strongest Yearning?” I’m your host, Rob Brezsny, and I’m delighted you have decided to identify the single desire that motivates you more than any other. Yes, you have many wishes and hopes and dreams, but one is more crucial than all the rest. Right? To begin the exercise, take three deep breaths and allow every knot of tension to dissolve and exit your beautiful body. Then drop down into the primal depths of your miraculous soul and wander around until you detect the shimmering presence of the beloved reason you came here to this planet. Immerse yourself in this glory for as long as you need to. Exult in its mysterious power to give meaning to everything you do. Ask it to nurture you, console you and inspire you. 

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In certain medieval maps, unexplored territories were marked with the Latin phrase hic sunt dracones—“here be dragons.” It was a warning and a dare, a declaration that no one knew what lay beyond. In the coming weeks, Leo, you may find yourself traveling into one of those unlabeled regions. Rather than flinching or dodging, I invite you to press forward with respectful curiosity. Some of the so-called dragons will be figments. Others are protectors of treasure and might be receptive to sharing with a bright light like you. Either way, productive adventures are awaiting you in that unmapped territory. Go carefully—but go.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In traditional Japanese carpentry, joints are made so skillfully that they need no nails, screws or adhesives. Carpenters use intricate joinery techniques to connect pieces of wood so tightly that the structures are strong and durable. They often require a mallet for assembly and disassembly. In metaphorical terms, you are capable of that kind of craftsmanship these days, Virgo. I hope you will take advantage of this by building lasting beauty and truth that will serve you well into the future. Don’t rush the joinery. If it’s not working, don’t force it. Re-cut, re-measure, breathe deeply and try again.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Here’s one of my unruly rules about human competence: In every professional field, from physicians to lawyers to psychics to teachers, about 15% of all the practitioners are downright mediocre, even deficient. Seventy-five percent are at least satisfactory and sometimes good. And 10% of the total are surpassingly excellent, providing an extraordinary service. With this in mind, I’m happy to say that you now have a knack for gravitating toward that exceptional 10% in every domain you are drawn to. I predict that your intuition will consistently guide you toward premium sources.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku means “forest bathing.” It invites people to immerse themselves in the natural world, drawing on its restorative power. In accordance with astrological portents, I urge you Scorpios to maximize your forest bathing. To amplify the enrichment further, gravitate toward other environments that nourish your soul’s need for solace and uplift. The naked fact is that you need places and influences that offer you comfort, safety and tender inspiration. Don’t apologize for making your life a bit less heroic as you tend to your inner world with gentle reverence. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The camera obscura was a precursor to modern cameras. It projected the outside world upside down onto interior walls. Artists loved it because it helped them see reality from new angles. I hereby proclaim that you, Sagittarius, will be like both the artist and the camera obscura lens in the coming weeks. Your perceptions may feel inverted, strange, even disorienting, but that’s a gift. So let unfamiliarity be your muse. Flip your assumptions. Sketch from shadow instead of light. Have faith that the truth isn’t vanishing or hiding; it’s simply appearing in unfamiliar guises. Don’t rush to turn right-side-up things. Relish and learn from the tilt. 

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m sure you enjoy gazing into some mirrors more than others. It’s amazing how different you might look in your bathroom mirror and the mirror in the restroom at work. Some store windows may reflect an elegant, attractive version of you, while others distort your image. A similar principle is at work in the people with whom you associate. Some seem to accentuate your finest attributes, while others bring out less flattering aspects. I bring this to your attention, dear Capricorn, because I believe it will be extra important in the coming weeks for you to surround yourself with your favorite mirrors.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Leonardo da Vinci filled thousands of pages with sketches, notes and experiments. He never finished many of them. He called this compilation his “codex of wonder.” It wasn’t a record of failures. It was an appreciation of his complex process and a way to honor his creative wellspring. Taking a cue from da Vinci’s love of marvelous enigmas, I invite you to be in love with the unfinished in the coming weeks. Make inquisitiveness your default position. Reconsider abandoned ideas. Be a steward of fertile fragments. Some of your best work may arise from revisiting composted dreams or incomplete sketches. Here’s your motto: Magic brews in the margins.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the remote Atacama Desert of Chile, certain flowers lie dormant for years, awaiting just the right conditions to burst into blossom in a sudden, riotous explosion of color and vitality. Scientists call it a superbloom. Metaphorically speaking, Pisces, you are on the verge of such a threshold. I’m sure you can already feel the inner ripening as it gathers momentum. Any day now, your full flowering will erupt—softly but dramatically. You won’t need to push. You will simply open. To prepare yourself emotionally, start rehearsing lively shouts of “HALLELUJAH. HOORAY. WHOOPEE.”

Homework: What action or project could you undertake that would provide you with a rich new sense of meaning? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Open Mic: Kidnapped by ICE, a Nation of Immigrants Under Attack

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Across the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are tearing families apart, terrorizing communities and upending businesses.

The architect of this anti-immigrant agenda, top Trump aide Stephen Miller, has demanded that ICE make 3,000 arrests like these per day—an arbitrary quota with no legal basis.

To meet this quota, masked, plainclothes ICE agents embrace violent and unconstitutional tactics to abduct people from courthouses, citizenship appointments, churches, graduations, restaurants, Home Depots, farms and other workplaces. There’s mounting evidence of ICE using racial profiling.

In one disturbing case in Chicago, ICE agents grabbed, handcuffed and forced Julio Noriega into a van as he stepped out of a Jiffy Lube in late January. ICE detained him for 10 hours before releasing him when they realized he was a U.S. citizen.

And in another instance, ICE forced two children, who are both U.S. citizens—one undergoing Stage 4 cancer treatment—onto their mother’s deportation flight to Honduras in April. The cancer patient is four years old, and ICE deported him without his medication.

The inhumane treatment continues in ICE’s sprawling network of private prisons and county jails. The U.S. spends more than $3 billion annually on the world’s largest immigration detention system, which is primarily operated by for-profit prison contractors like GEO Group and CoreCivic. These facilities are notorious for poor medical treatment, dangerous overcrowding, due process violations and preventable deaths.

If these attacks on immigrants were really about “following the law,” then immigrants fleeing war and persecution would be able to exercise their right to seek asylum—a human right long enshrined under international and U.S. law. Their due process rights would be respected.

People abducted by ICE are not numbers. They’re someone’s entire world. They’re cherished members of communities. And they’re on the frontlines of defending all of our civil liberties. We must stand together and demand that ICE leave our communities. We are a nation of immigrants, after all.

Farrah Hassen, J.D. is a writer, policy analyst and educator.

Culture Crush, July 2

San Rafael

‘Bug-Tastic’ Fair

The 2025 Marin County Fair returns July 2-6 with five full days of rides, exhibits, nightly fireworks and a buzzing celebration of all things insect. This year’s theme—BUG-TASTIC!—turns the fairgrounds into a full-blown bugfest, with hands-on art, competitive exhibits and creepy-crawly fun for all ages. Music highlights include TLC on July 3, bringing their iconic hits “Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs” to the Island Pavilion stage. Also appearing: The Legendary Wailers, Zepparella and Latin superstar Elvis Crespo. Pride Day and a July 4 tribute-fest round out the packed concert lineup. 11am-11pm daily, Wednesday-Sunday, July 2-6, at Marin County Fairgrounds, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Fireworks nightly at 9:30. Full schedule and ticket info at marinfair.org.

Rohnert Park

Clown Around

Flynn Creek Circus returns to Rohnert Park with The Bridge, an original fairytale-inspired spectacle of acrobatics, comedy and live storytelling running July 17-27. Set beneath a classic circus tent at the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and State Farm Drive, this all-human show blends Nordic myth with jaw-dropping stunts and irreverent charm. In addition to family-friendly performances, select nights feature Flynn Creek’s infamous Adults Only Show. Kids can also join a hands-on circus camp taught by real performers. Various showtimes, July 17-27, at SE Corner Lot, Rohnert Park Expressway & State Farm Dr., Rohnert Park. Tickets start at $23 at flynncreekcircus.com.

Santa Rosa

Pillow Fight for Glory

The World Pillow Fighting Championships return with feathers flying and $500 on the line. Hosted at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, this crowd-favorite showdown features men’s and women’s divisions, open to competitors ages 16 and up (with parental permission). Entry is $30—but one may refer friends and score discounts or even a free spot. Got what it takes to dominate the pillow ring? Limited spots available. Date and location TBA at Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. Details and registration at sonomacountyfair.com/pages/world-pillow-fighting-championships.

San Anselmo

‘Come Together’

The San Anselmo Arts Commission presents Beatles in the Park, a high-energy tribute to the Fab Four, on Saturday, July 19, at Creek Park, 634 San Anselmo Ave. Curated by Joe Bagale (aka Otis McDonald), this year’s performance features a top-tier band channeling the Beatles’ magic with funk, flair and serious musical chops. One may bring a blanket, grab their people and get ready to sing, sway and dance their way through a summer night of timeless tunes. 6-9pm, Saturday, July 19 (doors at 5pm), at Creek Park, 249 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo. No venue parking. Details at sananselmoarts.org.

Tickets to Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol

Enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol for a Matinee Film.

For 23+ years Rialto Cinemas has been an important part of the cultural landscape of Sonoma County. Our spirit line says it all: “Bringing the Best Films in the World to Sonoma County.” When Rialto Cinemas landed in Sebastopol the former Sebastopol Cinemas was transformed into Sonoma County’s premiere movie venue featuring “Dine-In Cinema.” Rialto Cinemas changed the question from what movie is playing to what’s playing at the Rialto?

Drawing Date for this Giveaway is the 1st Thursday of each Month.
Winners notified by email and have 48 hours to respond or forfeit.
Must be 18+ to win.

The Face of Education for the Individual

At Winston Preparatory School, individualized education is not a strategy—it’s the foundation. The school supports students with learning differences such as dyslexia, ADHD North Bay California, CA local business, Pacific Sun newsand nonverbal learning disorders by deeply understanding their unique profiles and providing targeted academic and emotional growth. “Many of our students far exceed what people originally thought they were capable of,” says Head of School Kristen Atkins. Winston Prep’s personalized approach, including its Continuous Feedback System, helps students build independence, confidence and daily success. With expanded programs for post-high school support, Winston Prep is committed to transforming education—one individual learner at a time.

Winston Preparatory School,
1 Saint Vincents Drive, San Rafael,
415-993-5533,
WinstonPrep.edu

The Face of Aesthetics and Wellness

At Wildflower Aesthetics & Wellness, founder and RN Julie Bones brings balance and harmony to each client’s unique features through a personalized and refined approach. North Bay California, CA local business, Pacific Sun newsWith an emphasis on soft, natural and undetectable results, she artfully blends science with aesthetics to enhance beauty without compromising authenticity. Julie values genuine connection, taking time to listen, understand and guide—especially for those new to aesthetic care. Each treatment is thoughtfully customized. With her years of experience, expert injectables and medical-grade skincare, Wildflower offers a graceful, holistic experience rooted in trust, subtlety and a deep respect for individual beauty.

Wildflower Aesthetics & Wellness, Windsor Palms Plaza 2,
8465 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 627, Windsor,
707-494-1233,
Wildflower-Aesthetics-Wellness.com

The Face of Healthy Aging

By 2030, one-third of Marin County’s residents will be 60 years old or older, with the greatest growth in that aging population expected to be seniors in their 80s. Growing older North Bay California, CA local business, Pacific Sun newsat Vivalon’s Healthy Aging Center represents a vibrant, fulfilling phase of life, not a slowing down. “People think life is not as interesting or as engaging as you get older,” says Stephanie McNally, Vivalon’s chief program officer. “That is the opposite here.” McNally credits Vivalon’s integrated model of elder care with meeting older adults’ mental, physical and social needs through connectedness, lifelong learning and advocacy, which enables them to age gracefully. 

Vivalon, 999 Third St., San Rafael,
415-456-9062,
Vivalon.org

The Face of Clean Energy Independence

Since 1971, Vital Energy Solutions has helped Northern California families and businesses lower utility costs and embrace clean, reliable energy. As a third-generation, family-owned North Bay California, CA local business, Pacific Sun newscompany, Vital designs custom solar, battery, generator and microgrid systems tailored to customers’ needs. Their expert team manages every step—from permitting to rebates—with care, craftsmanship and integrity. “We’re proud to stand alongside homeowners, farmers and business owners alike as they gain energy independence, reduce operating costs and strengthen long-term resilience,” says owner Jason Jackson. “For local businesses, our systems not only cut utility expenses, but also provide energy security, improve sustainability credentials and support future growth. It’s an honor to be trusted with their success.”

Vital Energy Solutions,
7064 Corline Ct., Building B, Sebastopol,
707-528-7652,
VitalEnergySolar.com

The Face of Organic Chocolate and Tea

David and Susan Gambill have been a Sonoma County gem for more than 17 years, and to hear them describe their creation process in chocolate and tea, you’d believe they were North Bay California, CA local business, Pacific Sun newsspinning gold. From their first tea truffle in France to their Sebastopol storefront, they’ve explored the chemistry of chocolate, its symphony of flavors, the way the best beans are sourced and how to sell their greatest product: smiles. “Only fine-flavor beans are used to make fine chocolate,” David says. “The flavor starts with the variety of bean that is grown; just like wine grapes, each step of the process then contributes to the final flavor, and each variety of cacao needs to be handled differently, from fermenting to roasting. A fine chocolate will linger in your mouth for many minutes. That’s one of the reasons that it takes very little fine chocolate to satisfy one’s desire.”

Sonoma Chocolatiers, 6988 McKinley St., Sebastopol,
707-829-1181,
SonomaChocolatiers.com

Your Letters, July 2

Higher Yearning Readers are no doubt hyper focused on the government’s “totally politically neutral” attacks on institutions of higher learning, such as Harvard. The universities say that the government’s attempt to impose ideological conditions on federally funded research “violates the Constitution and would corrupt the integrity of academic institutions.” Further, by cutting federal funding essential to sustaining a robust university research...

Free Will Astrology: July 2-8

Free Will Astrology by astrologer Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Hawaiian word pō refers to a primal darkness from which all life flows. It’s not a fearsome void, but a fertile mystery, rich with future possibilities and the ancestors’ hopes. In the coming weeks, I invite you to treat your inner life as pō. Be as calm and patient and watchful as an Aries...

Open Mic: Kidnapped by ICE, a Nation of Immigrants Under Attack

Open MIc, Kidnapped by Ice
Across the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are tearing families apart, terrorizing communities and upending businesses. The architect of this anti-immigrant agenda, top Trump aide Stephen Miller, has demanded that ICE make 3,000 arrests like these per day—an arbitrary quota with no legal basis. To meet this quota, masked, plainclothes ICE agents embrace violent and unconstitutional tactics to abduct...

Culture Crush, July 2

North Bay culture crush
San Rafael ‘Bug-Tastic’ Fair The 2025 Marin County Fair returns July 2-6 with five full days of rides, exhibits, nightly fireworks and a buzzing celebration of all things insect. This year’s theme—BUG-TASTIC!—turns the fairgrounds into a full-blown bugfest, with hands-on art, competitive exhibits and creepy-crawly fun for all ages. Music highlights include TLC on July 3, bringing their iconic hits “Waterfalls”...

Tickets to Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol

Tickets to Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol
Enter for a chance to win tickets to Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol for a Matinee Film. Drawing Date is the 1st Thursday of each month.

The Face of Education for the Individual

At Winston Preparatory School, individualized education is not a strategy—it’s the foundation. The school supports students with learning differences such as dyslexia, ADHD and nonverbal learning disorders by deeply understanding their unique profiles and providing targeted academic and emotional growth. “Many of our students far exceed what people originally thought they were capable of,” says Head of School Kristen...

The Face of Aesthetics and Wellness

At Wildflower Aesthetics & Wellness, founder and RN Julie Bones brings balance and harmony to each client’s unique features through a personalized and refined approach. With an emphasis on soft, natural and undetectable results, she artfully blends science with aesthetics to enhance beauty without compromising authenticity. Julie values genuine connection, taking time to listen, understand and guide—especially for those...

The Face of Healthy Aging

vivalon, The Face of Healthy Aging, north bay
By 2030, one-third of Marin County’s residents will be 60 years old or older, with the greatest growth in that aging population expected to be seniors in their 80s. Growing older at Vivalon’s Healthy Aging Center represents a vibrant, fulfilling phase of life, not a slowing down. “People think life is not as interesting or as engaging as you...

The Face of Clean Energy Independence

Since 1971, Vital Energy Solutions has helped Northern California families and businesses lower utility costs and embrace clean, reliable energy. As a third-generation, family-owned company, Vital designs custom solar, battery, generator and microgrid systems tailored to customers’ needs. Their expert team manages every step—from permitting to rebates—with care, craftsmanship and integrity. “We’re proud to stand alongside homeowners, farmers and...

The Face of Organic Chocolate and Tea

David and Susan Gambill have been a Sonoma County gem for more than 17 years, and to hear them describe their creation process in chocolate and tea, you’d believe they were spinning gold. From their first tea truffle in France to their Sebastopol storefront, they’ve explored the chemistry of chocolate, its symphony of flavors, the way the best beans...
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