Safari West has been in the business of helping animals for nearly three decades. Now the exotic animal refuge needs some help of its own.

With Sonoma County wine country becoming fire country the past few years — and Covid-19 closing the wildlife park’s gates for three months — Safari West is raising funds for its operation for the first time in its 27-year existence, while officially launching its new virtual experience, Safari West Live!

“We always fundraised for our nonprofit, the Safari West Wildlife Foundation,” said Aphrodite Caserta, the refuge’s marketing director. “But this year we needed to reach out to let our supporters know Safari West needed help. For the owners, it’s been over 25 years since Safari West was founded, and they’ve never faced a challenge quite like this.”

Luckily, the refuge’s request for help is being heard.

“The outpouring of generosity and support we’ve seen the past few months has been humbling beyond measure,” Caserta said. “While we have been critically impacted by adapting our business practices in the face of Covid-19, we were also once again in the midst of another wildfire — the Glass Fire. We remained safe, but it was once again another challenge in an already challenging time.

“We’re still here, surviving and moving forward, but we’ve got a long road ahead of us. You can’t simply furlough animals,” she said.

Safari West got its start in the late 1980s, when Peter Lang bought 400 acres of former cattle ranch land in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, north of Santa Rosa, as a home for his growing collection of wildlife. He worked with local zoological foundations to establish captive breeding programs for varied and often endangered species.

With his future wife Nancy Land, who worked for the San Francisco Zoo, he turned the oak woodland into a wildlife preserve — the “Sonoma Serengeti” as it’s been called.

Safari West isn’t a theme park into which one just walks. It’s a preserve for about 1,000 animals, with guided explorations of large, mixed-species enclosures meant to mimic the wild. Visitors come by appointment and reservations are required. Thousands of underserved school children typically visit each year when a pandemic isn’t keeping them home.

Covid-19 closed Safari West in March, forcing it to furlough 110 employees, though it was back operating in June, with fewer guests and social distancing fully enforced.

“This has not been a fun year,” said Keo Hornbostel, the refuge’s executive director. “The weather has helped, though it’s raining now. We’ve had 40 percent less capacity this year. We could take 12 people in a truck (tour) before, now we can do six to 10, socially distanced. We’re making it work.”

The timing is good, however, for launching Safari West Live!, which gets an official kick-off Dec. 12 at the foundation’s annual Romp With the Beasts fundraiser. Instead of actually romping with beasts, guests can tour the park virtually, something that was already in the works before the pandemic.

“This will allow us to go into school virtually,” Hornbostel said. “We’re doing the exact same thing; except you’re just not present for it.”

As on real tours, a guide will take guests through the park in search of animals, offering information on the residents and where they live in the wild while taking questions. With various California counties falling back into more limiting Covid-19 restrictions, it’s a way for Safari West to stay connected to communities.

Hornbostel said the first program, delivered last week to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Sacramento, went very well.

“The kids were just bright-eyed,” he said. “They loved it. It’s a way for us to reach people we couldn’t reach before.”

Vernon Pride, the producer and program manager for Safari West Live!, said he already has another eight shows lined up with hospitals.

“In a weird way, I’m the only person on the planet to benefit from Covid this year,” said Pride, who has gone from part-time tour guide to full-time producer. “Everyone is looking for this kind of content now.”

The target audience so far is children in underserved communities and hospitals, through scholarships from the foundation. Safari West itself is a for-profit business, though 2020 was a rough year financially.

The virtual tour is obviously different from the real thing, though a foundation member who served as an early test audience told Pride there were advantages to the virtual version.

“She said she got closer to the animals this way than on the real tour,” Pride said, chalking it up to only having a few people out with a camera, instead of a vehicle full of families.

Romp with the Beasts happens from 5-6pm on Saturday, Dec. 12. Not only will Safari West Live! be part of the program, organizers promise “wonder, wildlife and surprises galore.” There will also be an online auction. People can register online, call (707) 566-3651 or email in**@******************on.org.

Safari West is still accessible in person, just to smaller groups.

This article first appeared on Local News Matters.

The order is for counties in the “purple” or most-restrictive tier in the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy plan and will order all non-essential work and gatherings to stop from 10pm to 5am. Sonoma and Napa counties are both in the Purple Tier.

Newsom announced on Monday that 41 of the California’s 58 counties would go into the purple tier as Covid-19 cases have increased statewide recently.

Below is a copy of the curfew announcement from the California governor’s office.

State Issues Limited Stay at Home Order to Slow Spread of COVID-19

Non-essential businesses and personal gatherings are prohibited between 10 PM and 5 AM beginning Saturday, November 21 at 10 PM

SACRAMENTO – In light of an unprecedented, rapid rise in COVID-19 cases across California, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced a limited Stay at Home Order requiring generally that non-essential work, movement and gatherings stop between 10 PM and 5 AM in counties in the purple tier. The order will take effect at 10 PM Saturday, November 21 and remain in effect until 5 AM December 21. This is the same as the March Stay at Home Order, but applied only between 10 PM and 5 AM and only in purple tier counties that are seeing the highest rates of positive cases and hospitalizations.

“The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be critical to stop the surge. We are sounding the alarm,” said Governor Newsom. “It is crucial that we act to decrease transmission and slow hospitalizations before the death count surges. We’ve done it before and we must do it again.”

This limited Stay at Home Order is designed to reduce opportunities for disease transmission. Activities conducted during 10 PM to 5 AM are often non-essential and more likely related to social activities and gatherings that have a higher likelihood of leading to reduced inhibition and reduced likelihood for adherence to safety measures like wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distance.

“We know from our stay at home order this spring, which flattened the curve in California, that reducing the movement and mixing of individuals dramatically decreases COVID-19 spread, hospitalizations, and deaths,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “We may need to take more stringent actions if we are unable to flatten the curve quickly. Taking these hard, temporary actions now could help prevent future shutdowns.”

“We are asking Californians to change their personal behaviors to stop the surge. We must be strong together and make tough decisions to stay socially connected but physically distanced during this critical time. Letting our guard down could put thousands of lives in danger and cripple our health care system,” said Dr. Erica Pan, the state’s acting Public Health Officer. “It is especially important that we band together to protect those most vulnerable around us as well as essential workers who are continuing their critical work amidst this next wave of widespread community transmission across the state. Together we prevented a public health crisis in the spring and together we can do it again.”

Covid-19 case rates increased by approximately 50 percent in California during the first week of November. As a result, Governor Newsom and California’s public health officials have announced a list of measures to protect Californians and the state’s health care system, which could experience an unprecedented surge if cases continue their steep climb.

On Monday, the state pulled an emergency brake in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy putting more than 94 percent of California’s population in the most restrictive tier. The state will reassess data continuously and move more counties back into a more restrictive tier, if necessary. California is also strengthening its face covering guidance to require individuals to wear a mask whenever outside their home, with limited exceptions.

Late last week, the state issued a travel advisory, along with Oregon and Washington, urging people entering the state or returning home from travel outside the state to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. The travel advisory urges against non-essential out-of-state travel, asks people to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country, and encourages residents to stay local.

The dinner party Gov. Gavin Newsom apologized this week for attending — saying it was a mistake to dine with so many people amid the coronavirus pandemic — included two guests who lobby on behalf of California doctors, the very profession that has been imploring people to refrain from social activity that could hasten the virus’ spread.

Dustin Corcoran, CEO of the California Medical Association, and Janus Norman, the group’s lobbyist and senior vice president, joined Newsom and several other guests Nov. 6 at the French Laundry, an exclusive restaurant in Napa County. Fox LA published photos Tuesday night of the soiree celebrating the birthday of lobbyist Jason Kinney, a longtime political adviser to Newsom. One of the images shows at least 10 people sitting close together at an elegant table, none wearing masks. Norman is seated beside Newsom and Corcoran sits a few seats over.

The two executives “attended a private 50th birthday dinner for their friend Jason Kinney earlier this month. The dinner was held in accordance with state and county guidelines,” California Medical Association spokesperson Anthony York said by email.

The revelation is causing some doctors to worry that both government and the medical profession could lose credibility with the public, just as the state is imposing new restrictions in response to surging infections.

“This is a time when we need our political leaders, our civic leaders, our public health leaders, and our medical leaders to all be speaking with one voice,” said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of the epidemiology department at the University of California, San Francisco.

“If… we have several leaders who are apparently acting in contradiction to what they are saying publicly, that puts their credibility in doubt. And that is the biggest challenge with this, is that we really need for voices and actions to be aligned.”

Neither Norman nor Corcoran are doctors, but they represent some 50,000 physicians who are members of the premier group that advocates for the medical profession at the state Capitol. The California Medical Association has been promoting public health messages amid the pandemic, sponsoring an ad campaign this summer urging people to wear masks.

“Our ability to return to school and work depends on everyone wearing face coverings when they are out in public,” association president Peter N. Bretan Jr. said in an August statement announcing the campaign. “The science is clear — masks help stop the transmission of COVID-19 and are needed to keep Californians safe.”

CalMatters reached Bretan by phone on Monday while working to confirm information that Corcoran had attended the French Laundry dinner party. Bretan said he had no comment and referred questions to the association’s staff, who did not respond to numerous calls and emails until Wednesday morning, when York provided the two-sentence statement.

EXCLUSIVE: We’ve obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he’s in hot water over. The photos call into question just how outdoors the dinner was. A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud, the sliding doors had to be closed. 10pm on @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/gtOVEwa864

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) November 18, 2020

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This story originally appeared on CALMatters.

Eight months into the coronavirus pandemic and with the holidays approaching, North Bay bookstores are experimenting with new ways of getting their products to readers—with some boosting online sales efforts, holiday delivery programs and online events.

Although the pandemic restrictions and a months-long shutdown earlier this year were hard on local bookstores, sales seem to be bouncing back at some of the four North Bay bookstores we contacted this week.

Anecdotal evidence seems to indicate that some North Bay residents, following a nationwide trend, have turned to books for solace, entertainment and as a distraction from the chaotic, pandemic world.

Across the industry, sales appear to be up over last year. A November 2020 analysis by industry consultant NPD Bookscan cited in Publishers Weekly found that total book sales were up 7.1 percent this year compared to the same time in 2019.

In what may be one of the pandemic’s silver linings—or a desperate attempt by working parents to keep their children occupied—sales of juvenile nonfiction rose by a remarkable 29.2 percent in sales over the same time last year, according to a Nov. 6 Publishers Weekly article.

Yet, with the ever-present industry threat of online retailers looming in the background, North Bay booksellers hope their customers will choose to support local sellers over Amazon and other online options.

“I’ve just told everyone, ‘If there’s any way for you to, try to support local independent stores and your local community this holiday because they really need it,’” Aubury Doherty, the general manager of Copperfield’s Books, said in an interview.

With that, here is a review of some North Bay bookstores’ Covid-19 experiences and holiday plans.

Copperfield’s Books

With nine stores throughout Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties, Copperfield’s is the North Bay’s largest local independent bookstore chain. Doherty, the company’s general manager, says most of the employees are back at work, albeit with some reduced hours as the company heads into the holidays, a crucial season for everyone in the book-sales industry.

Like many other North Bay bookstores, Copperfield’s offers a variety of options including online sales, curbside pick-up and in-store purchase. And, in order to keep customers and employees safe, Copperfield’s urges customers to shop earlier in order to spread out the usual holiday shopping season.

“We’re super excited to be back in business, and things are definitely improving,” Doherty says. “We’re finding different ways to reach our customers. But, as with most of your independent local businesses, sales are down for the year so far.”

Leaning into the apparent boom in children’s books sales, Copperfield’s recently launched CopperBox, a subscription service for young readers. Each month, subscribers receive staff-selected books tailored for readers 0–3 years old or 4–7 years old.

The monthly infusion of literature may help parents trapped at home keep their children occupied—and curious about the outside world.

Copperfield’s also hosts a variety of online events. For instance, on Friday, Nov. 20, the company will stream an online talk with the authors of “Petaluma in Vintage Postcards,” a recently-released pictographic history of Sonoma County’s second-largest city.

Levin & Company, Healdsburg

Aaron Rosewater, one of the owners of this nearly 30-year-old store in downtown Healdsburg, says sales are up this year despite a sharp drop during the first months of the pandemic shutdown.

Rosewater spent the first months of closure updating the store’s website.

“Our hits [on the website] went from being three to five a day, to 40 to 50 a day,” he says.

Still, customers seemed relieved to return to the store in person when restrictions were lifted.

“They were just thrilled to be back in the store,” Rosewater says. “They were so happy to be able to browse and look at inventory, and I think just to get out, because they’d been sheltering for two-and-a-half months.”

Although they cannot accept orders through their website, Levin & Company accepts email and phone orders for curb-side pickup. The store also offers delivery service for Healdsburg residents, a program which may be convenient for customers who want to avoid human contact as Covid-19 cases begin to rise again.

Treehorn Books, Santa Rosa

Grant Hotaling says that sales at Treehorn Books, a store in downtown Santa Rosa which specializes in used and collectable books, are down this year despite somewhat successful efforts to increase online sales.

Going into the holidays, Hotaling says the store, which opened in 1979, is pinning some of its hopes on its annual sale of thousands of calendars. The calendar sale is usually a popular stop for Santa Rosa’s holiday shoppers, in part due to the store’s bargain-bin prices.

“If you have a calendar and live in Santa Rosa, there’s probably a 50 percent chance you or someone [else] got it for you here,” Hotaling says with a chuckle.

Like other bookstores, Hotaling said he has noticed some customers opting for political literature—perhaps driven by the nationwide protests this summer—while others are diving into more escapist fiction.

Whyte’s Booksmith, San Anselmo

This beloved downtown San Anselmo bookstore reopened in late August to business as usual, with regular customers ambling into the store, selecting books from the carts on the sidewalk outfront, or ordering for pick-up, says Manager Kim Moon.

Customers have respected the health guidelines, including wearing masks and waiting outside to let the store clear out, Moon adds.

It must have been a long year for the bookstore: Last September, Michael Whyte announced plans to sell the store after 39 years of ownership.

But, one pandemic shutdown later, the store is still in business.

Moon says Whyte is still holding out for a buyer who wants to maintain the store’s bonafides as a community bookstore, a trait the store’s loyal customers might appreciate even more after the isolation of the early months of the pandemic.

“What customers are saying to us is that having a bookstore in the neighborhood is something that they value, possibly even more so during Covid times,” Moon says.