Autumn Arts Preview

A Seasonal Snapshot

It’s been a pleasure to steward this section of the paper (as well as all the others). And though I love all my children, this one is perhaps my favorite.

The arts require so much more attention and support because the powers-that-be treat them like a sickly child abandoned on the steps of our civic institutions. No matter—we’ll coddle and swaddle the mewling infant in the pages of the North Bay Bohemian and give them the love and attention they deserve (and maybe someday, they will grow up and buy advertising).

As for the following selections, there’s no secret sauce, algorithmic mojo, rhyme and/or reason or evil agenda informing them. Nor are they random. It’s unscientific, certainly not democratic and selected by criteria so idiosyncratic as to be worthless to describe apart from “Did you send me a press release?” And if you did, was my name spelled correctly or at least in a new and inventive way? Let’s proceed.

Walks on the Wild Side

Get that corvid curiosity in check with Crow, Raven, and Jay: A Literary Bird Walk, led by the ever-knowledgeable Rebecca Lawton. On Sunday, Oct. 6, from 8:30 to 11am, explore Oona-pa’is (Sonoma Mountain) as Lawton weaves tales of avian lore and Jack London’s wild bird musings. Expect to cover one to three miles, depending on the bird action. Binoculars are a must, sturdy shoes are wise, and don’t forget the layers—October mornings can be crisp. Rain cancels. Meet at Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Rd., Glen Ellen. Tickets are $10, plus parking.

The Petaluma Poetry Walk is back for its 27th year, turning downtown Petaluma into a lyrical labyrinth on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 11am to 8pm. Expect over two dozen poets, from current California poet laureate Lee Herrick to local legends like Terry Ehret. Eight venues, including Hotel Petaluma Ballroom and the Phoenix Theater, will host 45-minute sessions, blending poetry with music and dance. Grab a bite at the Petaluma Cheese Shop or Aqus Café while wandering. Don’t miss this free literary marathon that’s as much a community celebration as it is an art form. Full schedule at petalumapoetrywalk.org.

More Fall Lit in our Sept. 11 edition.

Seeing Things

Art for Life returns for its 38th year, transforming the Santa Rosa Arts Center into a hub of creativity and compassion from Aug. 22 to 27. The annual art auction benefits Face to Face, which supports over 500 people living with HIV/AIDS in Sonoma County. The gallery showing is from 11am to 3pm, Aug. 22 to 25, with an online auction running until 8pm, Tuesday, Aug. 27. The Artist & Sponsor Reception on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 3 to 5pm is the perfect time to meet the artists. Bidding is all online. Visit f2f.org/art-for-life-2024 for more information.

Catch the volcanic vibes at Gale S. McKee’s The Sky is Falling, opening 1 to 4pm, Saturday, Sept. 14, at Fulton Crossing Art Gallery. McKee’s mixed-media works channel the explosive beauty of Iceland’s volcanic eruptions with a blend of acrylic, glass and metal that practically smolders off the canvas. While there, swing by Studio B9 for The American Car: A Family Portrait, where McKee dives into vintage car culture with equal fervor. Both exhibits run until Dec. 1, so don’t miss the chance to see the world—or at least these two—through McKee’s fiery lens. 1220 River Rd., Fulton.

Check out Studio Obsessions, a solo show by Barrie Sterling, at the Finley Community Center, which continues through Sept. 8. This exhibit showcases dynamic abstract paintings that span from 2018 to 2024. Sterling’s work blends bursts of color and texture with moments of realism, highlighting her technical mastery and creative exploration. The Person Senior Wing provides a beautifully lit, air-conditioned space—perfect for cooling off while enjoying some stunning art. Free admission, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm. 2060 W College Ave., Santa Rosa. ArtbyBarrie.com.

Well Sung

Reeta Roo’s Love Songs for the Earth and Creation will be performed at the Occidental Center for the Arts on Sunday, Sept. 22, with shows at 3 and 7pm. This Roo Tunes Revue highlights her best choral compositions from the past 35 years, featuring a choir of 30 accomplished local singers under the direction of Gage Purdy and Crystal McDougall. Proceeds benefit OCA. Tickets range from $20 to $50, and early purchase is recommended as both shows are expected to sell out. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct., Occidental. Tickets at occidentalcenterforthearts.org.

Powerhouse duo SUSU, featuring Liza Colby and Kia Warren, returns to Sonoma for their third electrifying performance at Sebastiani Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 7. Described as “modern-day tummlers set to seduce, spiritualize, and slay with their unique blend of variety and rock ’n’ roll” by their PR machine, SUSU brings their NYC edge to the stage at 7pm. Portland’s J. Graves opens with their intense dance-punk vibe. Tickets are available at sebastianitheatre.com or the box office, 476 1st St. E, Sonoma.

The John Brothers Piano Company brings a unique blend of early jazz, stride and swing, with a sound that has evolved through the inspiration of their audience. From their humble beginnings performing sidewalk street shows to gracing stages at major festivals like Outside Lands and the Monterey Jazz Festival, this dynamic band has built a loyal following. Catch them at 8pm, Saturday, Aug. 31, at Big Easy in Petaluma, 128 American Alley. Free.

Singer-songwriters Michael Capella, Al Haas, Chris Samson and John Roy Zat come together for an evening of storytelling and song at Words & Music By—Songwriters In The Round on Thursday, Sept. 5. These seasoned Bay Area singer-songwriters will take the stage at The Lost Church Santa Rosa, offering an intimate performance that blends music with the stories behind their songs. The event is a benefit for The Lost Church, with tickets at $25. Doors open at 6pm; show runs from 7 to 9:30pm, with one intermission. 576 Ross St., Santa Rosa. bit.ly/songwriters-lostchurch.

Speaking of storytellers, Lucinda Williams brings her raw, powerful act to Napa’s Uptown Theatre on Friday, Aug. 23, at 7pm. Fresh off her new memoir, Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, and her latest album, Songs From a Rock and Roll Heart, Williams continues to captivate with her masterful songwriting and unmistakable vocals. Despite recovering from a stroke, she delivers some of the best work of her career in this 16th studio album. Catch her live at 1350 Third St., Napa. Tickets available at bit.ly/lucinda-uptown.

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Send press releases directly to editor Daedalus Howell via dh*****@*****ys.com.

The Frog Days of Summer…And More

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Glen Ellen

‘Ribbit Exhibit’ Extended

In some truly uplifting current news, Sonoma Botanical Garden has announced the extension of the Ribbit Exhibit, the North Bay’s most beloved frog-themed exhibition. For those who have yet to attend this rather splendorous artistic installation, now is the perfect time to leap at the opportunity. Hop on by the botanical garden sometime soon to take in the playful, sprawling sculptures of over 20 frogs, all of whom boast a unique name and story. The Ribbit Exhibit will run until Sept. 29, after which one can only assume the frogs will be toad away. So, come on out to the Ribbit Exhibit before it croaks its final croak! And before anyone (else) asks, the answer is no—guests are not allowed to kiss the frogs in the hope of finding an amphibious prince (I already asked). The frogs and their gardens are located at 12841 along Highway 12 in Glen Ellen, and they welcome visitors daily from 10am to 5pm. To learn more about this ribbeting exhibit, visit sonomabg.org.

Sausalito

What’s Kula ‘Anela A-Boat?

Sausalito’s Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club is hosting its 29th annual Kula ‘Anela race later this month in what’s sure to be Marin’s most exciting (and buoyant) racing event of the season. Those racing their boats will begin their adventures at the base of the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, then continue to paddle through the bay and loop all the way around Angel Island before coming back to shore once more. The Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club’s Kula ‘Anela race day begins bright and early on Saturday, Aug. 24 with an 8am registration. For more information about Sausalito’s Kula ‘Anela race, registration, afterparty or to pre-order a poke lunch, visit tamoutrigger.org.

Novato

Treasured Trash

The fall “Trash to Treasures” Flea Market is back at it again, which means Novato is officially kicking off Marin County’s opportunities for holiday shopping with some thrift and style. Everyone and their grandmother is invited to come on out to this entirely free and unique indoor community flea market to browse and buy second-hand treasures to one’s heart’s content. And don’t worry—there will be plenty of food and other goodies available for purchase at the flea market too, especially since so much shopping can work up quite the appetite. The fall “Trash to Treasures” Flea Market is set to take place from 9am to 2pm on Saturday, Sept. 28. This event is hosted by and located at The Margaret Todd Senior Center at 1560 Hill Rd. in Novato. For more information, call 415.899.8290 or email no*******@****to.org.

Santa Rosa

SoCo Record Sale Arrives

The Sonoma County Record Sale is coming, and with it over 30 local vendors who are all set to sell thousands of records to local and transient musical enthusiasts alike. Attendees of all ages are welcome, including canine companions who measure their age in dog years. Alongside the vendors and good vibes, guests can also expect food and beer. Early bird entry begins at 11am, with tickets costing a staggeringly modest $5 (in this economy?). The Sonoma County Record Sale is taking place from noon to 6pm on Sunday, Aug. 25 at the Shady Oak Barrel House, located at 420 1st St. in Santa Rosa. More information about the record sale and other events at the Shady Oak Barrel House can be found at shadyoakbarrelhouse.com.

Film review: ‘Widow Clicquot’ fuses past and present

In Albert and David Maysles’ documentary, Grey Gardens, Little Edie Beale in a melancholy aside confides to the camera, “It’s very difficult to keep the line between the past and the present. Do you know what I mean? Awfully difficult.” The Beales, mother and daughter, didn’t keep that line. While their East Hampton manse rotted, the past consumed them in a vortex of passivity and psychological decay. 

The past and the present also fuse together in Thomas Napper’s Widow Clicquot. Filmed in somber tones and autumnal hues, the director, with editor Richard Marizy, moves deftly back and forth in time. But Barbe Nicole Clicquot’s (Haley Bennett) memories of her late husband François (Tom Sturridge) don’t paralyze her. After his unexpected death, she inherits the Clicquot family vineyards and sets out to save the imperiled estate by implementing new approaches to viticulture.

An epilogue confirms that, at the turn of the 19th century, the titular widow revolutionized the craft of making champagne. The Veuve Clicquot brand still sparkles at dinner tables two centuries later. And while a sequence shows Barbe stewing and brewing up new vintages in flasks and beakers—Madame Curie as an oenophile—that final on-screen note means to compensate for a gap in the narrative. According to the Veuve Clicquot website, Madame Clicquot’s innovations led to “the first known vintage champagne; the invention of the riddling table; the first known blended rosé champagne.”

Widow Clicquot glides over these didactic details. The screenplay, by Erin Dignam, invents lyrical and melodramatic sketches of the truncated life the Clicquots shared as a couple. In recounting their intimacies, the audience begins to see what sustained and inspired Barbe in the years following François’ death.

As newlyweds scantily clad in bed, they describe the wine they’re drinking to each other. Barbe begins the exchange, “Floral. Like our rose garden. In June, after a rain shower. And burning leaves and twigs …” François completes her thought with the words, “And the apple orchard when the trees are at their tallest.” This flirtatious exchange ends in laughter. The Clicquots delighted in each other’s minds and imaginations as well as their bodies. 

On another occasion, Barbe encounters François while he caresses and sings to the planted grape vines. Reluctantly, she joins him in song. Enraptured, he sinks happily down to the ground, indifferent to the mud that dirties his clothing and skin. Their marriage was also an apprenticeship, with him a hands-on teacher divulging the secrets of his trade and she a willing, adept pupil.

These summery scenes filled with billowing white curtains and shimmering sunlight are juxtaposed with scenes suffused in darkness. A severe black dress and veil that wholly swallow her up replace Barbe’s white negligee. Her long braids of hair reappear coiled and wound up tightly around the top of her head. François, once naked in bed, now lies unclothed on a cold mortuary table in preparation for his burial.

Without spelling out his particular brand of madness, the doomed François appears to have struggled with both addiction and depression. Widow Clicquot is initially framed as a great cinematic love story, un amour fou, until François’ instability upends the marriage. After his death, she faces the future with a resolute sense of practicality. Barbe revisits the past, but isn’t haunted by the memory of her husband. A haunting implies a feeling of stasis caused by an assertive ectoplasm that forces the living to stay fixed in place. She emerges from the wreckage of her marriage not embittered but emboldened.

Bennett appears on-screen in every scene of the movie. Widow Clicquot isn’t her first starring role, but it provides her with an opportunity to carry a feature film in which a solitary woman dismantles the patriarchy. In the same way that Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy destroyed their male rivals in Lady Macbeth and The Witch, respectively. As Barbe, Bennett’s voice is maternal, conciliatory and also unwavering. All of the character’s defiance resides in her eyes and posture. She stands still with a perfectly straight back, closing her eyes ever so slightly before glowering with the same degree of ferocity that Charlotte Rampling so easily summons up.

‘Widow Clicquot’ is now playing at the Orinda Theatre and is available to stream.

Nancy Pelosi speaks truth about power in new book

When House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and her husband attended the Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson show at Shoreline Amphitheatre a few weeks ago, they sat in section 102. I sat in 101.

The Pelosi entourage arrived right before Dylan came on. The sun remained just above the horizon, prompting dozens of peaceful, joyous fans to stand up and snap photos of the Pelosis. The poignant moment seemed a testament to humanity and life itself, since earlier that same morning I had just read the first 34 pages of Pelosi’s new book, The Art of Power.

In harrowing detail, the opening chapters described the October night in 2022 when a deranged far-right conspiracist broke into the Pelosi home in San Francisco armed with a hammer and twist-ties. The attacker told Paul that Nancy was his intended target because she was the “leader of the pack” against Donald Trump. He later bludgeoned Paul over the head three times, nearly killing him. Thankfully, Paul survived, but more than a year later, Nancy’s husband still suffers from headaches and dizzy spells.

Trump, along with his offspring and several high-profile Republicans, reacted with jokes about the attack. Some of them are still cracking jokes.

In The Art of Power, Nancy writes that her house remains a target thanks to Republican-led ecosystems of hate speech and conspiracies. Similar behavior is on the rise outside the homes of elected and appointed officials throughout the country.

“Amid this poisonous rhetoric, I also do not hear serious, sustained calls by the other side saying that threats of political violence and personal demonization are unacceptable,” Nancy writes.

When she speaks to young people about running for office, especially to young women, too often she hears a reluctance to put their families in harm’s way.

“What they most often mention now as their greatest fear is the attack on Paul—and that something like that could happen in their own homes,” she writes. “We cannot ask people to serve in public life if the cost is risking the safety of their families and those they love.”

Speaking of safety risks, the congressional leader provides many details about Jan. 6 in The Art of Power. The mob of Trump supporters chanted “Hang Mike Pence” as they ransacked the hallways of the Capitol. Many also chanted “Where the fuck is Nancy?” During the insurrection, 138 officers from the Capitol and DC Metropolitan Police were injured and 15 were hospitalized.

Rioting Trump fans hit officers on the head with lead pipes and sprayed them with chemical irritants. They beat officers with stun guns, fists, sticks and clubs. One officer sustained two cracked ribs and two smashed spinal discs. Another was stabbed with a metal fence stake.

And this: Assuming they would not survive the violence, many congressional staff and even members of the vice president’s own security detail called their families to tell them goodbye.

“Watching the insurrection, which Trump had instigated, begging him to provide the National Guard—as we did and which he refused to send—and taking into account my own worries about the basic security of Vice President Mike Pence, hiding inside the Capitol complex, and the important role he had to play, I knew we had to prevail,” Nancy writes.

Prevail they did, although 121 Republicans, including Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise, couldn’t admit out loud that Trump lost Arizona, so they voted against the certification of that state’s electoral votes. Even after a violent mob defecated inside the Capitol and smashed everything in its path, some Republicans still sided with the mob.

The chapter about Jan. 6 is titled “That Our Flag is Still There.” Even as rioters waved Confederate flags and wore “Camp Auschwitz” T-shirts, Old Glory still flew on the Capitol after the insurrectionist mob was removed and Congress played its constitutional role in certifying Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 election.

Following Bob Dylan’s set at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Willie Nelson headlined the evening with a huge American flag behind him. Approximately 17,000 joyous and peaceful fans cheered him on. Dylan, 83, and Willie, 91, have done more to keep America great than any flag-clutching MAGA malcontent. I’m glad Nancy and Paul Pelosi were alive to witness the show.

Free Will Astrology: Week of Aug. 21

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Some centenarians testify they have lived more than a century because they smoked many cigarettes, drank a lot of booze and ate a steady diet of junk food. Should the rest of us adapt their habits? Of course not. The likelihood of remaining healthy while following such an unsound regimen is infinitesimal. Just because a few lucky people miraculously thrived like that is not a sound argument for imitating them. I bring this to your attention, Aries, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to upgrade your commitment to healthy habits. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to love your body better, this is it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus stage magician Doug Henning had lavish ambitions. They served him well as he became a star performer in theater and on TV. “If I produce a 450-pound Bengal tiger,” he said, “it’s going to create a lot more wonder than if I produce a rabbit.” That’s the spirit I invite you to embrace in the coming weeks, Taurus. The cosmos is authorizing you to expand your understanding of what you can accomplish—and then accomplish it. Dream bigger dreams than you have previously dared.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The color of planet Earth is predominantly blue with green, brown and white mixed in. And for people all over the world, blue is more often their favorite color than any other. Why? In part because blue typically evokes peace, tranquility, security and stability. It’s often used in therapeutic environments, since it makes us feel more at ease about expressing our feelings. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Gemini, because you are entering a blue phase of your cycle. It will be a favorable time to harvest the benefits of relaxing and slowing down. You are more likely to feel at home with yourself and accept yourself just as you are.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Harvard Business School professor Gerald Zaltman, born under the sign of Cancer, says that 95% of our buying choices originate in our subconscious minds. Behavioral psychologist Susan Weinschenk believes 90% of all our decision-making is unconscious. But I propose that in the coming weeks, you increase the amount of conscious awareness you bring to sorting out your options. Cosmic energies will conspire in your favor if you do. You will receive unexpected boosts and generate creative enhancements if you resolve to rouse more lucid analysis and careful thoughtfulness.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A wealthy hedge fund manager named Raj Rajaratnam paid Leo singer Kenny Rogers $4 million to perform at his epic birthday party. But the night turned nightmarish for Rogers when Rajaratnam insisted that he sing his hit song “The Gambler” over and over again. Finally, after 12 repetitions, Rogers refused to do more. I wonder if you, too, might soon have to deal with a situation that’s too much of a good thing. My advice: Make sure all agreements between you and others are clear and firm. Get a guarantee that you will receive exactly what you want, and don’t do more than you have promised.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Now and then, zoologists decide that their classifications of species need to be revised and refined. For example, three subspecies of soft-furred, teardrop-shaped hedgehogs in Southeast Asia were recently elevated to distinct species of their own. They are no longer considered to be subspecies of Hylomys suillusbut, but are now named H. dorsalis, H. maxi and H. peguensis. I bring this to your attention, Virgo, because I suspect that you, too, are ready for an upgrade to a new category all your own. It’s time for you to claim greater sovereignty. You will be wise to define how distinctive and unique you are, to distinguish yourself from influences that are superficially like you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When mega-famous artist Pablo Picasso was asked how he felt about NASA landing people on the moon in 1969, he said, “It means nothing to me. I have no opinion about it, and I don’t care.” I invite you to use his statement as one of your power mottoes in the coming weeks. Now is an excellent time to identify the experiences, influences, events and people about which you have absolutely zero interest. Once you do that, I predict you will have a rush of clear revelations about the most interesting experiences, influences, events and people you want in your future.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu made an observation that could serve as your watchword in the coming months. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,” he wrote, “while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” In my astrological opinion, Scorpio, you are now primed to embody and express these states with unique intensity. If you embrace the inspiring challenge of loving deeply and being loved deeply, you will reach new heights of strength and courage.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many musical instruments must be constantly adjusted to ensure they stay in tune. This usually means that the note A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second—with all other notes tuned in relation to it. Having sung in bands for years, I have seen how guitarists, bass players, violinists and even drummers have to continually attend to their tuning during performances. Imagine the diligent finesse it takes to keep an entire orchestra of many instruments in tune with each other. I suspect that one of your jobs in the coming weeks, Sagittarius, will have similarities to this kind of management and coordination.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Dancing is always good for you, but it will be extra healthy and energizing in the next four weeks. I hope you will be inspired to dance as often as possible, even if you just do it alone in your kitchen or bedroom while listening to music that moves you. Do you need rational explanations for why this is a good idea? OK, here are the hard facts: Dancing reduces stress, raises serotonin levels, enhances well-being and is excellent physical exercise. Here’s another motivational reason: Dancing literally makes you smarter. Scientific research clearly says so (tinyurl.com/SmartDancing). Furthermore: In the near future, you will be in a playful, sexy, exuberant phase of your astrological cycle.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Quo signo nata es?” is the Latin expression for “What’s your sign?” Did anyone in ancient Rome ever say that? Probably not, since it’s a modern idiom. However, astrology was very popular in that society and era. According to scholar Rhianna Padman in her essay “Astrology in Ancient Rome,” Romans “believed that the specific positions of celestial bodies at the moment of a person’s birth could greatly impact their life and character.” Back then, Thrasyllus of Mendes was a prominent astrologer who became a key advisor to Emperor Tiberius. Anyway, Aquarius, I bring “Quo signo nata es?” to your attention so as to inspire the following assignment: Update all your old favorite things. Put new spins on symbols and ideas that have served you for a long time. Take the best parts of your traditions and transplant them into the future.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to declare amnesty about all matters affecting your close alliances. Dissolve grudges, please. Tussle less, play more. Relax your demands and expectations—and nicely ask your companions to relax their demands and expectations. If possible, forgive others and yourself for everything; failing that, forgive as much of everything as feels right. You might even convene a ritual in which you and your intimate collaborators chant the following affirmation: “We are gleefully free to reimagine and reinvent the ways we fit together!”

Homework: What ideas are you allergic to? What feelings make you sick? Can you immunize yourself against them? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Eat, Sip and See

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Ross

Edible Garden

Marin Art and Garden Center is celebrating Marin’s culinary event of the season, the much anticipated second annual Edible Garden adventure. Foodies of the North Bay should save the date, because there is nothing that can compare with an evening of eating one’s way through an idyllic garden in Marin. From beginning to end, this Edible Garden event is a never ending stream of wines to sip and bites to enjoy whilst strolling through the garden. And if that isn’t enough wine and dine action, there’s also a collection of vendors at the end offering plates stacked high with local food fare. Tickets for the Marin Art and Garden Center’s Edible Garden are on sale now. The edible event itself will take place from 5 to 8pm on Sunday, Sept. 15. To learn more and/or purchase tickets, visit maringarden.org/ediblegarden.

Fulton

Falling Skies

The sky is falling! Or at least it is in Fulton’s Crossing Art Gallery from Friday, Aug. 30 to Sunday, Dec. 1. That’s right; career-artist Gale S. McKee is set to present an exhibition in Fulton entitled The Sky is Falling, and it’s not an event any local artist will want to miss. This 11-part multimedia (acrylic, glass and aluminum) painting series was inspired by the volcanic eruptions in Iceland from the years 2010, 2023 and 2024. A free-to-attend opening reception is set for 1 to 4pm on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 1220 River Rd. in Fulton. To learn more about The Sky is Falling exhibition and its artist, visit galesmckee.com.

Napa Valley

Trail Blazers

Come out and join the community in celebrating the newly completed 8.2-mile stretch of the Vine Trail spanning from St. Helena to Calistoga. Partake in the party at any point along the new stretch of trail for a morning of movement, music, meet up rides and exploration. This addition makes for a total of 47 miles of connected trails all through the Napa Valley. The path spans from Vallejo to Calistoga, connecting the valley in one continuous, eco-friendly commute. To date, the grand total of Vine Trail users has reached 3,223,650, and the year-to-date number is 396,873. The Vine Trail celebration is set to take place from 8am to noon on Saturday, Aug. 17. To learn more about the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition’s Vine Trail, visit vinetrail.org.

Sebastopol

Film vs. AI

Sebastopol Film Society is presenting an intriguing new themed movie event, Does Film Survive AI, at the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. For anyone looking for answers in a world rife with questions about AI technology, this is the perfect place to ask some questions (and get some answers that haven’t been generated by AI). Come see Quinn Halleck’s film, Sigma_001, and enjoy a conversation with its entirely human director, Quinn Halleck. Sundance film festival director emeritus John Cooper will attend and join in on the AI discussion as well. Does Film Survive AI takes place on Aug. 24, with the presentation and film from 6 to 7pm and a moderated Q&A from 7 to 7:30pm. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit sebastopolfilmfestival.org.

Petaluma director Mitchell Altieri’s new film is ‘Consumed’

Petaluma based filmmaker Mitchell Altieri has been making films for nearly three decades. His latest effort as part of his creative partnership with Phil Flores (named “The Butcher Brothers”), Consumed, starring cult film icon Devon Sawa, hits theaters and video-on-demand Friday, Aug. 16.

It was December 1997, in this publication, where a much younger Altieri made his presence known as a Sonoma County filmmaker. He had just moved to Petaluma, having grown up in South San Francisco alongside his then filmmaking partners, Phil Flores and Jerry Moore, in the nascent American White Horse Pictures. Altieri was preparing to co-direct (alongside Flores) his first feature film, The Long Cut.

The article serves as a time-capsule of sorts, before Altieri endured the many ups and downs of most indie filmmakers. His exuberant quote was, “We could shoot it now,” (referring to The Long Cut), “but we’re still looking for investors. Obviously, the more money we raise, the better the film will look.”

While much has changed since that article was published, that quote remains all too relevant.

There’s been a seeming increase in Sonoma County filmmaking of late, with filmmakers like Occidental based George Dondero (2023’s War of the Wills), Santa Rosa born and bred Austin Smagalski (2024’s To Die Alone) and the Bohemian’s own editor Daedalus Howell (2024’s Werewolf Serenade), but Altieri would appear to be the longest standing, working indie filmmaker in Sonoma County.

When asked why he chooses Sonoma County, or more accurately, Petaluma, as his home base, Altieri said, “I can say I experienced LA from its fanciest, being wined and dined in Beverly Hills with a hefty per diem you can’t spend all in one day, to working out of someone’s house in the Valley mid-summer and no AC.”

But as soon as those projects wrapped, “I’d race back to Petaluma, and it felt like I could plug myself into some magical NorCal charging system,” he continued. “I think it really comes down to—I couldn’t think in LA. Too many distractions, ideas, temptations. Here, I can focus on one project and see it through. I think that’s what’s helped me most in my career.”

While the aforementioned Long Cut film never saw completion, he and Flores kept plugging away. First they made the solid coming-of-age comedy-drama Lurking in Suburbia, which was completed in 2006. That film was written and directed by Altieri and saw some festival play before being picked up by an indie film distribution label. While Flores was deeply involved in Lurking in Suburbia, it was the duo’s next film, their first as co-directors, that put them on the map.

The Hamiltons (2006) was written by Altieri, Flores and fellow Petaluman Adam Weis. The film is a strange, dark comedy about a family of vampires trying to get by in this modern world. It was shot entirely in Petaluma.

Almost out of nowhere, it was chosen to be distributed by Lionsgate under a project called “8 Films to Die For,” which saw eight indie films released into theaters across America. Mileage varied on each film, but The Hamiltons was a definite standout. This was due to both the clever nature of the film and because the duo branded themselves with the catchy name, “The Butcher Brothers.”

The Hamiltons opened a ton of doors. Soon, the filmmakers were off to North Carolina to film a reboot of the 1986 cult horror classic, April Fools Day. While the shoot came in on time and on budget, Altieri doesn’t much like to talk about his first major foray into the studio system, as the film was not well received.

After that, The Butcher Brothers dusted themselves off and wrote the supernatural biker flick, The Violent Kind (co-produced by this writer), which was filmed entirely in Petaluma, with a few scenes in neighboring Penngrove. Said Altieri, “The film was meant to be a homage to 1970s films that we grew up liking.”

The filmmakers included elements of several different genres, such as biker and horror films, with some serious David Lynch vibes. That film scored a debut at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and also marked their first collaboration with longtime partner, Jeffrey Allard, who made waves as producer of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, a 2006 reboot of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise.

Since then, Altieri has worked steadily. “I have shot films in Europe, Mexico, Canada and all over the U.S. Projects where we had to deal with live snakes or deal with the worst winter in Maryland’s recent history while shooting a movie about vampiric clowns,” he recalled with a laugh. When Allard sent him the script for Consumed, Altieri said he immediately connected with the material, written by David Calbert.

“I fell in love with the project because it wasn’t just a horror film. David had been dealing with a parent battling cancer. His script, even though our main character battles a creature, in the film, it’s her battle with cancer. I lost my father to cancer,” he explained.

Altieri said the shoot was rather grueling, lasting seven weeks. “The first four weeks were in the woods or the ‘New Jersey Wilds,’ as we came to call them. Mind you, there were no cover sets. So, every day was lugging gear deep into the woods, fighting off mosquitoes, constant run-ins with black bears and thunderstorms.”

Having done a few different projects, Altieri said he was excited to get back to shooting horror. “It’s been fun these past few years, as I’ve been hired a few times now to write big-budget war scripts, as well as directing dramas and thrillers for the TV and streamers. So, returning to horror was really nice,” he noted. “But it wasn’t being a creature feature that lured me in, as most think. It was the personal battle of the main character and what it meant to a lot of us. That’s really what this film is about.”

In rereading the Bohemian article on him from 1997 and offering some reflection, the professionalism of 30 years behind the lens shined through. “The wonderful thing about filmmaking is that you don’t have to grow up. Peter Pan, right?” he said with a chuckle. “So I look at the article and see some bright-eyed kids ready to take on the world with their art, talent and passion. And all that remains.” He paused before adding, “With a new film coming out, that same fire remains.”

When asked what people can expect when Consumed hits screens, Altieri said, “a fun, thrilling creature feature. But to get the most out of it is to experience what it is really about—cosmic horror. Is any of it even real?” Without missing a beat, he added, “I know, I know, you give The Butcher Brothers a straightforward script, and somehow it always ends up trying to bend space and time.”

Colorist Non-Pareil, Bettina Bourdens

It was while body painting on a pair of XL boobies at the Playboy Mansion that Bettina Bourdens’ mind began to open to the teeming creative possibilities of cosmetology. That undraping of the universe started a journey in which the young Los Angeles studio painter would become Sonoma County’s foremost painter of hair—a colorist non-pareil.

And it was seated in her light pink and fern Santa Rosa hair studio that we bandied questions as I fiddled with her sample swatches, divided into pastel, neon and radioactive color series. For full disclosure, I was a client of hers, during my years-long platinum afro era.

CH: Bettina, what distinguishes you in the local scene, besides your fine arts background?

BB: Coming from my love of vintage, I have really studied hair from the past. I can cut and style old Hollywood waves, ’50s poodle cuts, ’60s Sassoon cuts, and I can modernize them. Last week, I did a Farrah Fawcett cut with big ’70s feathering.

CH: And how did you make it of the moment?

BB: (laughs) Well, we dyed her hair black and turquoise.

CH: What’s in right now?

BB: Because it’s the summer, blond and sun lightened hair.

CH: I saw your Instagram post of the infinity of blond variations. I think you have the best stories on Instagram, by the way. What do clips of kitties, flowers and raccoons joyously popping bubbles to KC and the Sunshine Band have to do with your studio?

BB: They have the same energy, the same joy.

CH: What is a look that is a testament to your artistry? A rainbow ombre or a three-flavored cotton candy swirl?

BB: Actually, doing gray transitions are harder. Going gray had a taboo. But now a lot of women who were previously coloring their gray are choosing to go gray. Going dye cold turkey looks terrible, so a new service is a gray transition that blends color and gray and can fade into a natural gray or be maintained as a mix. Many women were going as far as LA for the service, but I want them to know they can get it here!

CH: Do you still paint … canvas?

BB: (laughs) I have started a practice of doing portraits of my friend’s dogs in oil paints.

CH: Tres bien.

Contact BB. Bourdens’ Instagram lookbook is @bettina_bourdens, and her website, hairbybettina.com, is the place to look at her full range of coloring, styling, cutting and restorative treatment services.

Back to School for Transitional Kindergarten

Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom touted the success of California’s transitional kindergarten (TK) expansion, saying enrollment in the $2.7 billion program had doubled over the past two years. His comments echoed those of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who called the numbers “exciting.”

They both pointed to new data showing that enrollment in the free program for four year olds had gone from 75,000 two years ago to 151,000 last year—a significant recovery after steep declines during the pandemic.

But while the overall numbers are up, the percentage of eligible four year olds enrolled in TK actually fell. As the TK age cut-off widens, the number of eligible children has more than doubled—but the percentage of students who are enrolled dropped between 4 to 7 percentage points between the 2021-22 and 2023-24 school years, depending on how the number of eligible children is calculated.

CalMatters used two approaches to estimate the percent of eligible TK students enrolled: using kindergarten enrollment the same year as a proxy and using general population projections from the Department of Finance. Both approaches show the same trend.

Department of Education spokesperson Elizabeth Sanders said the department uses a method from the Finance Department to calculate the percentage of eligible students in TK, but did not provide specifics.

“The trends we see in the percentages of eligible students whose families are enrolling in TK mirror the trends described by (CalMatters’) data set,” she said. “As we expand the number of students and families eligible, we expect the percentage of families who choose to participate to hover around 70% and to increase following full implementation.”

Sanders pointed to the growing number of children attending TK as a hopeful sign for the program, which is intended to boost academic achievement and social skills and prepare students for the rigors of elementary school.

“The fact that we have doubled the number of individual students participating in the program during these implementation years makes us very proud,” Sanders said.

TK advocates said the increased numbers alone are worth celebrating, and they expect the percentage to inch upward over time.

“This is great; this is what we want to see. It shows that schools are building back trust,” said Patricia Lozano, executive director of Early Edge California, which advocates for early childhood education. “TK is a great option for families, but it’s good for kids, too. Kids need to be around other kids.”

Transitional kindergarten was never meant to be an exclusive early childhood service for families; it’s intended to be one option among several the state offers, Lozano said. So any increase in participation is reason for hope.

Sonoma, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties have some of the highest rates of TK enrollment, thanks in part to extensive outreach to parents. Bus advertisements, billboards, online ads, and flyers at day care centers and preschools all helped bring in new families.

Transitional Kindergarten for All Four Year Olds

The state created transitional kindergarten in 2010, but it was limited mostly to larger districts and was open only to children whose birthdays fell between September and December. In 2021, Newsom expanded it so all four year olds could eventually participate. Rolling out gradually, the eligibility window widens by a few months every year. In 2025-26, all four year olds will be eligible, and all districts except charters will be required to offer it.

Research has shown that TK and preschool have many benefits for children, including higher rates of graduation and employment, less criminal activity later in life and overall better health, while parents benefit economically from an extra year of free care for their children.

Transitional kindergarten is meant to be like preschool, a low-key environment where children spend most of their day playing and learning social skills. Typically, children learn to take turns and make friends, express themselves and regulate their emotions, count to 10 and recognize simple words, and learn fine motor skills such as holding a pencil. Unlike preschool, TK teachers are required to have credentials and, by 2025-26, extra units in early childhood education.

There are a few theories explaining the stagnant percentage of TK enrollment. One is that not all districts are offering it yet. Districts known as “basic aid” districts have been slow to open TK programs, and some aren’t offering it at all. Basic aid districts are typically wealthy districts that opt out of state funding because they collect more money through local property taxes. Because of that, they can’t get state funding to operate TK classes.

Marin County is home to several basic aid districts that have lagged in opening TK programs. Larkspur-Corte Madera School District isn’t offering TK at all, saying it can’t afford to without state help. Ross Elementary doesn’t offer TK, either. The result is that Marin has one of the lowest TK enrollment rates in California, even though the county has pockets of low-income families who would benefit from the free service.

“Everyone thinks TK is a good idea, but for basic aid districts, it’s an unfunded mandate,” said Marin County Superintendent of Schools John A. Carroll. “It’s taken a while, but we’re getting there. Most have now gotten on board.”

Facilities have also been an obstacle for school districts. Districts must find space for new TK classrooms, which in fast-growing parts of the state has been difficult. Proposition 2, a $10 billion bond on the November ballot, would provide funding for schools to build and expand TK classrooms.

Preschool vs. Transitional Kindergarten

Another hurdle to TK enrollment is preschool. In addition to private preschools and federally funded Head Start programs, California offers free preschool to low-income families. Some parents said they prefer to keep their children in preschool because it’s convenient or they like the program.

A new report from UC Berkeley found that the TK expansion has had a damaging effect on state preschools and Head Start, as parents move their children out of those programs.

Although the overall number of three and four year olds enrolled in early childhood education programs has increased slightly, Head Start centers in California have lost 43,000 preschoolers, while state preschools have lost 9,000 four year olds since the TK expansion. The result has been shuttered classrooms, a scarcity of teachers and uncertain futures in what researchers called “pre-K deserts.”

“The real question is, are more families accessing pre-kindergarten overall? We can’t find evidence that they are,” said Bruce Fuller, an education professor at UC Berkeley and an author of the study. “To say that the TK enrollment has doubled relative to a year in which many preschool classrooms were closed (due to Covid) is disingenuous.”

The whole early education system in California is overly complex and confusing for parents, Fuller and his team said. They recommend a streamlined, consolidated system that delivers high-quality, play-based programs that are distributed equitably throughout the state.

Freedom of Information Act for the Win

0

As a guy whose maternal grandfather was a snitch for the U.S. military and the FBI, I have always been fascinated by government lies and secrecy in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

No one knows for sure when lying became a constant factor in public life. But it generated a head of steam following the Second World War with the communist witch hunts and the advent of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) charade led by Sen. Joseph McCarthy. This was the genesis of the Cold War that has never ended, since all the other countries have learned to lie as well as we do.

History buffs may recall that the ensuing hysteria created a blacklist of actors, directors and screenwriters, known as the Hollywood 10—including former Marinite Alvah Bessie—and many hundreds of other innocent people who were also caught in the web. Aside from the pathetic clown show we call politics in the present day, this may have been our nation’s darkest hour.

One of the other government snitches, and there is no better word to describe their ilk, was a two-bit actor by the name of Ronald Reagan. But the real star of the show was Joe McCarthy, with the shark-like lawyers, Roy Cohn and Robert Kennedy, in support.

There can be no dispute that some information held by government sources should be protected, for the safety of the general public. But the government, at least until the next fascist regime is put in place, is not a paramilitary organization. All taxpayer funded activities should be open to public scrutiny, with a tiny number of exceptions. In theory.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) of the 1970s shouldn’t have been necessary to enact, but it was. It’s law that requires the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased or uncirculated information and documents controlled by the government upon request.The FOIA is most commonly known for being invoked by news agencies for reporting purposes, though such uses make up less than 10% of all requests—which are more frequently made by businesses, law firms and individuals.

A society whose elected officials and federal and state government officials have a distant relationship with the truth needs the FOIA to function correctly.

Craig Corsini lives in San Rafael.

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Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom touted the success of California’s transitional kindergarten (TK) expansion, saying enrollment in the $2.7 billion program had doubled over the past two years. His comments echoed those of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who called the numbers “exciting.” They both pointed to new data showing that enrollment in the free program for...

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As a guy whose maternal grandfather was a snitch for the U.S. military and the FBI, I have always been fascinated by government lies and secrecy in the land of the free and the home of the brave. No one knows for sure when lying became a constant factor in public life. But it generated a head of steam following...
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