Barn Raising

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LANTERN (Library Association for a New Techno-Current Regional Entity) was founded last year to spearhead a new library for Sebastopol. It includes seven board members who share this vision and a growing advisory board helping us meet our goal. As board members, we recognize that Sebastopol has outgrown its library. Even though the library was recently remodeled, it is overused and lacks facilities and technology to meet the needs of the future.

Building a new Sebastopol library will take many years.LANTERN envisions a new library of extraordinary beauty that functions effectively for all users and for a variety of functions. The citizens of Sebastopol and the West County will benefit from a design that attracts people and draws them into the building. The new library will meet the needs of a digitally dominated age.

This library will, of course, be primarily an information source, an access to books, computers and media. The 21st-century library also has programs to educate and entertain us. The new library will also have quiet study areas that our current library lacks, and will serve as a meeting place and hub for finding and sharing knowledge.

LANTERN is seeking input from all ages and fields to determine what the community will want from a new library. A design team will work with the city of Sebastopol to help create an initial plan so costs can be determined.

We are considering a bond issue on the West County ballot to help pay for this new library. We are also seeking funding from foundations, companies and individuals, and government grants.

We ask Sebastopol library users to let us know what they want from a new facility. We’re also looking for intellectual and financial assistance. Donations can be made at any Exchange Bank branch under the name LANTERN.

LANTERN is a registered nonprofit organization with pending tax-exempt status, and your donation is tax deductible. Contact us at in**@************ry.org

Clark Mitchel is a Sebasopol resident and the co-chair of LANTERN.

Open Mic is a weekly feature in the ‘Bohemian.’ We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write op*****@******an.com.

Could Efren Carrillo be Reelected?

Efren Carrillo won’t be leaving his post as Sonoma County Supervisor anytime soon, unless public pressure mounts to a tipping point, says political analyst and Sonoma State University political science professor David McCuan.

His analysis comes despite incredible outrage from the public, his fellow board members and other politicians at Carrillo’s first meeting back on the board after being found not guilty of attempted peeking by a jury last month. At the meeting last week, Supervisors Mike McGuire, Shirlee Zane and Susan Gorin called for Carrillo to step down, and chairman David Rabbit stopped just short of joining them. “We can ask you to resign, but ultimately it’s up to you,” he said.

Even if it were unanimous, the board has no legal recourse here, says McCuan. Rabbit can rearrange Carrillo’s schedule, maybe reshuffle his committee appointments, but “he’s clearly not going to do anything like that,” says McCuan.

What could jeopardize Carrillo’s next two-and-a-half years on the board, says the political analyst, is if his victim in the peeking case, currently known only as Jane Doe, reveals her identity. The victim “giving a personal face to the fear and absolute horror she felt” could raise public ire to the point a recall might be successful. Without that, McCuan speculates, the supervisor may even have a good chance of garnering reelection.

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“It’s a long way away and he can raise a ton of money,” he says. “[There’s] a series of professional politicians that are around and behind Efren Carrillo that his opponents don’t have.” Those professionals include personal friend and former U.S. Congressman Doug Bosco, who is also a principle owner of the daily newspaper of record in Sonoma County, the Press Democrat.

Who would replace Carrillo should he face a recall? Sebastopol mayor Robert Jacobs is charismatic, smart and on the rise—but he may be the wrong gender. A recall candidate would likely need to be female to appeal to voters in this case. And even if a recall effort—which would likely cost a quarter-million dollars or more—were gaining strength, Carrillo could just resign, leaving Gov. Jerry Brown to appoint a successor. He might look to a friend who knows the area—Bosco has thrown six-figure fundraisers for the Governor at his Santa Rosa home—for advice. The result could be more of the same, or worse, for progressives in the liberal fifth district who would likely behind a recall.

No matter the case, this story still has legs. A civil trial may be in the works, as the statute of limitations is two years in this case. Carrillo has already divulged he ripped open a woman’s bedroom screen at 3:30am, while he was wearing nothing but underwear and socks, carrying a cell phone and beer, with the intent of sharing a “couple of Plinys” with her. What was on his cell phone camera, and what he did during the 10-minute gap between his knocks on her front door, has yet to be revealed.

May 10: Elizabeth Warren at Angelico Hall

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Elizabeth Warren got her first look at the workings of Washington, D.C., when she was called in to advise Congress on rewriting bankruptcy laws. The Harvard law professor fought against political dysfunction, retooling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to better protect the working and middle classes, and ran for Senate in 2012. Now the senior senator from Massachusetts has written A Fighting Chance about the experience and how the government can do better for working families. Warren reads from and signs her new book on May 10 at Angelico Hall, Dominican University, 50 Acacia Ave., San Rafael. 4pm. $35. 415.927.0960 x1.

May 10: Ballet Zempoalxochitl at Jarvis Conservatory

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Named for the Mexican marigold, the Ballet Zempoalxochitl reflects the traditional cultures of Mexico in their movements and style. This week, Napa Valley’s Ballet Folklorico dance company unveils its new production, Bailes de Mi Tierra (“Dances of My Country”). The show is choreographed and directed by Pete Peralez and accompanied by live mariachi music. The performance is set for May 10 at the Jarvis Conservatory, 1711 Main St., Napa. 7pm. $10. 707.255.5445.

May 9: General Smiley at Whiskey Tip

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You know those songs where someone chants over a beat, talking rather than singing? Well, in the genre of dancehall music, that’s called “toasting.” And in the world of toasting, General Smiley was one of the first and remains one of the best. General Smiley is still at it today, currently on a West Coast tour with Ragga Lox and others, and stopping in on May 9 at Whiskey Tip, 1910 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa. 8pm. 707.843.5535.

May 8: Jayme Stone at Throckmorton Theater

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Award-winning banjoist and composer Jayme Stone knows the banjo’s role in the world like few others. Stone’s latest album, The Other Side of the Air, reinvents music he learned in West Africa, Peru and India. Joined by a backing trio, Stone transforms classic melodies into accessible and compelling works. He performs twice in the North Bay this week: May 8 at Throckmorton Theater (142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley; $20—$24; 8pm) and May 10 at the Occidental Center for the Arts (3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental. $30; 8pm).

Long Live Mother Jones

Mother Jones. That name, if it’s recognized at all these days, is best known for the left-leaning magazine that bears it.

But Mother Jones—the sobriquet of Irish-American union activist Mary Harris Jones—was once a household name, alternately praised and vilified for her lifetime commitment to workers’ rights in the factories and mines of America.

Those causes, and more, are the primary focus of a rousing new play by folksinger-playwright Si Kahn. In Mother Jones in Heaven, running through May 18 at Main Stage West, Kahn has accomplished two notable things: giving voice to this somewhat forgotten historical figure, and crafting the perfect vehicle for actor-singer Mary Gannon Graham. As Mother Jones, Graham is sensational, adding another indelible character to a growing list (Patsy Cline, Shirley Valentine) that the Sebastopol actress has claimed as her own in recent years.

Set in a whiskey bar somewhere in the clouds of paradise, the play begins with Mother Jones expressing surprise at having ended up in heaven. She’s worried that she might be lonely without all her old activist friends, who’d spent their lives being told they were headed straight for hell.

Not only does Mother Jones have company, she gets free whiskey and beer whenever she wants it, and a full-on Irish folk band (led by Jim Peterson) to back her up whenever she feels like bursting into song. For Mother Jones, Kahn has written a dozen or so original songs (maybe two more than necessary), nicely underscoring Jones’ emotional life with words and music ranging from the playful and sweet to the heartbroken and angry.

The show unfolds as a series of loosely connected stories from Jones’ life. Especially powerful is her story of losing her husband and four children to yellow fever. That loss was an overwhelming source of grief, which fueled Mary Jones’ passion for sticking up for the poor, the hard-hit and the underserved. Graham relates this and other tales with a skill and emotional honesty that is at times utterly breathtaking.

Directed by Beth Craven with sensitivity and some strategically placed whimsy, Mother Jones in Heaven has very little actual plot, but plenty of power. Before it’s over, audiences might find themselves longing for the Great Beyond themselves, just so they could seek out this legend and share a whiskey or two with her.

Rating (out of 5): ★★★★½

Stags Leap Year

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Stags Leap District is a little slice of Cabernet paradise and a copy editor’s headache. Is it Stag’s Leap, Stags’ Leap or Stags Leap? All three are true, in their own way.

Two wineries wrangled over the designation in the 1980s until a California Supreme Court decision simply moved one of the litigant’s apostrophes. The spoils went to the lawyers. “Lots of Porsches were bought for college kids,” winegrower Richard Steltzner remarked during a panel discussion held on April 26 to commemorate the awarding of American Viticultural Area (AVA) status to Stags Leap District in 1989. By then, it seems, nobody was in the mood to champion an apostrophe.

If a map of Napa Valley’s sub-appellations looks a little like a butcher’s chart of meat cuts, divided into just about equal parts Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and others, Stags Leap District must fit into the top sirloin spot. One of the first to be recognized as an AVA. It’s Napa’s smallest sub-appellation, but it had an outsized reputation since before it was officially recognized. It was a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon that outranked top Bordeaux contenders in the—say it with me now—1976 “Judgment of Paris” tasting that shook up the wine world.

Seated before a panoramic view of the rocky little appellation at Shafer Vineyards, panelists searched for words to define the region’s unique qualities. It’s the orography, said Kirk Grace, director of viticulture at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, the way cool winds from San Pablo Bay meet the hot, rocky palisades. It’s acidity and dusty, cocoa powder tannins, said Michael Beaulac, winemaker and general manager at Pine Ridge Vineyards.

To illustrate the famed accessibility of the area’s Cabernet Sauvignon, John Shafer relates a beloved old yarn about the time he debuted his 1978 Hillside Select at a tasting. “Every third person who came by the table asked me how much Merlot is in the wine,” Shafer recalled. Finally, one guy sidled up to him behind the table and whispered, “If you tell me how much Merlot is in there, I won’t tell anybody!”

Poured from Shafer’s library vintages, the all-Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Hillside Select is soft indeed, and still tasting as young as this morning’s breakfast: perfectly browned toast and a spoonful of blueberry preserves. Similarly plush, the 2011 One Point Five ($75) has some grip and cool, chocolate mint notes that keep the brown sugar and ripe plum fruit in line. But there’s no need to sidle up and whisper, “How much Petit Verdot is in this wine?” It’s 5 percent.

Shafer Vineyards, 6154 Silverado Trail, Napa. Tasting by appointment only, Monday–Friday, 10am and 2pm. $55 per person. 707.944.2877.

The New and the Raw

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Eating “raw” is more than just a trend. Devotees say it actually makes the body feel different, like a magical energy is coursing through the veins. And, hey, if I had $100 million, I’d eat sashimi every night. But raw food is about more than sushi and salad—fermented food counts, so does fruit, nuts and veggies. Dust off the juicer and put some carrots, beets, apples and ginger through that thing! Or better yet, head to Cotati and check out the Raw Food Festival—they’ve got plenty of free samples, demonstrations, film screenings and a chance to connect with local farmers and retailers of raw foods. The Raw Food Fest is presented by Oliver’s Market Saturday, May 10, at Songbird Community Healing Center. 8297 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati. 10am–4pm. Free. 707. 888.8739.—N.G.

The restaurant scene is waking up in sleepy Glen Ellen. San Francisco–based restaurateurs are planning to open Aventine Glen Ellen in the 170-year-old Glen Ellen grist mill. Aventine has locations in San Francisco and Hollywood. The new restaurant will offer a wide-ranging menu of moderately priced Italian food and include an in-house brewery.

Chef Adolfo Veronese (pictured), son of San Francisco attorney and mayoral candidate Angela Alioto, first learned to cook at his father’s Osteria Romana. He has worked at San Domenico Restaurant in New York City, Drago in L.A., Valentino in Las Vegas and Evvia in Palo Alto. The restaurant is scheduled to open by early June.—S.H.

Barn Raising

LANTERN (Library Association for a New Techno-Current Regional Entity) was founded last year to spearhead a new library for Sebastopol. It includes seven board members who share this vision and a growing advisory board helping us meet our goal. As board members, we recognize that Sebastopol has outgrown its library. Even though the library was recently remodeled, it is...

Could Efren Carrillo be Reelected?

'Peeking' supervisor could see another four years, says political analyst.

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May 10: Elizabeth Warren at Angelico Hall

Elizabeth Warren got her first look at the workings of Washington, D.C., when she was called in to advise Congress on rewriting bankruptcy laws. The Harvard law professor fought against political dysfunction, retooling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to better protect the working and middle classes, and ran for Senate in 2012. Now the senior senator from Massachusetts has...

May 10: Ballet Zempoalxochitl at Jarvis Conservatory

Named for the Mexican marigold, the Ballet Zempoalxochitl reflects the traditional cultures of Mexico in their movements and style. This week, Napa Valley’s Ballet Folklorico dance company unveils its new production, Bailes de Mi Tierra (“Dances of My Country”). The show is choreographed and directed by Pete Peralez and accompanied by live mariachi music. The performance is set for...

May 9: General Smiley at Whiskey Tip

You know those songs where someone chants over a beat, talking rather than singing? Well, in the genre of dancehall music, that’s called “toasting.” And in the world of toasting, General Smiley was one of the first and remains one of the best. General Smiley is still at it today, currently on a West Coast tour with Ragga Lox...

May 8: Jayme Stone at Throckmorton Theater

Award-winning banjoist and composer Jayme Stone knows the banjo’s role in the world like few others. Stone’s latest album, The Other Side of the Air, reinvents music he learned in West Africa, Peru and India. Joined by a backing trio, Stone transforms classic melodies into accessible and compelling works. He performs twice in the North Bay this week: May...

Long Live Mother Jones

Mother Jones. That name, if it's recognized at all these days, is best known for the left-leaning magazine that bears it. But Mother Jones—the sobriquet of Irish-American union activist Mary Harris Jones—was once a household name, alternately praised and vilified for her lifetime commitment to workers' rights in the factories and mines of America. Those causes, and more, are the primary...

Stags Leap Year

Stags Leap District is a little slice of Cabernet paradise and a copy editor's headache. Is it Stag's Leap, Stags' Leap or Stags Leap? All three are true, in their own way. Two wineries wrangled over the designation in the 1980s until a California Supreme Court decision simply moved one of the litigant's apostrophes. The spoils went to the lawyers....

The New and the Raw

Eating "raw" is more than just a trend. Devotees say it actually makes the body feel different, like a magical energy is coursing through the veins. And, hey, if I had $100 million, I'd eat sashimi every night. But raw food is about more than sushi and salad—fermented food counts, so does fruit, nuts and veggies. Dust off the...
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