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49ers move to 2-0; 5 burning questions answered for week 2

Jack Hammer — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 23:05:39 GMT

The 49ers 17-11 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday was a masterclass in resilience. Facing a difficult defense with a raucous crowd on hand for the Eagles home opener, San Francisco needed to weather the storm to stay in the game early.

Once things cleared up late in the first half, the 49ers dominated throughout the remainder of the game to move to 2-0 on the season.

Here are the answers to the five burning questions I asked before the game.

1. Will Kyle Shanahan stay committed to the run? YES

San Francisco struggled to get their running game going during the first half, but stuck with it and things began to open up after halftime.

After rushing for over 100 yards in week one, rookie Elijah Mitchell was held to only 42 yards on 17 carries with a long of 10 yards. He left the game after the third quarter with a shoulder injury, but was able to come back in late in the fourth quarter to help finish off the game after fellow rookie Trey Sermon was knocked out of the game on his first carry.

JaMycal Hasty added 38 yards on only five carries. His 21-yard run in the fourth quarter helped set the 49ers offense up for their second touchdown of the day.

A primary concern with Hasty is his ability to hold onto the football, and this showed up during the fourth quarter when he couldn’t handle a pitch from Jimmy Garoppolo deep in 49ers territory. San Francisco was fortunate to dodge a bullet there as the ball would bounce out of bounds.

You can’t talk about the running game against Philadelphia without mentioning Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers quarterback gained only 20 yards on 11 carries but his fourth quarter touchdown proved to be the game winner. Garoppolo isn’t going to make highlight reel runs, but his ability to get away from pressure and run the quarterback sneak is a big plus. This may sound strange, but go back to last season and watch how many short yardage plays were stuffed because Nick Mullens or C.J. Beathard weren’t able to run a sneak.

2. Can the 49ers passing game take advantage of their opportunities? YES and NO

Jimmy Garoppolo finished the day 22-30, 189 yards and one touchdown through the air, but the game was a bit more difficult than that stat line may suggest.

The combination of crowd noise and pressure from Philadelphia’s pass rush played a big factor in Garoppolo not getting settled into the game early. Garoppolo was unable to connect with on a number of downfield throws throughout the early portion of the game.

Late in the first half Kyle Shanahan turned to the screen game to slow down take advantage of the pass rush and get Garoppolo into a groove. Near midfield with only 25 seconds left in the half, Garoppolo would rip a throw to Deebo Samuel over the middle which the receiver would take down to the Philadelphia 11-yard line. Garoppolo would hit Jauan Jennings for a touchdown on the next play to give the 49ers a lead that they would not relinquish.

3. Can the 49ers defense stop the run? NO

The defense started out defending the run well early in the game but struggled as the game went along, allowing Philadelphia to gain 151 yards on 29 attempts.

Despite the allowing over five yards per carry, the San Francisco defense would do a good job of stopping Philadelphia once they moved into scoring position for the second week in a row.

4. Will the 49ers defense rally to the football? YES

The 49ers defense did a very good job of rallying to the football throughout the game and stifling the Eagles offense.
After completing over 77% of his passes in a week one win over Atlanta, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was able to complete only 52% against San Francisco.

How did the 49ers manage this? They showed the ability to stop the screen game and by the second half Hurts was forced to play quarterback, going four of eighth for only 39 yards. Of Hurt’s 190 yards passing in the game, 91 came off a deep throw to Quez Watkins late in the first half. The Eagles would end up getting zero points on the possession as the 49ers defense would mount a goalline stand. This would prove to be the turning point of the game, as San Francisco would take the ball 97 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing possession to go into halftime with a 7-3 lead.

5. Can the 49ers minimize penalties? YES

Outside of a 15-yard penalty for an illegal crackback block by Mohamed Sanu near the middle of the second quarter which ultimately stalled a drive, the 49ers offense played a pretty clean game with regards to penalties.

In fact, it was the Eagles defense that struggled with penalties. On the final 49ers scoring possession of the game, multiple personal foul calls against Philadelphia kept the drive alive to help set up the 46-yard field goal by Robbie Gould.

Prediction:

49ers 24 Eagles 16

Moved to 2-0 with my predictions. My points total was off, but the 49ers defense did a good job of holding Philadelphia out of the endzone for much of the game as expected.

49ers – Eagles live blog

Jack Hammer — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 16:35:35 GMT

This is the live stream for the 49ers Week 2 road game against the Philadelphia Eagles. I will provide updates and analysis throughout the game.

9:35 49ers inactives
CB Ambry Thomas, CB Emmanuel Moseley, DT Zach Kerr. RG Aaron Banks

Eagles inactives

QB Gardner Minshew, OT/OG Brett Toth, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, CB Mac McCain, FS Rodney McLeod

9:39 The 49ers acquired RB Trenton Cannon off waivers from Baltimore earlier this week and he is active. I’d expect to see him having a big role on special teams today.

Zach Kerr being inactive means Javon Kinlaw is active. What type of impact will he have remains to be seen.

10:03 49ers will get the ball to start the game.

10:07 Daniel Brunskill gets beat on first down, Jimmy Garoppolo throws a screen pass into the dirt, and the 49ers offense starts the game with a 3 and out.

10:08 Josh Norman called for pass interference on the first target of the game to extend the Philadelphia possession.

10:11 The 49ers run defense looks much improved from week one. Arik Armstead with the stop and the 49ers offense will be back on the field at the 20

10:17 Daniel Brunskill gets no push on first down and Elijah Mitchell losses a yard. Garoppolo sails the throw to Mohamed Sanu and it’s another 3 and out for the 49ers offense.

10:24 Kevin Givens in at defensive tackle and the Eagles start to attack the middle of the defense. Back to back runs up the middle for 6 yards.

10:27 Eagles move the ball down to the 49ers 27 yard line, but the defense holds and forces a FG try. It’s good. Eagles 3 49ers 0

10:28 Deommodore Lenoir had very good coverage on that 3rd down stop. He had some help from Fred Warner who put pressure on Jalen Hurts.

10:35 Yet another 3 and out for the 49ers offense. Jimmy Garoppolo is really struggling to get his feet underneath him so far.

10:46 End of first quarter. Eagles 3 49ers 0. The 49ers run defense started strong but is struggling. No first downs from the offense. Outgained 117 -14.

10:49 Eagles 47 yard field goal attempt is blocked by Javon Kinlaw. Huge stop.

11:00 49ers offense finally gets a first down. After moving the ball into Philadelphia territory for the first time, Mohamed Sanu gets called for an illegal crack back block setting up 1st and 25. Garoppolo misses a wide open Trent Sherfield and Kyle Shanahan calls a run to Deebo Samuel on 3rd and 8. Not sure about the play call there.

11:04 Hurts to Watkins for 91 yards on first down from his own endzone.

11:08 After the big play, the 49ers defense stands tall and holds the Eagles from scoring.

11:25 The 49ers offense and Jimmy Garoppolo struggled throughout the first half. Garoppolo finishes off a 97 yard drive with a 11 yard touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings. Drive was highlighted by a 41 yard completion to Deebo Samuel to set up the touchdown throw.

11:26 Halftime: 49ers 7 Eagles 3

11:35 During the pregame show this morning I said to look for the Philadelphia offense to move the ball well between the 20’s but struggle from the 30 yard line in. This has played out during the first half. San Francisco offense has struggled more than expected to get the ball moving on the ground. Current have only 11 called runs to 21 passes. Game situation at the end of the half played into that a bit, but the 49ers offensive line has struggled to create movement.

11:42 49ers defense forces first 3 and out of the game. Nick Bosa with a hit on Hurts nearly forces a turnover. Deep throw on third down knocked away by Lenoir and Jimmie Ward.

11:51 Garoppolo nearly picked off on third down. Wishnowsky pins the Eagles offense deep for the second time today. Let’s see if the defense can get a quick stop this time.

12:01 Middle of the 49ers defense is still struggling with stopping the run. After 7 runs get the ball into 49ers territory, the Eagles start trying to throw and it doesn’t work. 49ers back on offense with ball at their own 9.

12:24 For the second time today the 49ers offense goes on a 90+ yard drive for a touchdown. Garoppolo with a sneak to finish this one off. 49ers 14-3

12:31 Nick Bosa with a sack of Jalen Hurts to end the Eagles possession. Terrific rush up the middle by Kentavius Street and Arik Armstead set it up.

12:33 This game turned with the goalline stand.

12:47 Eagles’ personal fouls set the 49ers up, and Gould hits a 46 yard field goal to put San Francisco up 17-3.

12:54 Eagles with an easy drive to make this a 6-point game. 49ers 17 Eagles 11

12:58 Garoppolo picks up the 3rd and 1 with a sneak. At the two minute warning and Philadelphia has no timeouts left. That should just about wrap it up, but as we saw last week crazy stuff can happen.

1:05 49ers move to 2-0 with a 17-11 win.

Thanks for following along. Will be back soon with the game story.

5 Burning questions the 49ers must answer to beat Philadelphia

Jack Hammer — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 17:44:33 GMT

After starting their season off with a win for only the second time under Kyle Shanahan, the San Francisco 49ers will be looking to avenge one of their worst losses of 2020 when they face the Philadelphia Eagles who will be playing their home opener Week 2 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Here are the five burning questions that will be key to the outcome of the game.

1. Will Kyle Shanahan stay committed to the run?

Before the opening game of the season last week, we mentioned how the 49ers offensive line is much better at run blocking than pass blocking. To go along with the offensive line San Francisco has a strong group of running backs that can handle a heavy workload. Grinding the game out on the ground may not always be exciting, but this will give the team its best chance to win.

The other benefit to running the ball effectively is how it can open up the passing game. When there is a threat of the run defensive players are going to struggle to not bite on play action. This in turn creates wide open throwing lanes for the quarterback.

In the 49ers week one victory over Detroit, Shanahan stayed balanced with his play calling throughout the game. Of the 55 plays, the San Francisco head coach called for a run on 25. This is a formula that Kyle Shanahan needs to stick with.

In the loss to Philadelphia last season the 49ers had 70 offensive plays, Shanahan called for a run on only 19 of them.

2. Can the 49ers passing game take advantage of their opportunities?

This question goes hand in hand with the 49ers need to stick with run to open up the passing lanes.

Philadelphia has an aggressive front seven, which often leads to them overplaying the run and opening up the possibility for some big shots down the field. In the game last season Kyle Shanahan tried to use this to the 49ers advantage early on and fullback Kyle Juszczyk was able to get wide open only to have Nick Mullens miss the throw.
San Francisco needs Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance to take advantage of these opportunities when they present themselves. Both were able to do it last week, but in the NFL consistency week to week is key.

3. Can the 49ers defense stop the run?

Outside of injuries, one of the key concerns for the 49ers following week one was their run defense which allowed Detroit to gain 116 yards on 24 carries. The Lions were able to bust the San Francisco defense for runs of 10 or more yards four times on Sunday, accounting for 61 of their total rushing yards.

While the primary focus of blame has been on the defensive line, the issue stems from defenders at all three levels not properly filling their assigned gaps.

If the 49ers defense doesn’t make the proper adjustments this could be a big problem against Philadelphia.
During their week 1 victory over Atlanta, Philadelphia had a lot of success with their zone read running scheme. Eagles running backs Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell combined for 111 yards on 24 carries against Atlanta with 100 of those yards coming before contact. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts added another 62 yards on seven carries.

If the term zone read sounds familiar, it should. The 49ers defense has been facing this throughout training camp with Trey Lance, and for the most part they were able to do a good job of shutting down the outside runs.

In the loss to Philadelphia last season, Eagles quarterbacks combined for 55 yards on 10 carries. The additional practice for the defense could prove to be the instrumental on Sunday.

4. Will the 49ers defense rally to the football?

While stat line for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurt last week looked really good, he completed 27 of 35 attempts for 264 yards and three touchdowns, 20 of Hurts’ throws were five yards or less downfield. In fact, Hurts averaged only 3.7 yards passed the line of scrimmage, the lowest total in the NFL for week one.

With so many short throws, the 49ers defense will need to show the ability to run to the ball carrier. This is something that a defense must do every week, but with a team like Philadelphia that relies on the short game it becomes even more important.

The Eagles lack of downfield throwing may help a 49ers secondary that will be without Jason Verrett who was lost for the season after tearing his ACL against Detroit and Emmanuel Moseley who has been out with a knee injury since have his leg rolled up on during the final practice before the Labor Day weekend.

Rookie Deommodore Lenoir looked good in his NFL regular season debut against Detroit, allowing only one reception for three yards. The 49ers have yet to announce who the other cornerback will be on Sunday, Dontae Johnson, Josh Norman, rookie Ambry Thomas and Dre Kirkpatrick are the possible replacements for Verrett.

5. Can the 49ers minimize penalties?

The Philadelphia defense has a very good defensive front, but that group received a lot of help from the Atlanta offense last week. The Falcons committed 12 penalties last Sunday, nine of those came from the offense. The 73 yards lost to those penalties put Atlanta’s offense behind the sticks and allowed the Eagles defense to pin their ears back and get after the quarterback.

San Francisco played a very clean game on offense for the most part, finishing with only two penalties. If the 49ers offense can continue to minimize the penalties on offense it should help with mitigating the Eagles pass rush.

Prediction:

49ers 24 Eagles 16

49ers receive some positive injury news

Jack Hammer — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 21:59:17 GMT

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and defensive end Nick Bosa take part in drills at an NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

After having four players unable to practice on Wednesday, the 49ers’ participation report today showed a positive trend as only one player was unable to participate. This news was especially positive for a couple of important members of the defense: Javon Kinlaw and Emmanuel Moseley.

Kinlaw was a limited participant in Friday’s practice for the second day in a row. This is a step in the right direction for Kinlaw, who is being listed as questionable for Sunday after being listed as doubtful on the Friday practice report prior to week one.

Kyle Shanahan was asked about how Kinlaw looked, “He had a good practice and we’ll see how he feels after it, how he looks tomorrow. But most of this was half speed and we’ve got one full speed period, but he looked good and made it through it.”

Plane flights have been an issue for Kinlaw, this was a cause of swelling in his knee when he reported for training camp. With the 49ers set to fly from West Virginia to Philadelphia for tomorrow that is something to keep an eye on along with how the knee continues to respond from practice activity.

“Yeah, it’s each day. When he does a little work and seeing how he reacts the next day. So, he got a lot in yesterday. It was great today. Was on his feet most of the day today,” said Shanahan. “We’ll fly out there tomorrow and we’ll see how he’s doing tomorrow.”

Having Kinlaw back in the middle could help a 49ers defense that gave up a number of big runs to the Lions last Sunday.

The other positive news coming out of 49ers’ practice today was the return of Emmanuel Moseley to practice. Although Moseley is listed as doubtful to play on Sunday, this marked the first time the cornerback has been listed as a participant in practice in two weeks.

In other injury news, defensive end Arik Armstead and linebacker Marcell Harris are listed as questionable for Sunday. After undergoing surgery yesterday, linebacker Dre Greenlaw is out. Expect word on a roster move regarding Greenlaw prior to the game on Sunday.

49ers lose Dre Greenlaw for up to 8 weeks

Jack Hammer — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 21:15:48 GMT

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) returns an interception for a 39-yard touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Injuries ruined the 49ers season in 2020 and are already starting to take a toll on this year’s roster.

Already without cornerback Jason Verrett and running back Raheem Mostert due to season ending injuries, today it was reported that starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw had surgery to repair a groin injury leaving San Francisco without its starting weakside linebacker for up to eight weeks.

Greenlaw played 37 snaps in a season opening victory over Detroit, however he did not return to the game after returning an interception of Jared Goff for a touchdown just before halftime.

The 49ers have made a number of moves this week to fill the gaps caused by the injuries. The team signed cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and running backs Kerryon Johnson along with claiming Trenton Cannon off waivers to fill the openings left by the injuries to Verrett and Mostert. The team also signed linebacker Curtis Bolton to their practice squad.

It is expected that Azeez Al-Shaair will step into Greenlaw’s position, while Demtrius Flannigan-Fowles steps into the starting lineup to replace Al-Shaair.

Flannigan-Fowles played safety collegiately at the University of Arizona and made the move to linebacker after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He spent all of his first season on the practice squad before making the active roster for 2020.

Flannigan-Fowles played in 11 games in 2020, finishing with nine tackles. He made his first career start in a week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in place of Dre Greenlaw.

Against Detroit in week one, Flannigan-Fowles played 39 total snaps with 17 coming on defense. He would finish the game with three tackles, a career high.

Fore! Santa Rosa modern farmhouse with putting green asks $4.75 million

Janet Balicki — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:30:35 GMT

Workload got you down? Kids screaming in the background of your conference call? Take a moment and escape from it all with this fantasy estate in Santa Rosa. Tucked away in a private foothills locale, this 2020 modern farmhouse has all that and then some. Fancy yourself an outdoor kitchen? How about a bocce court or your own putting green? With a slew of entertaining activities outside and a luxurious living space indoors, the baller villa at 5689 Wild View Way will leave you rested and relaxed… or at least we can fantasize that it would.

The high-end contemporary home features an easy open floor plan with a large great room and retractable glass walls that connect to an outdoor living space. The magazine-worthy interiors include wide-plank wood floors, intricate tile work, and a stone slab fireplace. The chef in the family will be impressed by the gourmet kitchen with a refrigerated wine column, a Wolf stove, Sub Zero fridge, and an island bar that opens onto the outdoor patio. And did I mention the views? Stunning vistas of Mount St. Helena to Geyser Peak can be glimpsed from almost every room in the house.

The outdoor amenities are equally dreamy. If bocce or golf isn’t your thing, there is a sparkling pool, spa, cabana, firepit, and sprawling green lawns surrounding.

Sound enticing? Take a minute or two to explore the gallery above.

5689 Wild View Way is listed by Sheri Morgensen and Jessica Wynne of Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage.

The post Fore! Santa Rosa modern farmhouse with putting green asks $4.75 million appeared first on Real Sonoma.

49ers add another running back to the active roster after losing Mostert to injury

Jack Hammer — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 22:28:58 GMT

Carolina Panthers running back Trenton Cannon warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

The 49ers lost Raheem Mostert to injury for the season yesterday and have made a number of moves the last two days to fill his spot on the roster.

The team signed Kerryon Johnson to the practice squad yesterday, and today added Trenton Cannon to the active roster when they claimed the running back off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens.

Cannon was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent his first two seasons in the NFL as a member of the New York Jets. Cannon was with the Carolina Panthers last season and signed recently with the Ravens following a number of injuries at the position.

Cannon appeared in the Ravens’ week one game at the Las Vegas Raiders, carrying the ball two times for five yards and adding a tackle on special teams. For his career he has appeared in 35 games and registered 50 carries for 151 yards and one touchdown to go along with 20 receptions for 160 yards.

In addition to running back, Cannon has been a strong special teams performer with 392 of his 631 snaps coming on special teams. He has returned 16 kickoffs in his career for 414 yards with a long of 98 yards last season as a member of the Carolina Panthers.

A 27-year-old native of Hampton, VA, Cannon attended Virginia State University from 2015 to 2017. While at Virginia State he appeared in 32 games with six starts and registered 4,035 rushing yards and 44 touchdowns to go along with 48 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns.

The 49ers typically like to carry four running backs on their active roster, with only three active on game day. In a surprising move, it was second-round draft pick Trey Sermon that was the inactive player for San Francisco against Detroit. It will be interesting to see if Cannon makes the active roster over Sermon due to his abilities on special teams when they travel to Philadelphia on Sunday.

49ers Rewind: Is Brandon Aiyuk in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse?

Jack Hammer — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 22:01:32 GMT

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) following an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

The San Francisco 49ers started their season with a win for only the second time in five years when they defeated the Detroit Lions 41-33 on Sunday.

In many ways, this victory felt like a defeat due to the loss of Jason Verrett for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Raheem Mostert was also lost for the season. The running back announced early Tuesday that he has chosen to have season-ending surgery on his knee.

In addition to the injuries, the Lions were able to mount a spirited comeback attempt that has left a lot of doubt on the defense heading into a week two matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Let’s take a look at a few of the top points of discussion that have come out of Sunday’s victory.

1. The 49ers’ defense nearly gave the game away.

There was a lot that went into the way this game ended, and we shouldn’t forget the San Francisco defense held Detroit to only 17 points over the first 55 minutes of this game.

It’s not unusual for a defense to back off late in a game with a 24-point lead. With the game seemingly in hand, the 49ers began to play soft zone coverage which is designed to keep the ball inbounds and the clock running. Although they would allow the Lions to move the ball down the field for a touchdown to make the score 41-25, the Detroit possession took nearly four minutes off the game clock in the process.

This is where things went sideways for San Francisco. On the ensuing onside kick, George Kittle misplayed the hop and the ball bounced off his facemask and was recovered by Detroit. With less than two minutes left in the game, securing the kick likely ends the game and any worry about a Lions comeback.

Instead, the 49ers’ defense had to go right back onto the field. With the injury to Verrett occurring on the previous possession, nearly all of the starters were taken out of the game at this point. Detroit was again able to exploit the soft zone coverage and pull to within eight points.

The defense would again find itself right back on the field when Deebo Samuel fumbled the ball while nearing a first down that again would have ended the game.

Forced back onto the field once again, San Francisco would continue the same playing soft zone defense and allow the Lions to drive down to the 25-yard line. At that point, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans would dial up the pressure and the defense would force Goff into three incompletions to seal the victory.

Should this be cause for concern moving forward? Yes and no. The defense as a whole is very good, but losing Verrett will be a blow. The secondary will be ok with rookie Deommodore Lenoir on one side, but the 49ers need Emmanuel Moseley to come back healthy. If this happens, the secondary should be in decent shape.

The philosophy of the current front office in San Francisco is to build from the front back. This will now be put to the test over the final 17 weeks of the regular season.

2. Is Brandon Aiyuk in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse?

After having a standout rookie season, there were high expectations for Aiyuk in year two. Against Detroit, Aiyuk wouldn’t touch the field until the 49ers’ third offensive possession, their first lasted one play due to a fumbled snap.

Free-agent acquisition Trent Sherfield would be the first wide receiver to pair up with Deebo Samuel. Although Sherfield would play only one more snap than Aiyuk, 27 to 26, he would be targeted three times and make two receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown. Aiyuk would not have a target in the game.

Shanahan was asked on Monday if there was anything other than the injury that he noted following the game that led to Aiyuk’s playing time being less than expected, “No. I just think he’s got a better person behind him this year in training camp,” Shanahan said. “We wanted to split time like that. I thought Aiyuk would get a few more punt returns and I thought he’d get a few more targets, but when guys are rotating that much, 50/50, I don’t really ask much who’s in, I’m good with either one of them getting the ball, whoever is in there at the time. It doesn’t matter to me.”

After re-watching the game, Shanahan’s explanation makes sense. Aiyuk and Sherfield ran roughly the same number of routes, and for the most part, they could be found clearing out the deep coverage for underneath routes by Deebo Samuel or George Kittle.

Another thing to note with Aiyuk, the bulk of his production in 2020 came with both George Kittle and Deebo Samuel out and Nick Mullens throwing him the ball. With Kittle and Samuel healthy, there may not be as many targets this season.

3. Azeez Al-Shaair had a very good game.

The SAM linebacker in the 49ers’ base defense usually is a bit of an afterthought, however, the Lions desire to run the ball and a groin injury to Dre Greenlaw resulted in Azeez Al-Shaair playing 72 of the 49ers 90 defensive snaps on Sunday.

Credited with seven total tackles which would tie him for second with safety Jaquiski Tartt, Al-Shaair would make a number of big plays throughout the game. He would drop Lions running back D’Andre Swift for a loss of eight on Detroit’s second offensive possession of the game, forcing a long field goal attempt that would be no good.

On the Lions’ final possession of the game, Al-Shaair would knock the ball out of the hands of Detroit tight end T.J. Hockenson to force the Lions into a fourth and nine situation that they would not be able to convert.

4. Nick Bosa and Dee Ford are back.

In their first game together since the opening game of the 2020 season, Nick Bosa and Dee Ford would each record a sack but their impact on the game was felt in other areas as well.

On Detroit’s first possession, Bosa would knife inside on a fourth and one play. Bosa’s action forced Lions running back Jamaal Williams to try and cut to the outside. Williams would slip and be stopped short of the first down.

Late in the first half and facing third and eighth, Jared Goff’s throw over the middle would be intercepted and returned for a touchdown by 49er linebacker Dre Greenlaw. It was Dee Ford’s ability to drive the Lions’ right tackle back into Goff that played the pivotal role in forcing the turnover.

With questions in the secondary due to the loss of Jason Verrett for the season, the 49ers’ defense needs Bosa and Ford to play like this the rest of the season to take the pressure off the secondary.

49ers lose Jason Verrett for season and Raheem Mostert for at least eight weeks

Jack Hammer — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 20:24:32 GMT

Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift (32) runs as San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jason Verrett (2) makes the tackle in the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Injuries decimated the San Francisco 49ers last year and if week one is any indication, things may be just as bad in 2021. When Jason Verrett went down with an injury to the ACL of his right knee yesterday, everyone feared the worst. Those fears were realized when Kyle Shanahan confirmed on Monday that Verrett had indeed torn the ligament and would be out for the season.

The bad injury news didn’t end there. Shanahan also announced that running back Raheem Mostert suffered chipped cartilage in his knee and will need surgery. Mostert will be placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss at least the next eight weeks.

The depth of the 49ers’ secondary was a concern throughout the offseason, and the loss of Jason Verrett for the year could become a pivotal moment for this season.

With Verrett out, San Francisco needs Emmanuel Moseley to return healthy and play as he did in 2019 when he replaced Akhello Witherspoon. Unfortunately, Moseley has been dealing with knee injuries of his own after getting rolled up on during the 49ers final practice before Labor Day weekend.

If Moseley is unable to go, the 49ers will be forced to go with veteran options Josh Norman or Dontae Johnson or turn to rookie Ambry Thomas. The 49ers defense uses a good deal of man-to-man coverage, something that is neither Norman nor Johnson’s strong suit while being a strength of Thomas.

Regardless of who replaces Verrett, the 49ers’ defensive line will need to step up. San Francisco’s philosophy has been to build the defense from front to back, and this will be put to the test over the next 17 weeks.

The loss of Mostert is a blow to the offense, but the 49ers running back room has shown the ability to step up. Trey Sermon will be among those expected to fill in for Mostert. The third-round draft pick spent training camp working with the starters before being a surprise on the inactive list for week one.

Mostert was replaced on Sunday by another rookie, sixth-round pick Elijah Mitchell. Mitchell stood out in his NFL debut, becoming the first rookie running back in 49ers history to gain over 100 yards in a season opener. JaMycal Hasty played 16 snaps and had two touches, scoring a three-yard touchdown on his lone rush and picking up 15 yards on reception to convert third and ten early in the fourth quarter.

Look for the 49ers to make additions at cornerback and running back in the coming days.

49ers dealt tough blow in season opening win: Five burning questions for week one answered

Jack Hammer — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:07:41 GMT

San Francisco 49ers center Alex Mack (50) goes over a play with offensive line coach Chris Foerster during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

The San Francisco 49ers opened their 2021 season with a 41-33 victory over the Detroit Lions, however an injury to one of their best defensive backs put a damper on the win and may have a long-term effect on their season.

With a 24-point lead and less than eight minutes left to go in the game, Jason Verrett went down with an injury to his right knee. The 49ers fear that Verrett tore his ACL, an injury that would sideline their best cornerback for the season. This would be a crushing blow to San Francisco’s pass defense.

After the injury to Verrett, the 49ers defense would allow Detroit to score 16 unanswered points to climb back into the game. With under one minute remaining in the game Deebo Samuel would look to be on his way to a game clinching first down only to have the ball knocked out of his hands to set up one last chance to Detroit to steal the victory.

Detroit would drive the ball down to the 49ers 25-yard line, but the 49ers defense would step up with Samson Ebukam pressuring Jared Goff into an incompletion to end the drive and secure the win.

Let’s take a look at the answers to the burning questions that I asked on Friday.

1. Can Kyle Shanahan figure out week 1? YES

The 34 points scored by the 49ers offense was by far the best output during Shanahan’s tenure. San Francisco’s offense was very good throughout the game, averaging eight yards per play and the 49ers were able to start with a win for only the second time in the last five years.

2. Can Jimmy Garoppolo figure out week 1? YES

Just like the head coach, Jimmy Garoppolo had the best opening week performance of his time as the 49ers starting quarterback finishing 17-25, 314 yards, and one touchdown. This was the first 300-yard game for Garoppolo since a week 14 victory over New Orleans in 2019.

Garoppolo’s top target on the day was Deebo Samuel. The two connected on nine of 12 targets for 189 yards highlighted by a 79 yard touchdown that would give San Francisco a 38-10 lead near the halfway point of the third quarter.

3. Can the 49ers defense continue to own Jared Goff? YES

While Goff’s final numbers look decent, 38-57, 338 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, the 49ers defense did a very good job of keeping him in check until late in the fourth quarter.

Goff’s struggles when pressured were detailed prior to the game, and this played out late in the second quarter. Facing third and eight, Goff dropped back to pass and Dee Ford was able to get pressure on the Lions quarterback forcing a bad throw that would be intercepted and returned for a touchdown by linebacker Dre Greenlaw to give the 49ers a 28-10 halftime lead.

Pressure on Goff would lead to the end of Detroit’s final possession as well. Facing fourth and nine at the San Francisco 24 yard line, Samson Ebukam would get through and force Goff to throw incomplete to seal the 49ers win.

4. Will Kyle Shanahan commit to the running game? YES

Shanahan did a very good job keeping the 49ers offense balanced throughout the game. San Francisco had 55 offensive snaps against Detroit, 29 called passes and 26 runs.

The 49ers were able to maintain this balance despite losing Raheem Mostert for the game with a knee injury after only two carries. With Mostert out, rookie Elijah Mitchell stepped in to fill the void. On his third carry of the game Mitchell would take a toss sweep 38 yards for a touchdown, running through the grasp of Lions defenders on his way to the endzone. Mitchell would gain 104 yards on 16 carries in his first NFL regular season game.

5. How will the defense fill the gaps? Kentavius Street and Deommodore Lenoir

Kentavius Street started in place of Javon Kinlaw and rookie Deommodore Lenoir replaced Emmanuel Moseley in the starting lineup. Both made their presence felt throughout the game.

Street would record the first sack of his NFL career when he took down Goff during the first quarter. Street also recorded two quarterback hits, three total tackles and one tackle for loss.

Making his first NFL start, Lenoir would allow only one reception for three yards on four throws into his coverage. A pretty good day considering Jared Goff dropped back to pass 55 times on the day.

49ers look to start season on winning note: Five burning questions for week 1

Jack Hammer — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 23:33:15 GMT

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) drops back next to running back Josh Hokit (40) against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL preseason football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

The San Francisco 49ers travel to Detroit to open their 2021 campaign at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon when they take on the Lions. Sunday’s game will mark the third time the two teams have met to open the season in the Motor City since 1981. The previous two matchups were split with Detroit winning in 1981 and San Francisco winning in 1984. Those two seasons may ring a bell, as each would end with the 49ers hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

This looks to be a lopsided affair. The oddsmakers have San Francisco near the top of the NFC while the Lions are at the bottom.

The Lions have won only 14 games over the last three seasons, and are led by a new head coach, Dan Campbell. Campbell has completely revamped the coaching staff, and along with the new general manager, Brad Holmes did the same to the Detroit roster.

Among the key changes was trading Matthew Stafford to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff. In addition to the move of quarterback, the Lions added running back Jamaal Williams from the Packers and drafted offensive tackle Penei Sewell in the first round.

With that as a backdrop, let’s take a look at the five burning questions that will likely determine the outcome on Sunday:

1. Can Kyle Shanahan figure out week 1?

Kyle Shanahan is considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL. For some reason that hasn’t translated to success on opening weekend. Through his 13-year career as an offensive coordinator and head coach Shanahan’s offenses have been able to manage only 19.3 points per game. That number goes down to only 14 during his four seasons at the helm in San Francisco, his offense reaching its highest points total last season with 20 in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Shanahan’s best performance on opening weekend came in 2012 as offensive coordinator with Washington when they defeated New Orleans 40-32 with a rookie quarterback leading the way.

The low point totals from the offense are a big reason why Shanahan has only one opening week victory as a head coach. San Francisco is the more talented team in this matchup, and Shanahan’s offense needs to make sure they don’t give this one away.

2. Can Jimmy Garoppolo figure out week 1?

Just like the head coach, Jimmy Garoppolo has struggled during the opening week during his time in San Francisco. In three starts as a 49er, Garoppolo’s stat line is 52-93, 686 yards with four touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 55.9. That’s awful.

It’s very likely that the only way for San Francisco to lose this game is if they give it away. They need Garoppolo to be smarter with the football than he has been in his previous season-opening performances.

3. Can the 49ers defense continue to own Jared Goff?

The Lions made news this offseason when they sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff. This move was one that should help the 49ers, at least in week one.

As a member of the Rams, Goff faced the San Francisco defense two times each season, and the 49ers have dominated the former Cal quarterback recently. Goff is 0-4 in his last four starts against San Francisco, going 78-139, 797 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions and a quarterback rating of only 70.4.

For the Lions to have any chance, Goff needs to be better. The problem is he will be facing a 49er pass rush featuring Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and Samson Ebukam. The trio should be able to generate a good amount of pressure on Goff, which he struggles with. Over the last two seasons, Goff has managed a quarterback rating of only 54.4 when facing pressure.

4. Will Kyle Shanahan commit to the running game?

Kyle Shanahan’s offense begins with the running game which makes it odd that his play-calling on the opening week during his time with the 49er has been very pass heavy. In the four contests, Shanahan’s run the ball roughly on only roughly 40% of the plays.

For the 49ers to be successful on Sunday, the offense needs to be closer to an even 50-50 pass-run split.

By committing to the run, Shanahan will be utilizing the strength of the San Francisco offense. The offensive line is much better at run blocking than pass blocking, and the 49ers have a strong group of running backs that can handle the load. Grinding the game out on the ground may not always be exciting, but this will give the team its best chance to win.

5. How will the defense fill the gaps?

With Javon Kinlaw and Emmanuel Moseley not likely to play on Sunday, the depth of the 49ers’ defense will be tested early. To make the challenge even greater, backup defensive tackle Kevin Givens is likely to miss the game as well.

If Kinlaw does miss the game, look for Kentavius Street to step into the starting lineup. The 2018 fourth-round pick looked very good throughout training camp and started the final two games last season in place of Kinlaw.

The bigger question will likely be who replaces Moseley in the secondary. If he is unable to go the 49ers can turn to rookie Deommodore Lenoir, Josh Norman, or call Dontae Johnson up from the practice squad.

Lenoir started all three preseason games and looked good. Meanwhile, the 49ers signed Norman on Monday. The 33-year-old veteran missed all of the preseason, however, he kept himself in shape. According to defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, Norman is picking the defense up quickly.

Prediction:
49ers 20 Lions 16

Kenwood house with speakeasy on the market for $16.7 million

Janet Balicki — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 13:53:06 GMT

The vacation home of San Francisco power couple Katherine and David deWilde is on the market in Kenwood for $16.7 million. The 12.7-acre property received national coverage earlier this month when the Wall Street Journal picked up a story by the high-end real estate site Mansion Global.

According to both sources, the home was purchased by the banking and finance executives in 2011 for just over $5 million. After investing over $8 million in renovations the home now boasts a speakeasy, pool, home theater, gym, bunkhouse and two guesthouses.

The modern estate is filled with a plethora of entertainment offerings. Fancy your own subterranean wine cellar? How about a full-size tennis court? Or is bocce more your thing? And did I mention the speakeasy? The rustic party barn is only accessible via a secret door and comes with a stage and a hidden bar in an old metal shipping container.

Eclectic “imperfections” add to the character of the home. The 5,970-square-foot upcycled farmhouse features floors made from reclaimed wine barrel staves, kitchen lights made out of plowing tools and antique tile floors imprinted with animal pawprints.

Spend a minute or two exploring the property in our gallery above.

2020 Lawndale Road in Kenwood is listed by Holly Bennett at Sotheby’s International Realty.

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Vineyard and equestrian estate listed for $13 million in Petaluma Gap

Janet Balicki — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 13:20:06 GMT

Playfully nicknamed “EqWine,” a luxury estate in the Petaluma Gap AVA just hit the market for $12.95 million. This high-end horse and wine lover’s compound sits on a 43-acre lot with over 16 acres of award-winning pinot noir.

Located at 2420 Moon Mountain Ranch Road in Petaluma, the estate comes with a classic Italianate villa with over 7,000 square feet of living space. The home features a gourmet kitchen, an open concept great room and two spacious bedrooms. An additional two bedrooms are available for overnight guests in the attached guest cabana.

Exterior spaces are equally engaging. There is an expansive patio, an outdoor kitchen, a sparkling pool and Mediterranean-style fountains dotting the grounds.

On the money-making side of things, there is a 16-acre pinot vineyard and a professional equestrian facility with 68 stalls, indoor and outdoor arenas and housing for staff and trainers.

So stop horsin’ around grab a glass of your favorite pinot and click through our gallery above.

Property listed by Tim Rangel at Sotheby’s International Realty.

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Five homes under $500,000 in Sonoma County

Janet Balicki — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:30:01 GMT

We spend a lot of time on this blog covering multi-million dollar estates with mortgages far out of reach for the majority of Sonoma County. But what is out there for the rest of us?

According to the latest Compass real estate reports, the median home price in Sonoma County is $825,000. With a median income of only $81,018, the monthly mortgage for a house at this price would occupy over 50%* of one’s monthly income. According to traditional housing cost rules, the money you pay on mortgage or rent should occupy only 30% of one’s income, making homes priced around $500,000 a more affordable option for those who bring home an average Sonoma County salary.

But what do homes price at $500,000 look like in Sonoma County? There are plenty of urban ranches, cozy country cottages and Russian River getaways. Some of them are not built for year-round living and will need a little sweat equity. Some may have fabulous interiors but only a paved lot for a yard. What are you willing to give up to be able to afford a mortgage instead of rent?

Click through our gallery above to explore five homes under $500,000 currently on the market.

*Calculated using Zillow’s mortgage calculator with 20% down, a 30 year fixed mortgage and a 2.9% interest rate.

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Stonewood Sonoma vineyard estate on the market for $19.5 million

Janet Balicki — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 13:30:53 GMT

On the market for the first time in 45 years, the Stonewood vineyard estate is up for grabs in Sonoma. The sprawling 187-acre property comes with a hand-chiseled stone house, multiple outbuildings and the lucrative 56-acre Los Chamizal vineyard. Tucked away in a secluded locale close to the entertainments of downtown Sonoma, the picturesque ranch mixes a bit of the Old World and the new.

The stone chateau is built in the style of Provence, France. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom home features, rustic exposed beam ceilings, fireplaces and stone gathered from the surrounding vineyard. French doors unite interior and exterior living spaces for that easy-breezy Mediterranean appeal.

Leaving the big house you will find a rustic guest cabin with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling and a large deck on the edge of a private lake. The quaint two-bedroom, two-bathroom is flanked by a large vegetable garden and fruit orchard.

Completing the roster is a barn constructed with salvaged wood from SF’s Pier 41, a stable with bunkhouse and a 56-acre vineyard.

Sounds enticing? Click through our gallery above to preview the estate.

18000 Gehricke Road in Sonoma is listed by Mark Stornetta at Compass Realty.

The post Stonewood Sonoma vineyard estate on the market for $19.5 million appeared first on Real Sonoma.

Santa Rosa estate listed for $3.3 million will accept cash or cryptocurrency

Janet Balicki — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:30:26 GMT

According to a recent article by SFGate, a two-home estate in Santa Rosa is asking for $3,290,000 in cash or cryptocurrency. The 18-acre compound comes with a classic Wine Country residence and a smaller guest cottage that showcase our region’s love of fine wine and great food.

The architectural main residence features a curvilinear living room with walls of windows radiating out from a central hearth. Adjacent to that is the chef’s kitchen complete with Viking stainless steel appliances, granite counters, and not one but two pantries. If that’s not enough there is Tuscan-inspired wine room and two luxurious bedrooms.

Outdoor amenities include a pool, spa and outdoor kitchen.

A second more modest home on the property comes with a third bedroom, full kitchen and office.

Listings asking for cryptocurrency are becoming more prevalent across the nation. According to Yahoo Money, Realtor.com is tracking the trend, noting a peak in April of 71 listings that mentioned crypto or bitcoin in their descriptions.

Although the Santa Rosa listing may be one of the first homes in Sonoma County asking for a digital payout, it is certainly not the last. As analyst Nicolas Bedo of Realtor.com told Yahoo, “If the cryptocurrency market can get a firmer foothold and grow confidence from the general public, we may see a wider adoption of home sellers accepting cryptocurrencies as payment.”

For more information contact listing agent Lisa Thomas at Compass Real Estate.

Click through our gallery above to preview the estate.

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What you can get for Santa Rosa median rent of $2,045 right now

Janet Balicki — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 13:30:44 GMT

According to a recent report by the website Apartment List the median rent in Santa Rosa is $2,045 for a two-bedroom, $801 more than the national average. Rents are up 2.5% from last month and 8.2% from July of last year.

Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, prices have continued to rise. In March 2020 the average rent in Santa Rosa was $1,940 for a two-bedroom and slowly rose to $2,045, an increase of 5%.

Prices are also rebounding for our Bay Area neighbor. San Francisco made national news with a 27% drop in rents from March 2020 through January 2021, but since January, San Francisco rents have gone up by over 17%. The current median rent in S.F. is $2,708 for a two-bedroom unit.

According to Apartment List, rents are also going up in many more “affordable” cities throughout the nation. In Boise, Idaho you could rent a two-bedroom for $941 in March of 2020, but it will cost around $1,307 for a similar apartment today.

Curious to see what the median rent of $2,045 will rent you in Sonoma County? Click through our gallery above.

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Petaluma equestrian complex asks $12,600,000

Janet Balicki — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 13:30:32 GMT

Calling all horse lovers! A two-home professional equestrian property on 71 acres just hit the market in Petaluma for $12.6 million.

Surrounded by rolling hills, the expansive compound comes with a 15-stall horse stable, lounge area, tack room, vet stall, grooming stations and an arena fit for official competitions.

The property also features two ponds, a reservoir, manicured gardens, fenced-in pastures, acres of lawn, miles of riding trails and a eucalyptus forest.

A four-bedroom farmhouse and water tower house both feature updated interiors that include reclaimed wood paneling and chef’s kitchens.

See it all in the gallery above.

105 Purvine Road in Petaluma is listed by Fletcher Irwin of Perch Real Estate.

The post Petaluma equestrian complex asks $12,600,000 appeared first on Real Sonoma.

Marvelously modern Triple Barn House asks $2,995,000 in Sonoma

Janet Balicki — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:30:55 GMT

Less of a barn than a sleek conceptual design, the uber-modern “Triple Barn House,” pays homage to Sonoma’s agricultural roots.

Designed by Mork-Ulnes Architects in 2016, this stylish modern home utilizes glass, concrete and Cor-Ten steel to turn Sonoma Valley landscapes into works of art.

The gallery-like architectural estate features intelligently designed corridors that play with natural light and shadow. Behind every corner you will find breathtaking landscapes framed by large picture windows. This may make the home feel stuffy, but it is anything but. The bright and cheerful home comes with a wide-open great room, gourmet kitchen, office, three comfortable bedrooms and a gym.

The outdoor spaces are equally intriguing. Built to capitalize upon Sonoma County’s beautiful temperate climate, the estate features a plethora of spaces for entertaining under the stars. There is a soaking tub on a private deck off the master bedroom and a cantilevered eave extending from the kitchen with an outdoor bar, grilling area, and lounge.

If that’s not enough there is a raised bed garden for growing veggies and flowers and multiple trails to explore on the six-acre parcel.

Click through our gallery above to preview the estate.

101 Adobe Way in Sonoma is listed by Daniel Casabonne at Sotheby’s International Realty.

The post Marvelously modern Triple Barn House asks $2,995,000 in Sonoma appeared first on Real Sonoma.

Three homes under $300,000 in Sonoma County

Janet Balicki — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 13:33:13 GMT

With all of this focus on million-dollar listings these days, we thought we would take a look at homes at the other end of the spectrum, properties priced below $300,000.

According to Zillow, the median home price in the United States is $293,349 and Sonoma County’s average is $739,704. With a county median of more than double the national price, is there anything available locally for under $300,000?

The answer is, “yes.”

Sonoma County properties priced around the national average tend to be smaller and in worse condition than your typical single-family residence. Scrolling through the listings this week we found a handful of Russian River cottages, condos and fixer-uppers.

So what does the U.S. median home price buy you in Sonoma County? Click through our gallery above to take a closer look.

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The Autumn Wind (Revised)

Phil Barber — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:24:17 GMT

The old Autumn Wind was a pirate like Ben Davidson.

The Oakland Raiders are dead. Long live the Las Vegas Raiders (as long as the public money keeps flowing). The team will retain its name and colors, but Raiders game will never be the same. They need a new tradition, a new home-field advantage – and a new version of The Autumn Wind, Steve Sabol’s tribute to the silver-and-black that he wrote for NFL Films in 1974. You know, something more appropriate to Vegas.

Here’s one:

The autumn wind is a gambler,
His wedding ring’s sitting in pawn.
He’ll give you a buck and say it’s for luck,
Then you’ll notice your wallet is gone.

The autumn win is a lounge act,
Designed to insult and annoy.
He’ll make fun of your hat and call your wife fat
As he opens for Siegfried and Roy.

The autumn wind is a mob boss
Holding a Cuban cigar.
He’ll invite you to schmooze and order you booze,
But your friend’s in the trunk of a car.

The autumn wind is a stripper.
She melts you with sighs and moans.
You’ll think you’re a prize as she looks in your eyes,
But she’s just trying to pay off her loans.

Your Career Lifecycle – Tradeoffs at Every Stage

Joan Tabb — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 19:40:14 GMT

Dear Coach Joan,

My current job is challenging and rewarding, but the salary and benefits are not good at all. For the first five years (my first job after college) I was so stimulated by the job as a teacher in a small private school, but now that my husband and I are expecting a child and just purchased a home, I notice myself feeling resentful and unhappy about my compensation. I am afraid that if I move to a more lucrative position, I will miss the rewards of being stimulated and knowing I am making a difference. I have been contacted by a few recruiters and colleagues about new jobs but so far have not shown interest. Can you advise me on how to look at the trade-offs?

Thank you,

Ann

Dear Ann,

It’s wonderful that you found such satisfying and stimulating work for the first five years of your career. Many people find their first jobs to be drudgery and unfulfilling; paying the dues, as the expression goes. So you should appreciate that you had quite a good run for the five years and also make sure to reflect on the key things you’ve learned and, keep that network of interesting people involved in your career life.

Your life is now changing and as your life changes, you often have changing career needs. At the start of your career, just out of college, you looked for a job in your field and you lucky to find one. Most young people are not too concerned with living with roommates to keep costs down, they often drive an old car, if they have a car at all and they often are not thinking about supporting a growing family. Our needs and values change over time as our lifestyle changes in the course of our career lifecycle. Let’s look at four periods of life and how the trade-offs might look. I’m basing this on actual clients I’ve worked with of varying ages and stages of life, and the composite is a woman named Leslie, at various stages of her life:

Leslie, 22, the college graduate: Leslie graduated with a degree in early childhood education. She had done student teaching and loved it! The problem was, the year she graduated, there were too many graduates in her area and competitive to get a position was fierce. She wisely decided to widen her job net and found a position about five hours from the place she wanted to live. But at that stage of her career, entry level, the most important thing to her was getting a job in her field, getting experience, so she could then be a more competitive candidate and return to her location of choice. So put the criteria of JOB IN HER FIELD as the A#1 priority and she was willing to give up geographic location and high salary and even how the school district was rated, just to get in the door and get experience. She accepted her job with a low, base salary, lived with three roommates and barely paid her bills and put all savings to pay off her college loans.
Leslie, 32, now married: Leslie followed her plan and it took her three years to get back to her location of choice, leveraging her teaching experience. But now she was married and she and her husband were saving to buy a home and planning to have a family. Now her priorities were to get as high a salary as possible with a solid benefits package as her husband was a contractor and didn’t have benefits with his work. Leslie leveraged her work experience and fine references and got into a top school district with good pay and excellent benefits. She was also looking for a local job as she knew she didn’t want a long commute for when she had children.
Leslie, 49, kids to put through college. Leslie and her husband now have two kids to put through college. They are focused on making as much money as they can. Leslie looks into transitioning to a corporate training job as she finds out that it pays almost double compared to her teacher’s salary. She joined a professional training organization, reached out to other former teachers to see what kind of skills she needed to make that change. She did informational interviews and met a number of former teachers who mentored her and helped me get a new position. Though she preferred working with children, a high salary was now paramount to her.
Leslie, 64, wanting to paint and use her artistic talents: Now Leslie really wants TIME and flexibility. She returns to part time teaching as she really missed working with kids. And she discovers during her ReVitalment ™, the period of life after full time career and before true old age, that she used to love to paint and draw but put her art box away when she needed to focus on career, then family building. But now she realized she had a love of painting and craved being in the art studio. With a part time job in teaching she now had two and half days a week in an art studio! Yes, Ann, there really is a CAREER LIFECYCLE and at different stages of life, different things are important to you. It sounds like you are now in one of those transitional stages and you need to reflect and think about your priorities of today! All the best to you and wishing your success and awareness as you go through your Career Lifecycle Journey. Coach Joan

Strange Things I’ve Seen as a Career Coach

Joan Tabb — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 00:40:43 GMT

Dear Coach Joan,

I’ve been thinking about your profession and all the situations and experiences you’ve seen with people in their working lives. I’m wondering if you’ve seen some odd or unpredictable, strange things that have happened to people in their careers. Anything readers might find interesting and informative?

Thank you,

Curious in Cotati

——————————————————————————————————-

Dear Curious in Cotati

I think that’s a great question and it’s funny timing, as I was just telling a prospective client that I really could not predict how long it would take for her to secure new employment. I could give a ballpark of under 6 months considering her skills, credentials, track record, years of employment and market need in her field. However, there are so many, many factors that go into someone’s success in the job seeking process.

But OK, you asked for strange, odd or unpredictable things that’ve occurred in careers. Here are a couple I could not have anticipated:

FIRED BEFORE STARTING THE JOB: This happened to a director level sales professional. She was in her late 30s, in the prime of her career and had worked for several notable, large technology firms in Silicon Valley. She took the chance on a start up that went belly up and had an unemployment period. She hired me in the hopes of making her job search more efficient and effective as that’s what good coaching can do. We honed in her positioning and key strengths, made sure her resume and linkedIn were top notch and got her references set to go. We had her leverage her network of both professional and personal contacts in hopes of finding just the right position. FYI, over 70% of jobs are gotten via one’s network so do keep that network fresh and activated. We also had her reach out to all her former managers and colleagues, as part of the ‘Friends and Family Outreach Letter’. And she played an active leadership role in her professional association. She had many interviews over a 5 months period but no offers. FYI, for a senior level position it is not unusual to take 6 – 12 months to find new employment. Finally, at month 7 she had a HIT. One of her former bosses reached out and was in another start up that needed her sales leadership skills. At that level there is often an employment contract that both parties need to agree to and sign. This one addressed her base salary, commission structure, start date and scope of her responsibilities and the geographic region she was assigned to. She was to start in two weeks from the date of contract. All was signed and sealed. Or so she thought….. A week later she got a call from the prospective employer and was told that her position had been cancelled, that the company did not get the round of funding that were counting on. She called me immediately, understandably quite upset as she’d already let her network know where she was headed for her next job. She called off all interviews that were scheduled and was preparing to start her new job. HOWEVER, I told her the episode was NOT OVER. She had a signed employment contract and they were reneging on it! I introduced her to an employment attorney who saw there was a good case. My client ended up getting a 1/3 of her first year’s projected income as compensation. Yes, she had to restart her job search once again but with the financial cushion from the lawsuit, she was more relaxed about it. TAKEAWAY: Don’t ever stop the job search until you have actually been on the job for a week or more!! Things happen, as they did in this case. And do not update your network, resume or LinkedIn profile until you have started the job!!
CLIENT GOT THE JOB WITH NONE OF THE REQUIRED CREDENTIALS!! OK, this is a GOOD NEWS STORY that really happened! This young man had dropped out of college and was basically ‘going nowhere’ when his parents decided it was time for TOUGH LOVE; time to get out of their house unless he could pay for rent and food. They had given him 6 months on the couch with a bedroom, food and laundry and they felt he was getting lazier by the day. His only job skills were retail sales but he did have a passion and love for high end, luxury and sports cars. And he knew a lot about them. Well, he found out that one of the top brands was opening a dealership hear him. He decided he wanted to work there in sales. He called over and found out they wanted to hire only people who had college degrees and 2-3 years track record in selling high end automobiles. But he was undeterred. He decided that was the job for him! He asked him parents to loan him money to get professional clothing; a suit and fine leather shoes. And he augmented his knowledge of that brand of cars and the competition. He also read up on professional sales and consultative sales. Once he felt ready, he went to the dealership and introduced himself. He was lucky to find the VP of the corporation that owned the group of dealerships in the office. He knew he looked professional, but knew he had to convince her he could do the job. They had a 5 minute talk in which she told him the requirement was a college degree and minimum of 2-3 years with a proven track record in selling high end cars. She explained that everyone in that dealership had those credentials. He left. But he came back everyday for the next 5 days, making conversation with the woman and letting her know he really did know ‘his stuff’ about these cars and the competition! On the 6th day, she gave in…She told him she had never seen a candidate with that degree of persistence, knowledge and perseverance and for the first time in her career, she was going to totally bend the rules and hire him, but on a probationary basis for one month…….One year later he became the #1 sales rep in the dealership, and now 5 years later, he’s had three promotions and has a significant career in the high end automotive sales field. TAKEWAY: If you have a passion, GO FOR IT. Do all you can to prepare for success and conjure up your courage and confidence and try for a position you really want. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Notice that this young man acted on my adage: READINESS + OPPORTUNITY = SUCCESS

Yes, Curious in Cotati, I have seen strange, odd and unpredicable things happen as a career coach! And I want to remind you that you cannot depend on bad luck or good luck but you can work as hard as you can to make yourself find those opportune career moves that really fit your strengths and interests, hone in on what you want and then reach out to all influencers and connections to find that right opportunity. And keep at it. As we often hear: THE HARDER I WORK, THE LUCKIER I GET!! Tis True! HAPPY HOLIDAYS and onward in your career success in 2020, Coach Joan

Shall I join a start-up, even with a lower salary?

Joan Tabb — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 04:41:59 GMT

Dear Coach Joan,

I am 28 years old and have been quite successful in commission-based selling for the last 6 yrs. My income has continued to go up each year but I do not like the stress of month-to=month pressure to make my numbers. I also don’t like working weekends and missing time to socialize with my friends who have weekends off. I do enjoy two full days off during the week and work a structured 4o hour week, which I like. Recently, I was approached by a start-up company attracted to my sales experience (they found me via my LinkedIn profile) and they want to consider me for a strategic sales planning job in the same product line I currently work in. I had several phone interviews and then spent a full day meeting with key managers and seeing their products, impressive! The internal sales recruiter told me that the salary would be about 40% less than I am making now, But I would get stock options, too, as a part of my compensation package. How should I decide whether to take the position?

Unsure about a career move,

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Congratulations on attracting a new possible career opportunity. I’m always encouraging clients to keep their LinkedIn profile fresh and attractive for just this kind of opportunity to happen. Clearly yours was, and look where it’s taken you. I am so glad you wrote because I think your situation is a common one. People often don’t know whether a new job or career will put them in a better situation or not. Partly the answer is, who knows, because we don’t have a crystal ball and many variables are at play. Sometimes start-ups that don’t look promising at all do a surprising turnaround and become tremendously successful. Other times a start-up might look very promising and have a lot of investor money pouring in, only to fail because of poor leadership, a better competitor, a technology disappointment or many reasons. So that part we just don’t know.

What I suggest you look at are these key variables:

Is the work itself something you are good at: In other words, does this work play to your strengths. We tend to be successful in those jobs that we naturally enjoy and do well in. Is this in a subject matter that both interests you and you are good at? You mention that your sales performance is going up year after year. That is a sign that you are good at sales! But does that mean you are good at strategic sales planning? To me, that sounds like a different skill set. When you are selling you are working 1:1 with a customer on providing information and being persuasive and using strong interpersonal skills. The role of a strategic sales planner is more analytical and if often involved more solo work in an office, on one’s own. It could be analyzing a lot of data and making recommendations and plans based on data trends.
Are you imagining that the grass is greener: You mentioned that you don’t like not having weekends off. But have you spoken to people who work at start-ups? Not only do they sometimes work on weekends but unlike your regular hours, it’s not unusual for them to work 12 hour days. You might not like having to work on weekends but you probably really enjoy having set hours. Also, you are used to a better income than what is being suggested in this start-up. You might have pressure each month to make the sales, but it sounds like you are good at it and getting the results. In a corporate job you get the same salary each pay period. So you might not have the pressure, but you do have a lower, read more disappointing salary. And stock options are not a reliable form of income. You need to look at your financial picture. If a salary reduction might not be too difficult to adjust to, the upside of a stock position might be a good risk for you at this early stage of your career.
Trying a new career environment and developing new skill sets: On the positive side, you are under 30 years old. You are young and early on in your career. It might be a good time to try working in a new setting, meeting and getting to know different kinds of people in different professions. It would be interesting to compare working in a commission-based environment to a corporate based one. You might find you have additional skills and interests you could develop.
My advise: Lisa, focus on getting to the offer. If the offer comes in, negotiate to your best ability (see if you can have them put you on a performance plan with bonuses for bench marked achievements as they know you are used to working toward specific, measurable goals) and if the terms look good and you’ve considered the above aspects of the situation, then feel what your gut wants and your analysis suggests. The good thing is that once you have a proven track record as a sales professional, you can typically find another position in sales if you want to return to it. Best of luck to you Lisa, and onward in clear-sighted decision making, Coach Joan

Three career tips for 2020

Joan Tabb — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:35:15 GMT

Getting 2020 off to a GREAT start!

Dear Readers,

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and the best of career success as you move into the new year, the new decade of 2020!

What is the best I can offer to you for this new beginning??

Here are three tips which most professionals wish they had done all along.

Start now…

Keep Up with Your Network:

I’ve written before the astounding fact that over 70% of jobs are gotten through one’s professional or personal network. That means most of the important job connections you will make come from people you already know. That means you should pay attention to this community and let them know how much you value them. Check in with them from time to time. Many of them might be in your LinkedIn community. That means you need to keep your LinkedIn profile updated with any new career activities, achievements, promotions, changes, etc. Update and have your resume always ready for opportunity. And it really pays to write personal notes or even emails to all in your community. Wish them a happy holiday, remember their birthday or career anniversary. In working with hundreds of career coaching clients I would say that at least half of them regret they didn’t keep up with colleagues and friends from their past. Time passes quickly and the connections you make are invaluable both for career opportunities and for social connections as well.

2. Communicate Achievements and Aspirations to Your Manager: It is so vital to communicate well with your boss. They are not mind readers. It is so valuable for them to get periodic updates from you about your achievements, your aspirations and your ideas. Some companies require monthly status reports, even weekly. Some do not. But make it a regular habit to communicate with your boss. If you are ambitious and looking for a promotion or raise, tell them, and then ask what steps you need to take to reach your goals. So often bosses are taken by surprise when an employee is disappointed they did not get a promotion or a raise. Do not assume your boss knows that! Have a one on one meeting to discuss your goals. Start out with your achievements and contributions to lay a groundwork for credibility and proven performance. Then state your goals and ask how you can best reach them. If you are looking to earn another degree or take classes in your field, discuss that with your boss. Communicate!

3. Do Great Work! I know this should go without saying, but having been a corporate manager for decades, I will tell you that employees sometimes don’t follow through on what they say they will do. Make sure you are reliable and you are meeting all of your deadlines and doing your work thoroughly. If you are delayed or have a problem, it is vital that you let your boss and or your team know that asap!!! There is nothing like coming to a team meeting and learning that a few of the members did not follow through on their roles and responsibilities. Again, bring up your performance with your manager and ask her/him how you are doing? Be open to constructive feedback, correct any misunderstandings that may have occurred. Do what it takes to be the best performer you can be. Set new goals.

This is a new decade. In 2020 give some thought to improving your work performance. Communicate well, keep you with your network and do GOOD WORK! Onward in your career success, Coach Joan

Laid off! Now what?

Joan Tabb — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:30:21 GMT

Dear Joan,

I knew I wanted to leave my job but I thought it’d be on my terms. So when my manager asked me to come to his office the day before Thanksgiving break, I thought it was just for a routine meeting. But NO, I was FIRED!!! Yes, I knew the company was losing money and things were tight. But I expected to quit on my own terms, after the holidays. I am really in shock! I’ve done a great job, gotten excellent reviews and after 2 years I thought there’d be some loyalty from management. My severance is only 2 weeks and I have counted on an income through January. So many thoughts are swirling in my head and most are fear based. I’m 50 years old and in my profession youth is preferred. Prior to this job I worked in a large company for 20 years and I thought this would be my my last position. Please help me get my thinking right so I can move forward for a job search. I am surprised and down in Santa Rosa,

Tom

Dear Tom,

First off, so sorry that you’re going through a layoff and even worse, that it came as a surprise. This is not the scenario you planned and the surprise element alone is a shock to your system. You are human and change is difficult, especially when it’s change that is thrust upon you and you hadn’t prepared for it.

I have coached hundreds of people through this situation and on to new employment, so first thing to realize is that are you going to go through a process.

Here are the first steps that you need to take:

Give yourself time to absorb what happened. Just as with a death, this is a kind of death, an ending, and an unexpected one. You need to give your system a TIME OUT to absorb the change of circumstances. If you’re like most people, you need to give yourself a few days. If possible, take off and go to new surroundings; the ocean, the mountains, even a good hike outdoors, it needn’t be an expensive trip to Hawaii! So first give yourself a breather and let your family know what’s happening. Also, assure them that you will rebound and things will be OK. Perhaps set realistic expectations about gift giving this season and get with the new thinking of experiences and recycling good stuff as gifts. As you assure those close to you that you’ll be OK, you will be assuring yourself, too.
Take a realistic look at your current expenses and ability to pay. Perhaps you have a 6 month cushion and can just pull back from some ‘unnecessary expenses’. Perhaps you have repayment debt payment where you need to contact them and negotiate for more time, perhaps smaller payments. But don’t put your head in the sand. Try to look objectively at your financial situation and see what needs to be done NOW. Look into unemployment. From the way you describe the situation, with a good performance track record, you probably qualify for it.
Boost your CONFIDENCE. Yes! Being laid off, especially with a surprise layoff, is a confidence killer. Knowing that, you need to do what you can to restore your confidence and rebuild faith and belief in your abilities. I have found the most effective way to do this is with a devise I have created. It is called CONFIDENCE CARDS. It is a series of several playing card size thick paper that has you list one of your key capabilities on the front and the proof points on the back. You are welcome to get a set of CONFIDENCE CARDS from me directly if you write to me at joan@Greatin8Coaching.com. Please remember that no one can take away the things you’ve accomplished and they are real!! You need to own them and do affirmations about them so you will project true confidence when you meet with people on interviews or for new connections. Your academic credentials, professionals accomplishments, skills, these are vital to record and remind yourself about. There are many people walking around with these confidence cards in their pockets and purses. They are invaluable to job seekers!! Tom, new doors will open. Get some space and time from the layoff. Then, really assess your financial situation and if it’s looking bad, then get a part-time job asap and or apply for unemployment. Yes, take care of the financial side of things. Then, work hard to appreciate your capabilities. Reach out to me if you’d like a set of Confidence Cards. Understand and practice articulating your strengths and capabilities. Then the job hunt begins!! You can do it!!
Onward in Your career resilience and success, Coach Joan

Fire, construction delays can’t stop SRJC’s delightful “Sound of Music”

Digitale.Stories — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 16:14:13 GMT

Ariana LaMark (left), Michael Coury Murdock and Madigan Love. Photo by Thomas Chown

By ROBERT DIGITALE

Building delays and campus closures due to wildfire threats made for extra challenges. But the cast and crew of Santa Rosa Junior College’s “The Sound of Music” can claim their place among the string of beloved holiday productions that the college Theatre Arts Department has offered up this past decade.

This latest gem comes off so well that audiences may discount the fact that the thespians needed to hit the road to Sonoma State University because the SRJC Burbank Theater wasn’t renovated in time. Patrons also may not appreciate how this fall’s Kincade fire and related power shutdowns cost the crew two weeks worth of preparation, as Department Chair Leslie McCauley told the Petaluma Argus Courier.

Despite all those setbacks, theater lovers can expect a show of glorious voices, uber cute child actors and a family-friendly drama of love and danger on the eve of World War II.

The show’s music, by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein, harkens to simpler times (thus, the lack of need for a drummer in the orchestra). Even so, its easily recognizable melodies have secured their place in the prodigious songbook of American theater. Its offerings include “My Favorite Things,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “So Long, Farewell,” and, of course, the title number, where “The hills are alive …”

At Friday’s opening those tunes were sweetly offered up by a cast filled with knockout vocalists. It was simply delightful to sit back and soak up the show’s opening number, where the nuns of Nonnberg Abbey raise their voices in Latin with the ethereal strains of “Preludium.” That gentle beginning set the tone for the rest of the evening.

The show succeeded in large measure because of the superb voice and spunk of Ariana LaMark. She plays Maria, the young postulant who will become a governess for a rich widower with seven children. Joining LaMark were such talented vocalists as the exquisite Crystal McDougall, playing Mother Abbess, and the eight players of the von Trapp family, starting with Michael Coury Murdock as Captain von Trapp.

The depth of talent may seem unusual for a community college production. But it happens because SRJC draws so many players with acting and vocal experience. Of the 30-plus cast members, at least a dozen had previous roles in community theaters. Some of those also had performed in previous SRJC shows, including LaMark, who played Mary Magdalene in last spring’s “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

When it came to delivering lines, the seven adorable actors playing the von Trapp children often stole the scenes. But they did get competition from Heather Buck as Elsa Schräder, the captain’s initial love interest. Another standout was Zac Parreira as Max Detweiller, the captain’s friend, concert promoter and self-described appeaser in the face of the Nazi’s looming takeover of Austria.

The eventual occupation by Hitler’s forces shifts the story from its early preoccupation with such childhood delights as “cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels.” The captain must decide whether to join or resist the Nazis. His choice brings on the show’s drama, even if we know that all must end well.

One of the production’s highlights was the eye-catching set by scenic designer Peter Crompton. Six rectangular columns ringed the stage. Around those towering edifices the crew at times slid in L-shaped staircases, abbey gates and terrace doors. For scenes at the abbey, arched stained glass windows descended from above, as did large picture windows to help define the von Trapp’s mansion. Behind the stage loomed a massive projection of a alpine peak. That snow-dappled image changed as the story unfolded to include moving clouds, twinkling stars, driving rain and—shortly before the story’s climax—a line of menacing red banners with swastikas atop them.

Laura Downing-Lee directs the musical. The 10-piece orchestra is led by music director Janis Dunsun Wilson.

“The Sound of Music” continues through Dec. 8. For information and tickets, click here.

The production belongs to a series of college milestones in a 12-month period—each linked to the still-ongoing, $30 million renovation of Burbank Auditorium, a campus mainstay for nearly 80 years.

First, “The Sound of Music” is the first collaborative production between SRJC and SSU. (You can read more here about the collaboration in this nice piece by my old colleague, Dan Taylor.) Second, for the first time in its 45-year-plus history, the college’s Summer Reportory Theater program last summer held its musicals in the round in a temporary white pavilion installed on former tennis courts.

Third, the college next winter will present its first production in the new Studio Theatre attached to Burbank. “The Cripple of Inishmaan” will run there March 6 to 15. Finally, on April 17 the Burbank itself will open with its first musical, “The Wedding Singer.” That show will run until May 3.

Ripple effect in the job search

Joan Tabb — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 01:59:20 GMT

Dear Readers,

I’ve got to share with you updates from a current job seeking client, let’s call her Valerie. She writes that after an informational meeting at a company she’s very interested in, the individual she met with called to say she was impressed with Valerie’s background and credentials but sadly, her company doesn’t have any positions open that would be a good fit for her. However, she asked if she had permission to forward her resume to a colleague who is an executive recruiter who might know of appropriate openings. Naturally, my client said, yes. Following that, Valerie emailed me, surprised and happy that this recommendation was being made.

So let’s look at this. The individual Valerie met with was impressed with her and thought to recommend her to the recruiter she knew.

Job Seekers: This is way people sometimes end up getting hired!

As a job seeker you want to do everything you can to create a RIPPLE EFFECT. You meet one person, then they refer you to two others. Then they refer you to others, and your ripple effect grows, you reach more people.

But instead of making it an unintentional part of your job search, I strongly suggest you bring intentionality to the idea of creating a RIPPLE EFFECT. The more qualified people who know about you and your skills, the better chances you’ll find that person who can hire you! Make your availability known and and your materials circulated far and wide..to the right people.

I always say: READINESS + OPPORTUNITY = SUCCESS

Clearly, as a job seeker you know (or should know) that you need to build effective, compelling job tools; a resume, a linked in profile, letter of recommendation. And you need to become ready for meetings by crafting your clear capabilities and proof points of achievements that support your claims. You need to research your field and identify companies and organizations you’d like to work in. You also need to prepare intelligent questions that show your knowledge of the company, their competitors, the industry they are in, the challenges and opportunities they face. You need to earn the right to ask intelligent questions but first ‘selling’ yourself by showing that you have the basic qualifications they are looking for.

Let’s make your ripple effect happen! Here are some ways to expedite it…

1.At the end of every job seeking discussion, whether it is an actual interview, an informational interview, a meeting with a former colleague or manager, a professor in your field, anyone who might be connected with anyone who might know of a job in your field, you ask the following question at the end of the meeting:

IS THERE ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING ABOUT ME AS A JOB CANDIDATE? IF SO, FEEL FREE TO INTRODUCE US OR FORWARD MY RESUME TO THEM.

Then, pause and let them think about that. Listen carefully as they might mention people for you to contact directly, they might offer to put a word in about you and you should be ready to offer ways to make the connection easy and fast. Offer to send them your resume directly. Ask if they will do an email intro, a Linkedin intro or ask if there’s another way you can help make that ripple effect move quickly!

2. Make a list of all your friends and family who might possibly know someone in your field. Develop what I call a ‘Friends and Family Letter’ in which you ask for their help in your job search process. Let them know what kind of position you are looking for, suggest some names of organizations on your target list, include any geographical or other parameters and attach your resume and linkedin profile. Make it easy for them to help you! Make it easy for them to help the ripple effect go far and wide.

Yes, readers, please see your job search as creating a ripple effect in helping you to find the right people, leading to the right career opportunities.

Wishing you success in your job search,

Coach Joan

Idealist college grad wants to help the world

Joan Tabb — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 04:58:19 GMT

Dear Coach Joan,

Am I the only one who really wants to find meaningful work that is not a part of the consumer, capitalistic, dog eat dog world? I graduated from college with a degree in sociology and I’m very interested in helping people. I have no idea how to get a ‘real job’ and have been working the same construction job I did in high school. How do I get a ‘real job’ but not feel like I’m a part of the corporate world which is frankly hurting our planet and just making more and more money to fuel materialism? I also want to stay in Sonoma County where I grew up.

Ian the Idealist

Dear Ian,

Congratulations on completing your college degree!! It shows that you set your goal and worked toward completion. Good job! No w the transition time, launching from college life to career launch. And sadly, they really don’t teach the process of exactly how to make that transition. Most colleges have career centers but students often say they are not helpful or they don’t know how to really use those resources. But that said, I think you have more going for you than you realize. Many people don’t know what they value and just look to get a job, presumably based on their skills and interest, and land in whatever is available and highest paying.

That is not you, Ian.

You have a strong sense of purpose. You want to make the world a better place. You want to contribute in a way that helps people directly. Bravo!

That means you are a perfect candidate for the non-profit world.

Music to your ears: In the non-profit world you will find your tribe of people who are also committed to helping to improving things!!

It is vital to work among people with whom you share values. You clearly value using your time and energy to make the world a better place. Non-profits are your career sector!!

There are for profit and non profit organizations. Non-profits are set up with a specific mission that often entails being of help in some way in our society. That is in contrast to a for-profit business oriented company whose mission is first and foremost to make a profit, by selling services or products.

That is NOT what you are interested in.

Now, how do you find out what opportunities you should explore? First of all, being in Sonoma County, California, recognize that you are in the county that has the largest number of non-profits per population than any other county in California. There are many do-gooder organizations for you to explore!

The first thing to do is to get a sense of the range of non profits in your local area. You can Google to find a list of non profit organizations in Sonoma County. You will see that they are focused on topics ranging from healthcare to helping the environment, to supporting education, helping animals and more. Go down the list and look for the category or categories where you are most interested in making a contribution.

Next, look to have informational interviews with people who work at the various non profit agencies.

Makes sure to put together a resume that highlights your education, work experiences, volunteer work, key academic courses and include an Objective of working in the non profit sector.

Write a cover letter that explains your interest in the non profit arena, your attraction to their mission in particular and the skills and passion you are bringing to your career with them.

You can also Google to find ‘careers in non profit’ to explore the various roles that people play. Once you identify some non profits that are appealing to you, see if you can make the time to do some volunteer work there. It gives you the chance to get to know various organizations and people and sometimes people get hired into an organization after they prove themselves as fine volunteers and a position opens up that matches their skills. By then they are a known entity and have proven their commitment through the volunteer work.

Onward in your idealism and finding work in a local non profit.

Coach Joan

From self employed to working for an organization

Joan Tabb — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 05:25:47 GMT

Dear Coach Joan,

After decades of being self employed and successfully owning and running my own small business I am ready to call it quits. I’d like to move into to a full time management position in an established organization. I look forward to being part of a team and having a regular paycheck and benefits. I’m tired of always having to chase business. The problem is that I’ve done some informational interviews consistently get the question of how I would fit into an organization and work for a boss after so many years of being independent and on my own.

How can I satisfactorily answer that concern as I truly do feel I would be an excellent employee and had a couple of years in a large organization at the start of my career.

Thank you,

Susan in Santa Rosa

Dear Susan,

I can understand that the grass looks greener at this point. You have probably had to hustle to keep your business going for all those years. Plus, health benefits, vacation and sick pay are something you have probably had stretch to provide for yourself. That is often the lament of independent business owners.

That said, I hope your motivation is a lot more than just getting benefits and having dependable work.

Let’s look at your candidacy from the perspective of a hiring manager within an organization. They are looking for candidates who have the skills to do the job, the ability to work in a large organization, understand the business that you would be entering and have true enthusiasm and interest in the job.

Here are the top 4 things they’d be looking for and ways you might position your background in a positive way:

SKILLS – The job description will list the skills and experience they are looking for. If you look at the skills themselves it doesn’t matter whether you did those things in a small or large company. For instance, if they are looking for project management skills, you might well have demonstrated those on your own. If they are looking for financial management skills, you must have had those in running a business. It’s important that you stress the SKILLS more than where you did those.
UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR BUSINESS/INDUSTRY – If you are applying for a job in a new industry, either read up on it, attend some professional classes, go to the web sites of notables in that industry and show you are conversant in the issues, challenges and opportunities that are happening today. Be up to date and current. Perhaps you can even volunteer at a professional organization in that industry to show your interest and knowledge, your network of people in that industry can expand.
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE – If you are looking for a management position it is imperative to show your management capabilities. Even though you ran your own business you must have had vendors to manage and perhaps assistants as well. Be conversant about your management style and give examples of how you have successfully managed people and how you have recognized potential and developed people, too.
WHY THE TRANSITION AND WHY NOW: Think through the reasons you are attracted to being a part of a large organization. You needn’t mention the benefits or time off, that is obvious and not an attractive reason for an employer to hire you!! You might talk about looking forward to being a part of a team of smart, energetic people and that you enjoy working with various types of people and getting work done as a team. You might talk about the respect you have for that particular company and mention key reasons you are impressed by them. Talk about their competitors, too, and why you are much more interested in their company and this position. You might also touch on your early on experiences in a large company and how you feel that at this point you’d like to return to that, but this time in a management position. Susan, be clear about all of the successes and achievements you had as a business owner. It’s very impressive to have had a decades long business! And make sure to go into meetings with very clear reasons you’d be a great fit and that you’re a proven winning professional. Onward in your successful career transition, Susan. Coach Joan

What to expect: 10 things parenting books won’t tell you

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 13:00:02 GMT

When I was pregnant with my first child, my bible was the “What You Can Expect” books. I learned all sorts of tricks and tips on what to expect at my daughter’s first doctor’s appointment, when I could start introducing solids, and how to babyproof my home. No one feels like an expert when they bring a newborn home, but I’d done a lot of reading to prepare for this new chapter of parenthood, so I figured I was as ready as I’d ever be.

Yeah. There’s no such thing.

Those parenting books offer a lot of great advice. But there are a few lessons they skipped when it comes to preparing parents for the next 18-plus years of parenthood. Don’t worry, though, I’m here to fill you in.

Before you have kids, here are ten things you can do to prepare:

1. There’s nothing like that precious newborn baby smell. But why wait for baby? Start by soaking your favorite shirt in a gallon of milk, and then drying it in the dryer. Now wear it for the next week without showering. I’m telling you, they should bottle this scent.

2. To get ready for nighttime in those first few months (or years), my suggestion is to lock your cat in your bathroom with your neighbor’s bully cat right before bedtime, and then fall asleep to the melodious sounds.

3. Make a list of all your favorite meals you’ve ever eaten. Then write down all the ways you can recreate those meals into kid-friendly gourmet meals. Then cross all those meals out and write down “Macaroni & Cheese.” That will be your food for the next 12 years.

4. Will your child play sports? Spend a Saturday at a soccer field shouting “Get the ball” in between eating chilled orange slices.

5. If you’re planning on putting your kids in music lessons and considering which instrument they’ll play, think about how that instrument will sound playing “Three Blind Mice.” On repeat. For three hours. Choose accordingly.

6. Prepare for your child’s first flu. First, set a few pillows and blankets on the couch and make a cozy bed. Then play a soothing cartoon on the television. Keep a pot next to the couch in case of emergency. Next, open the bathroom door and toilet for easy access, and make sure nothing is in the path between your child and the commode. Then, make a smoothie using all the leftovers in your fridge. Finally, practice shouting “NO NO NO NO!” while running through the house, pouring the smoothie on the couch, carpet, and walls. Make sure none of it lands in the pot by the couch or in the toilet.

7. When decorating your child’s room, it’s important to think about how they’ll grow into it. Pink wallpaper with giraffes may be cute for a baby, but your child will grow out of it fast. I suggest piling dirty laundry and random school papers on the floor, a style most kids seem to appreciate.

8. Practice saying odd things like, “Back up so I can wipe myself,” or “Stop licking the window,” or “Get that out of your nose” or “I’m not talking to you until you’re wearing underwear.”

9. Prepare for your child’s curious years by teaching your partner something new. Have your partner ask “Why?” every ten seconds.

10. Prepare for your child’s teenage years by teaching your cat something new. Watch as it ignores you.

What are some of the surprising things you’ve encountered in parenthood? Share them in the comments

Crissi Langwell is a Petaluma local, blended family mom to three young adults, and author of books with genres that include romance, women’s fiction, young adult, and magical realism. Visit Crissi’s author website at crissilangwell.com.

The post What to expect: 10 things parenting books won’t tell you appeared first on The Village.

SRJC cast wins laughs, tugs hearts, in “The Good Doctor”

Digitale.Stories — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 18:05:01 GMT

By ROBERT DIGITALE

Suffering, struggling, embarrassment, passion and curiosity—especially curiosity—these markers of the human condition can power stories. All can be found in stage sketches that range from the touching to the outlandish in “The Good Doctor,” the latest production of Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts.

The play by Neil Simon is based on a series of short stories by 19th century Russian author Anton Chekov. The unrelated scenes are laced with humor, allowing the cast members to deftly adopt the personas of characters that show themselves wily or bewildered, proud or weak-kneed, slightly off kilter or wild-eyed crazy.

The play’s narrator, a writer played by Riley Craig, guides the audience from one vignette to another. We encounter a bureaucrat horrified at the theater after he uncontrollably sneezes on his superior. We meet a man of undaunted confidence who demonstrates how he seduces other men’s wives without speaking to them—their husbands unwittingly convey his enticements. We watch a young medical student determined to pull his first aching tooth from an increasingly worried patient. We see a banker whose gout is set off by the ranting of a railing woman who makes up in histrionics what she lacks in reason. We encounter a sailor who offers for the price of admission to stage his own “drowning.”

Expect lots of humor and twists as these and other well-played scenes unfold.

Mixed in are dances, a touching song by cast members Haley Hollis and Robert Campbell and the fine mandolin and violin work of music director Gus Garelick. Garelick received warm applause during the prelude and intermission Friday night for his mandolin licks.

Wendy Wisely directs the production.

The cast received warm ovations in Friday’s opening. A tip of the hat to the remaining cast members: Daniel Dow, Declan Hackett, Nathaniel Gillespie, Katerina Flores, Patrick Becerril, Lorelei Voegels, Candice Penland, Anabel Pimentel and Tom Fierro.

The production continues through Oct. 13 at Newman Auditorium. For tickets and information, click here.

As the actors perform, the $30 million renovation of Burbank Auditorium proceeds. The building is slated to be ready for spring theater productions.

The college had hoped to have Burbank ready for the fall musical, but for the third year instructors have needed to find an alternate location. The fall musical, “The Sound of Music,” will take place Nov. 22 to Dec. 8 at Sonoma State University’s Person Theatre.

Next spring the college will produce “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” March 6 to 15 at the new Burbank Studio Theatre. The drama season will conclude with “The Wedding Singer,” which will be performed April 17 to May 3 in the new Burbank.

God-Shaped Hole, a love affair worth reading

Crissi Langwell — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 04:10:19 GMT

The book, God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo, has crossed my path several times over the past year, mostly as a must-read from some of my favorite authors (I’m looking at you, Tarryn Fisher). Someone else mentioned it this past week, and I finally decided to download the dang thing and read it, just so I could see what the whole hype was.

Before I get to what I thought of the book, I have to mention the author’s note Tiffanie DeBartolo includes before starting the story. I love when authors leave clues to the inspiration behind the story. In this note, Tiffanie shared her discovery of Jeff Buckley just before writing this book, how she listened to his Grace album in headphones on a flight home and was so moved by it, she could feel something churning inside her. And then she discovered he’d died a few years earlier, and how she’d discovered him too late to ever hear him perform live or create new music, and how this affected her so deeply she mourned his death like mourning the loss of someone she knew in real life.

And then, this novel poured out of her…and she wrote God-Shaped Hole while listening to the Grace album on repeat.

So when I started reading this novel, there was no choice but to read it while also listening to Grace on repeat. I’ve never been a huge Jeff Buckley fan, having heard his rendition of Hallelujah about a million times. Yes, it’s the best version of that song there is. But after hearing it a million times, I’m good. Or at least, I thought I was. Now? The Grace album has a special place in my heart, Track # 7 especially, and I blame Tiffanie DeBartolo and this book.

This book.

Let me tell you something about this book. I have never seen a love affair played out so beautifully as this book. The instant sparks that fly between Beatrice (Trixie) and Jacob is so believable, it makes sense when after five days of knowing each other, he suggests they live together. Because it makes sense – they belong to each other and there’s no other answer.

My favorite thing about this novel is how deeply both characters feel for each other. The way they think of each other first, or even just think about each other. Every sentiment expressed was so pure. Like this:

“I’d never seen a grown man cry like that before, so unself-consciously, so unashamedly. I didn’t know if he was crying for what he’d lost, or for what he’d never had, but there was a beauty in his tears that moved me more than I could ever explain with words—a beauty in the honesty of his sadness, in the grace of its purity. It was holy water raining down from the clouds in his eyes, falling to the sand then being carried back to the source from which it came—his blessed sea.”

There’s a clue in the beginning of the book that reveals how the whole thing ends. It’s not made to be a huge secret, but it did cause me some angst. The whole time I was reading, I inwardly begged the author not to do what I expected her to do. And then, of course, she did. But it was still beautiful, and I teared up, and I loved and hated it all at the same time. Days after finishing this book, I can safely say that I absolutely loved this book, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

God-Shaped Hole-heartedly.

Just read it, okay? If you love, and you want to see love done right, this is a book that will take your breath away.

Originally blogged here. Crissi Langwell is a Petaluma local, blended family mom to three young adults, and author of books with genres that include romance, women’s fiction, young adult, and magical realism. Visit Crissi’s author website at crissilangwell.com.

A Winning career tool: The Resume Portfolio

Joan Tabb — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 22:48:10 GMT

Dear Readers,

I’d like to share a winning career tool with you, one that has helped many clients become the candidate of choice, even if they didn’t have the most competitive credentials. This tool can differentiate you from other candidates and put you in the lead. It does this by showing that you have put more thought into the process, bring more self awareness, and you are providing more comprehensive information about yourself than 99% of the other job seekers.

Everyone prepares a resume, and a resume is the standard tool of introduction. But I suggest, you differentiate your introduction and arrive with a RESUME PORTFOLIO. It is something that goes beyond the traditional resume in showing who you are as a self aware candidate who can best show why and how they are a great fit for the job. The RESUME PORTFOLIO also shows that you are willing to go above and beyond in your efforts to get to the head of the pack.

OK, so what does a RESUME PORTFOLIO consist of?

A RESUME PORTFOLIO has the stand listing of employment, education and key achievements included. It also contains a clear objective so potential employers can see what you are aiming for and recognize an aligned with their needs.

But a RESUME PORTFOLIO also includes the following items:

A CAREER STORY : This involves some real thinking and analysis. It is typically a one page story that explains who you are and how you developed into the person who is qualified and excited about doing the job to which you have applied. For example: A recent college grad client had majored in both art and engineering. He had been a visual storyteller from his childhood, yet he loved to take things apart and build things. You might think of those as disparate and disconnected interests but he explained how they relate and how the combination of the two capabilities make him ideally suited as a user interface designer. He prepared his one pager that included visual examples to show his art skills and he made the story clear and concise to show analytical, clear thinking skills.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Although not asked for, my candidates always include letters of recommendation from professors, past employers, colleagues, professional association colleagues and more…Letters that strongly show that you are a proven, capable person in your field and also talk to your soft skills, too. Employers want to see that you are capable and that you get along with others well. By collecting and showing your letters of recommendation you are creating a positive impression of your candidacy, even before it’s been requested. This shows you are planning ahead and putting in the extra effort toward your candidacy.
PERSONAL FOLDERS: Although you can electronically send in your resume, career story and recommendations, I always strongly suggest that my client prepare individual folders for every person they will be meeting with. You can typically call ahead and inquire about the names and titles of the people you want to meet with or will meet with and you can hand write their names on the folder, along with your name and the date. One client was interviewing for a competitive nursing job at a top university teaching hospital. She knew she would have a panel interview and she worked hard to find out the names and titles of all the people on the panel. When she walked into the room (dressed professionally) she handed a RESUME PORTFOLIO FOLDER to each of the people on the panel. She made sure to have eye contact and she confidently said that just in case they hadn’t had a chance to see her materials online, the whole package was here. She reviewed the contents of the folder and gave them a few minutes to go through it. YES, she got the job! Afterward, she was told that everyone on the panel was tremendously impressed with her preparation and the quality of her materials. Yes, when you are applying for good jobs there is typically competition out there. I saw do all you can to differentiate yourself, make it easy for the potential employers to know you and like you. Give a little extra time and work into preparing a RESUME PORTFOLIO that will distinguish you and give you additional confidence as well. Onward in your career success,

Coach Joan

3 Considerations for a mid life career change

Joan Tabb — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 23:31:53 GMT

Dear Coach Joan,

I recently turned 50 and feel like it’s now or never for a mid life career change. I’ve disliked my profession for several years now and have a number of career directions I think would be much more satisfying.

But I go around and around in my head with possibilities, then get overwhelmed and confused about what to think of first, and how to plan out such a major change.

Given you’ve worked with many clients making this kind of transition, what are some of the things I should be thinking about? What are some of pitfalls, sand traps and success factors, too?

Thank you,

John in Santa Rosa

Dear John,

Happy 50!! Clearly this birthday is a big milestone for you, and you are seeing it as the time to make a major career shift. Bravo! There’s nothing like reaching a new round number birthday to wake us up and shake us up, realizing life isn’t forever and we want to make the most of our time.

You asked a very wise and complex question, one that I cannot answer in one article so I will break it down into several parts and address several important considerations.

Drawing from my experiences with clients who came to me at various stages of their mid-life career change I’d like to start with three cautionary topics:

The Financials – By the time you reached 50 years old you typically have a life style established. You have a certain kind of home, household, vehicles, vacations, clothing, shopping and eating habits and more. Yes, life can be expensive and when one is making a career change mid life, it’s vital to take a serious look at one’s current life style cost and the implications of a possible, at least temporary lowering of one’s income. Take a serious accounting of your current costs and see if you could be flexible if, in fact, your career change involved say a 50% reduction in income for at least a few years. Example: One client came to me after she had taken an early retirement and opted live her dream of painting part time and working in an art supply store part time. Somehow she thought that magically she could go from the lifestyle of a mid level corporate manager to a bohemian style artist lifestyle. She came to me after two years of her ‘dream life’ having depleted much of her savings and now needing to get back to a corporate job.
Your Partner/Family – If you live with others, especially others who’re depending on your income or your availability and those things change, you really need to get them on board with your decision early on. Career change is a systems change for a family. Everything from income to hours working to stresses one brings home to status changes to new friends/colleagues and their influence, all changes and does impact the others in your household. Again, a cautionary example. A client came to me recently divorced. He had been a corporate executive and welcomed the chance to move to a teaching position at the local college. He realizes he hadn’t adequately communicated his job stress all along and when he made the career change, his wife and children were tremendously disappointed at the income reduction and what that meant to their lifestyle. In fact, his wife claims that had he communicated with her all along, he might not have made the change. You don’t want to have major regrets. Talk to your family, have many discussions so you can all see the implications of a job change.
Incorrect Expectations. It is so important to know what one is getting into with a career change. Many times we have overblown or mistaken ideas of what another profession or job truly would entail. We often make our career assessments based on limited knowledge and experience, drawing from the media, popular culture and just our hopeful projections. That is where the power of Information Interviews, volunteer work and internships can play a key role. See if you can meet with people in your ‘ideal job’ and ask if they will give you 30 minutes to ask some questions. Do not make it into a request for a job. An informational interview is just what the words say; it is a chance for you to interview someone who has agreed to give you time and insights. Remember to follow up with a thank you, as they might be a colleague someday, and it’s the right thing to do. One young women client thought that working in the entertainment field would be glamorous from the start but once she started her job she realized it was a lot of administrative boring tasks and demanded many hours. She was unrealistic in her expectations.

John, I have offered you three essential things to consider: financial implications of a career move, getting your partner/family on board and getting a real world sense of the prospective profession and job. Next time I will address some success stories and insights into making a smart mid career move.

Onward in your career success,

Coach Joan

‘I am taking a week off from screens – here is how it’s going’

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 13:00:10 GMT

I’m in the middle of a weeklong digital detox. That means no watching TV or movies, no Facebook or Instagram, no reading the news, and no checking my personal email, and even keeping my Kindle closed (if you know me personally, you know how serious that is). The only allowances I’ve made myself are work-related (including writing this blog!), and music. But other than that, I’m keeping my eyes away from all screens this week.

PREPPING FOR MY DIGITAL-FREE WEEK

I’m embarrassed how much I had to mentally prepare for this week. I planned to start on Saturday, and the whole week beforehand, I went back and forth between mentally psyching myself up and talking myself out of it. I was sure I’d cave at some point. I even told myself I could just do this for the weekend and let it be at that. By Friday night, I still wasn’t sure if I could make it, but I figured I’d at least try. I spent that evening speeding through the book I was reading, knowing I wouldn’t be able to pick it up for a week. Then I did one last email check, one last scroll through Facebook and Instagram, and one last look at the headlines. Then I blocked all my media apps on my phone, and went to bed.

WHAT HAPPENED

Saturday morning, I spent more time journaling than normal since I wasn’t interrupting myself to check my phone every five minutes. I got a workout in. I listened to music. I visited with friends. I even took a three-hour nap. Not once did I check my email or feel the need to post on social media.

Sunday was more of the same. I woke up clear headed and motivated. My husband and I took a hike. We visited with his mother. I worked in the yard for a few hours, and then deep cleaned our kitchen. I also got plenty of downtime—real downtime. I was fully present for my family. I noticed the actual world around me. And by Sunday night, I was amazed at how relaxed my shoulders were, how rested I felt, and how uncluttered my mind was. Just two days in, and I knew I’d make it the rest of the week.

DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS ARE NOT RELAXING

In this digital age, we have so much coming at us from all different directions. News stories vying for our attention. Polarizing posts on Facebook. Envy-inducing photos on Instagram. A new email every five minutes. Phone notifications. Constant advertisements.

Are you tired yet? I am.

The thing is, I know I’m not being my best when I’m digitally distracted. My family has to compete for my attention. I never feel rested. My attention span is reduced. And I know I’m not alone. The next time you’re anywhere you need to wait in line, count how many people are on their phones. I’m willing to bet it’s close to 100%. We can’t even wait five minutes without some sort of entertainment, even if we can also admit that it’s really not all that entertaining.

DO YOU NEED A BREAK TOO?

I challenge you to join me. Make it a day, or a weekend, or see if you can make it a whole week. Maybe even consider just a weekly tech-free day. Keep the TV off. Refuse to look at your phone. Lock your social media accounts and let go of email. And then see how it changes your life. Are you more present? Do you have more energy? Do you get more done? Or do you find more time to actually have fun?

I can’t wait to hear what happens. Be sure to come back here after your digital detox and let me know how it worked!

TECH-FREE THINGS TO DO

If you take the challenge, but aren’t sure what you can do with your time, here’s a list of a few screen-free things to enjoy. Be sure to print this out before you sign off!

Start your day with thirty minutes of absolute silence while you enjoy your coffee.
Take the family on a bike ride around your neighborhood.
Visit the ducks at the Sonoma Plaza.
Take a walk around Spring Lake.
Go fishing.
Have a family game night (or a night out at Wine or Lose in Petaluma)
Write letters to friends and snail mail them.
Be a tourist in your own town by visiting places you’ve never been before.
Watch the sunset at the beach.
Go roller skating at Cal Skate.
Create a fairy garden in your yard.
Color in a coloring book.
Take a nap (they’re seriously underrated)
Cook a gourmet meal.
Have a round robin storytelling night, where each person tells a portion of the story, and the next person continues it, etc.
Study the night sky.
Have a friend teach you how to do something new.
Make sock puppets and put on a show with the kids.
Write a poem.
Take time to notice the things around you without relying on digital distractions for entertainment. Pay attention to how new things will seem!

What other non-digital things are there to do? Let me know in the comments.

The post ‘I am taking a week off from screens – here is how it’s going’ appeared first on The Village.

I didn’t ask: How to react to unsolicited parenting advice

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 13:00:25 GMT

Ten years ago, I was much more of a “mom blogger” than I am now, and I regularly shared my kids’ lives with a public audience. Naturally I got flack from readers who thought it was irresponsible of me to write about my kids so publicly, even though I ran each and every post by the kids and hid their identities behind code names. But the comments that really bothered me were those who had something to say about my parenting, how I was living my life, and even offering advice on how I could improve my children, which is crazy because NONE of them knew us in real life.

I mean, imagine this. I’m a single mother, sharing about our single family lifestyle that included low income living, dating, working outside the home, and struggling with kid issues like grades, activities, friends, and more. I was a prime target for people who knew better than me, and boy did I hear it. When I shared about my son’s worn out shoes, one off-topic commenter let me know that my kid needed to go on a diet. When I talked about dating, another commenter said I shouldn’t date anyone until my kids moved out of the house. Any talk about single parenting had people slamming me for leaving my ex.

What is it about parenting that brings out the self-identified experts? One mom friend I know was told how to keep her kid under control when this child is actually autistic and was suffering an anxiety attack. Another mom was ridiculed for letting her toddler swim in the pool with floaties because it was giving her child false confidence. Another was told she wasn’t cutting her toddler’s food tiny enough. Parents of newborns probably have it the worst, hearing all kinds of conflicting advice from every corner just as they’re trying to form their own way to parent.

People, STOP!

There is no advice less welcome than the advice that was never asked for. So how do you sidestep these would-be experts on your life? Here are some ways to tackle this issue:

1. Politely let them know you’ve got it under control, and then move on.

2. Stay silent. I mean, nothing says more than the mom/dad stare, ammiright?

3. Let them know you’ll consider their suggestions. You don’t have to, but this answer will allow the conversation to end without getting worse.

4. Share how you’ve heard that it was done like that in the old days. You know, like cocaine was once considered a good idea for teething babies. Wide eyes are necessary on this one.

5. Tell them you’ll check with the doctor. Repeat this one as necessary for those without a doctorate who think they know better.

Most important, stand firm in your beliefs. Who’s the expert on what works with your child? You are. You’ve raised this child from newborn to now, and know who they are, how they think, all their preferences, and more. Those people with their unasked opinion aren’t the ones putting your child to bed or trying to head off their meltdown. As much as would-be experts think they know better, they actually don’t.

However, don’t be afraid to ask for advice when you really aren’t sure about something. None of us have all the answers, but someone out there could have the solution to an issue you’re currently facing.

Finally, understand that most people who offer unsolicited advice (besides anonymous internet trolls) are actually trying to help, as annoying as it is. Often they just want a chance to reminisce about how they parented their own child. If you have the bandwidth to do so, offer them a chance to share their own parenting stories. Your “questionable” parenting will be forgotten as the unasked adviser divulges their own parenting war stories. Who knows, you may even find common ground.

What is the worst unsolicited parenting advice you’ve received? Share in the comments.

___

Crissi Langwell is a Petaluma local, blended family mom to three young adults, and author of 11 books. Visit Crissi’s author website at crissilangwell.com.

The post I didn’t ask: How to react to unsolicited parenting advice appeared first on The Village.

What’s for dinner? Here’s your cheat sheet to making meal planning easy.

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 13:00:49 GMT

I think the worst part about nearing the end of the day is the “what’s for dinner” mystery. The last thing I want to do after working all day is to figure out what I want to make that evening, and hope I have everything in the refrigerator to make it.

What if I told you a way to stop this nightly battle once and for all?

In our house, we no longer wonder what we’re making, and dinner making is a breeze. This is because we sit down every Saturday and create a meal plan for the next week. We keep the list on the door of the refrigerator so the kids always know what to expect that night for dinner. And it has taken away a ton of headaches in the dinner-making department.

If you aren’t already doing this, I totally recommend meal-planning. Here are a couple tips to follow:

Know your schedule
When we create our meal plan, we keep the week’s activities in mind. I have a huge whiteboard calendar of the month’s events, and we chart our meals according to what’s going on each day. On busier nights we’ll plan for a meal that doesn’t take a ton of prep time or that we can prep ahead of time to just throw in the oven that evening. On nights where there isn’t much going on, we might make something a little more elaborate, and maybe prep a dish for later in the week. We keep in account who will be cooking that night, planning a meal that person can cook easily, and making sure to note who the executive chef will be on the menu. By the way, whoever cooks doesn’t have to clean up (and yes, we both take turns).

Plan for leftovers
Some nights I like to make a whole roasted chicken for the family. It’s cheaper to cook the whole thing, plus you can make a tasty giblet gravy from those innards. But instead of cooking just one chicken, why not cook TWO? That extra chicken will make a tasty meal of chicken tacos later in the week, chicken salad sandwiches for lunch, salad with grilled chicken pieces, slow cooker tortilla soup, or chicken enchiladas for Mexican night. And even if those leftovers won’t be used that week, they can still be frozen for another week. One of my favorite frozen leftover meals is “breakfast burritos” – a tortilla filled with egg, potato, bacon, beans, and cheese, and then grilled on each side to seal it shut. I try to fold a few extra every time I make these, wrap them in foil, and throw them in the freezer for a quick meal that’s a little healthier and much cheaper than store-bought convenience food.

Create your shopping list
While planning our meals, we also keep another piece of paper close by to plan our shopping list at the same time. When we write down a meal, we list the ingredients we’ll need. This ensures we won’t be scrambling for capers when we’re making Chicken Piccata, or run out of ketchup when we’re making hamburgers. Plus, having a list will save you time and money, as you won’t be wandering the store looking for inspiration, grabbing all those enticing impulse items, or returning to the store the next day for all the things you forgot.

Include the kids
Sometimes the meal plans get a little boring when the adults are in charge of picking out the dinners. So why not let the kids plan the meals? Sure, you might get a week of hot dogs, pizza, and spaghetti. But your kids might also surprise you with a favorite dish you haven’t made in a while, like that casserole dish you made months ago, or the stew just like grandma makes. You might even assign a cooking night to the older kids and let them be the executive chef for the evening. Our kids have surprised us with some pretty impressive dinners on the nights they’ve cooked for us, including stewed chicken with sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts, and authentic Japanese pancakes. Yes, they left a huge mess after cooking, but the food was delicious and it was nice to have a night off cooking.

Allow for flexibility
Things happen last minute – school project is due tomorrow, a party invite without warning, company is coming over, the zucchini needs to be used up, or that steak dinner just doesn’t sound as appetizing as it did on Saturday when you planned your meals. We always keep some “cheat” meals in the freezer, like a frozen pizza or something equally convenient, for occasions like these. Or we’ve been known to switch meals midweek to a day that seems better. The meal plan is not written in stone, and should be just as flexible as you are! And when in doubt, breakfast makes a fabulous dinner. ?

To end, here’s a sample dinner menu we’ve enjoyed during an especially busy week, with no meal taking more than 30 minutes to prep:

Saturday
Caprese (mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil with drizzled balsamic), grapes and apples, and crackers with cheese and turkey lunch meat, or a tuna salad to spread on the crackers.
Sparkling cider to drink
Note: the kids call this “Wine Country Meal,” and it’s basically a bunch of fun finger foods with lots of variety.

Sunday
Mexican Casserole
Note: This is a favorite in our house. Combine taco seasoned cooked ground beef, cooked rice, 1-2 can beans, 1 can stewed tomatoes, and some hot sauce, top with cheese, then bake for about 20 minutes. Serve with chips, guacamole, and sour cream. Leftovers are not guaranteed.

Meal Plan Note: Prep for Monday & Tuesday’s dinner by baking a whole chicken on Sunday night.

Monday
Crockpot Tortilla Soup (click the link for one of my favorite slow cooker recipes, and one of my favorite food bloggers)
Add chips or fried corn tortillas, avocado, sour cream, and mozzarella cheese

Tuesday
Crockpot Tortilla Soup leftovers

Wednesday
Sliced sausage and grilled red peppers and onions
Polenta (we like the one you can slice from Trader Joe’s)
Marinara sauce
Cheese to top
Note: This is one of our family’s favorites, and it’s sooooo easy to make. The sausages (I like Aidell’s Apple Chicken) are already cooked, and I grill them with sliced peppers and onions until everything is lightly caramelized. Then I serve it next to the sliced polenta (which cooks nicely in the oven already in slices) topped with cheese and marinara sauce. So good!

Thursday
BLT’s (bacon, tomato, mozzarella, basil, lettuce and mayo on whole wheat bread).
Note: Don’t eat bread? Use a large lettuce leaf instead. Or, like I do, and just make this a BLT salad.

Friday
Breakfast for dinner!
The kids have come to expect this on Fridays. By the end of the week, I’m over cooking. But breakfast is easy. Sometimes it’s pancakes. Sometimes it’s bacon and eggs. Whatever it is, it’s easy, comforting, delicious, and done in 15 minutes.

What are your family’s favorite meals for dinner? Leave them in the comments so we can all add them to our list!

___

Want more time-saving tips like these? Find them in the book, Reclaim Your Creative Soul, the secrets to organizing your full-time life to make room for your craft.

Crissi Langwell is a Petaluma local, blended family mom to three young adults, and author of 11 books. Visit Crissi’s author website at crissilangwell.com.

The post What’s for dinner? Here’s your cheat sheet to making meal planning easy. appeared first on The Village.

Building delays force SRJC play to move to SSU

Digitale.Stories — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 17:39:14 GMT

Construction this spring at SRJC’s Burbank Auditorium (Robert Digitale).

By ROBERT DIGITALE

Santa Rosa Junior College will take its fall musical on the road for the third straight season—this time to the main theater at Sonoma State University for the Nov. 22 debut of “The Sound of Music.”

Theater fans had hoped the fall show would return to campus in a renovated $30 million Burbank Auditorium. But construction delays there have caused the need to secure an alternate venue, said Leslie McCauley, chair of the SRJC Theatre Arts department.

Burbank and an adjacent, newly built Studio Theatre are expected to be ready for the spring drama performances, McCauley said in an email. The faculty is slated to move into Burbank’s updated classrooms and offices in January.

For the past two seasons, the junior college’s fall and spring musicals were performed at Maria Carrillo High School. But this fall’s performances will be held at SSU’s Person Theatre in what McCauley described as a “collaborative production between our two programs.”

“The Sound of Music” will feature 13 matinee and evening performances Nov. 22 to Dec. 8.

The junior college’s season will kick off this autumn with Neil Simon’s “The Good Doctor.” Performances will run Oct. 4 to 13 at the campus’ Newman Auditorium.

As early as next week, season subscribers could start to see brochures in their mailboxes with news of the available ticket packages, McCauley said.

For more information, click here.

Blended families: 5 ways to be a better stepparent

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 13:00:59 GMT

Our family!

When my husband and I first combined households as a second marriage family, it was messy, to say the least. Often it felt like two households living side-by-side instead of one happy blended family. Many of our arguments were about each other’s kids, frustrated by each other’s blind spots when it came to our own kids. He couldn’t see that his son acted like his superior. I couldn’t see that my son was manipulative or my daughter had a sassy mouth. I had a really hard time relating with his son, and the same was true for him with my kids. We both tried our hardest, but when it comes to blended families, those bonded feelings of love aren’t always natural.

Luckily, time allowed us to build bridges over those deep chasms in our blended family. We learned ways to relate with each other’s children, and grew closer as a couple while developing much better relationships with our stepchildren. Here are some of the things we’ve learned along the way.

1. Find common ground
I had a hard time figuring out what I had in common with my stepson, until I took up running. Suddenly, he was interested too, and we started going on runs together. Before this happened, we barely spoke to each other. He was angry that his parents had split up, and I was overly cautious about overstepping my bounds with a kid who already had a mother. The running thing gave us something to talk about, and paved the way for other common interests as well.

2. Take nothing personal
There’s a double standard in my parenting that I’m fully aware of. If my kids say something snarky to me or challenge my parenting, I can see it for what it is and act accordingly. If my stepson challenges me, however, I can feel the heat rising inside me, absolutely sure that he’s not just challenging a specific rule, but my place in this family. These feelings didn’t grow overnight, but have grown out of years of the two of us figuring out our relationship and totem pole position in this blended family. I’ve had to teach myself to take a deep breath and see the situation for what it is rather than the story I’m making it out to be, and ask myself every time, how would I react if my bio kid acted this way? Practice makes perfect, and it has definitely gotten easier with time.

3. Put yourself in their shoes
None of these kids asked for their parents to split up and then find someone new. Granted, this is the reality, and respect is required. But grace is allowed, too. This is one thing both my husband and I have worked hard at: recognizing the mixed emotions all of the kids have had to work through as we blend our family. Both of us honor the kids’ relationships with our ex-spouses, and we actively step back when emotions run high. The only way we can do this is through empathy, and paying attention to the kids’ needs.

4. Set parenting boundaries
In our family, we’ve had to set two kinds of boundaries. First, the adults in this house are the parental figures, even if they’re the stepparent. But the second boundary has been between my husband and me—I am the primary parent of my children when both of us are present, and he’s the primary parent of his son in the same way. We learned early on that being an authority figure with each other’s children was a fiasco in the making. Think about it this way: You’re at your job, and a new manager comes in. You still have your old manager, who you really like and are familiar with what she wants. But this new guy is suddenly changing up the rules, requiring tasks you never had to do before. This new guy feels like an impostor, and he’s making you hate your job. Worse, your original manager is just letting him take over. How would you feel? My husband and I step back when it comes to each other’s kids, but in private we’ll chat about things we see that need addressing. It’s become this perfect system of checks and balances, and the kids are hardly the wiser.

5. Keep a united front
This is probably the most important rule, and one that’s saved our marriage. In the beginning, it was really easy to take our kids’ sides, protecting them from a stepparent that didn’t understand the right way to parent them. My husband and I fell into this routine, and those early years were hard. But eventually, the whole blended family thing started to mellow, and we learned to share regular private meetings in which we came up with agreed upon ways to tackle certain issues with the kids. These closed door meeting were vital, as it allowed us the space to plead our case, and to also share things we’d noticed that maybe the other parent didn’t. It also helped that when we left that room, we were on the same page. This united front was the catalyst for blending our family. I absolutely think it’s the core of how our family went from two households in one home to one combined family that just have different stories.

Are you in a blended family? What are some of the struggles you’ve faced in parenting and stepparenting? What are some of the triumphs? Share your story in the comments.

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Crissi Langwell is a Petaluma local, blended family mom to three young adults, and author of 11 books. Her latest novel, Numbered, a dystopian romance that takes place in 2050, is available at bit.ly/NumberedKindle, Visit Crissi’s author website at crissilangwell.com.

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End-of-summer bucket list

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 13:00:41 GMT

Annette White, owner of Sugo Trattoria in Petaluma with her husband Peter, is a travel blogger who wrote about her journeys in her book Bucket List Adventures. She recently spoke to a group of us gathered in a friend’s living room about her adventures, and admitted her struggle with anxiety.

She also shared how her bucket list was what helped her gain tools for dealing with her anxiety. This bucket list started with simple things she would do that day, like visit the farmer’s market or try something a new dish. But then it began to expand to larger adventures until she was booking flights to places she’d never visited to hang out with people she didn’t know (safely, of course!) and doing things she never dreamed she’d be doing. Her anxiety was still there, but the tools she had for pushing past it were growing with each adventure.

Annette’s bucket list made me think about how summer is coming to an end, which is kind of sad. I don’t know about you, but I love the freedom of summer, how there’s little need for schedules and there’s room in each day for a new adventure.

Of course, there’s the other side of the coin, in that kids are bored, the house is a wreck, and you’d give anything for an hour of peace and quiet instead of trying to find new ways to give them something to do.

Enter the end-of-summer bucket list.

By my calculation, there are about two weeks left until school starts (side note: school in the middle of August has never made sense to me). That’s 14 more days of kids who have nothing to do. Instead of tearing your hair out, have the kids write a list of things they’d like to do before summer is over. Once the lists are made, combine them and pick a few that you can realistically accomplish in the next two weeks. Then place dates next to each item so that the kids have something to look forward to. Your family’s end-of-summer bucket list could make this the most memorable summer ever.

Need help coming up with ideas? Here are 14 of them to get you started.

1. Ride bikes to the park

2. Watch planes take off at the airport

3. Collect bugs and have a bug race

4. Pack a basket and enjoy a picnic lunch

5. Hold a backyard camp out

6. Grab a camera and play tourist in your own town

7. Decorate the sidewalk with chalk art

8. Paint a picture

9. Create an obstacle course and have a relay race

10. Make zucchini go carts (click here for inspiration)

11. Learn five new constellations by looking at the night sky (this app is my favorite!)

12. See who can read the most books before school starts

13. See who can put a puzzle together the fastest

14. Create your own board game

What are some of your ideas for an epic end-of-summer bucket list? Share in the comments!

___

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Indoor kid-friendly spots to escape the heat

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 13:00:37 GMT

Summertime is for enjoying the sunshine and playing outdoors—except for when it’s not. As nice as it is to spend the day in the sun at the beach, the playground, the zoo, and any other outdoor attraction, too much sunshine can be exhausting.

If you’re looking to escape the heat and entertain the kids in an indoor environment, here are some of my favorite places. Did I miss your favorite? Add it in the comments.

Children’s Museum of Sonoma County
With something for kids of every age, this is one of my personal favorites. The museum has multiple interactive exhibits, both indoors and outdoors, including water exhibits (perfect for a hot day!) and art exhibits that will feed your budding artist’s creativity. This summer’s museum events include Sensory Friendly Afternoons (monthly and The Great Train Days (July 27 & 28).
cmosc.org, 1835 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa.
Admission: $12 for adults and children, free for babies under 12 months.
Open Daily: 9am – 4pm, closed Tuesdays, Sundays: 11am – 4 pm (open 9-11 a.m. members)

Mrs. Grossman’s Warehouse
I mean, who doesn’t love stickers? Mrs. Grossman’s is a local must-go destination, whether you’re five or 99 years old. This is a nostalgic favorite of mine, as I remember my mother taking us to the warehouse to stock up on stickers, and then spending afternoons creating sticker scenes with bears and penguins, flowers, stars, and more. The company store is filled with any kind of sticker you can imagine. You can also reserve your spot on one of their tours (must be in advance).
mrsgrossmans.com, 3810 Cypress Drive, Petaluma
Store open Monday – Friday, 9am to 5:30pm
Tour Times Monday through Thursday, 10:00, 11:00, 1:00 and 2:00
Tour Admission: $7.00 – 12 years and up; $5.00 – ages 3-11; Free – under 3

My Gym Santa Rosa
Perfect for the littles, My Gym is a great place to get the wiggles out and spend an afternoon playing indoors. The venue offers classes for ages three months to nine years. First class is free so you can determine whether this is a good fit. Membership and tuition include weekly classes and unlimited “Practice and Play.” The gym also offers camps and Parents Night Out, and hosts birthday parties.
mygym.com, 3267 Airway Drive, Santa Rosa
See website for cost and hours

Schulz Museum
An afternoon with Snoopy and friends is just what the summer ordered. The Schulz Museum not only has interesting exhibits showcasing the cartoons and art of the late Charles Schulz, it also features classes, camps, and events that are bound to entertain. Coming classes include a Comic Boot Camp, a cartooning workshop, Lego Animation, and more. The museum also hosts Museum Mondays, a great event for kids aged 1-5.
schulzmuseum.org, 2301 Hardies Lane Santa Rosa
Open weekdays 11:00 am–5:00 pm and weekends 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Admission $5-12, free for members and children under 3

Epicenter
There’s something for everyone at Epicenter. With a sports center, a trampoline park, a health club, bowling, an arcade, laser tag, and more, this center will keep your family entertained all day long.
visitepicenter.com , 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa
Visit website for hours and admission

Reel Kids $1 Movies
Until August 10, Reading Cinemas in Rohnert Park is offering $1 movies every Wednesday and Thursday at 10am. For a schedule, visit readingcinemasus.com.
555 Rohnert Park Expwy West, Rohnert Park
10 a.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 7.

Other favorite venues to escape the heat:

Time Out Family Fun & Event Center
Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, 2200 Petaluma Blvd N #800a
timeoutnplay.com

Pump It Up
374 Blodgett St Ste 1, Cotati
3360 Coffey Ln Ste A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
www.pumpitupparty.com

Rebounderz
555 Rohnert Park Expy Suite C, Rohnert Park
www.rebounderz.com

Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park
3215 Coffey Ln, Santa Rosa
rockinjump.com

Kids Party Central
327 O’Hair Court, Santa Rosa
www.kidspartycentral.com

Cal Skate
6100 Commerce Blvd, Rohnert Park
www.calskate.com

Snoopy’s Home Ice
1667 W Steele Ln, Santa Rosa
www.snoopyshomeice.com

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Fireworks survival guide for families with sensitive kids

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 13:00:26 GMT

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, many families are choosing which of the many fireworks shows to watch around the county (find a list of local fireworks shows here). But not everyone looks forward to this annual tradition. For young kids, a fireworks show can be frightening. Kids with sensory issues may also be strongly affected by the loud sounds and flashes of lights.

If you’re looking for ways to take the fear out of fireworks, or even looking for alternatives to this tradition, here are a few ideas:

1. Skip fireworks and stay home.
If you sense the loud bangs will be too much for your child, don’t force the issue. They may be ready another year, but for this one, staying home is probably your best bet. If you live in an area where the fireworks noise is still pretty loud, play a movie or soft music to neutralize the sound. You can even watch the fireworks on TV to help prepare them for future years, or so they don’t feel left out. Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular in New York airs at 8 p.m. on NBC. PBS is also airing fireworks at 8 p.m. And if you tune in to the Disney Parks Blog at 6:13 p.m., you can watch fireworks live from Disney World.

You can also have an alternative fireworks show at home. Read to the end to find out more.

2. Discuss fireworks with your child before the show.
If you’re planning your child’s first time seeing the fireworks, talk with them about what they can expect. It can help to show them videos of fireworks shows. While nothing compares to the actual event, taking away some of the surprise can help your child feel at ease.

3. Use earplugs or noise cancelling headphones.
For little kids especially, those loud booms are the scariest part of the fireworks show. Minimize their fear by taking away the loud noises by using earplugs, which are cheap at any sporting goods store, Target, CVS, and other stores. Noise canceling headphones are also a great way to minimize the noise, though they’re more expensive.

4. Consider watching from a distance.
When my kids were little, money was too tight to attend the fireworks shows and all their festivities. So we used to drive a distance away and park the car, then watch the fireworks there. If we planned it right, we could even see several fireworks shows going on at the same time. The other benefit was that the booms were much quieter and not scary at all. If you think your child will be sensitive to the noise, find a cool spot away from the fireworks and watch the show at a distance.

5. Watch with friends.
Kids are chameleons. If they’re on their own with concerned parents, they’re much more likely to fear fireworks. But if they’re with friends, there’s a good chance they’ll all feed off each other’s excitement over the show. Consider going with a group of friends to watch the fireworks. It may help get your child’s mind off their fear.

6. Have a backup plan.
It may have seemed like your child was ready when you left for the fireworks show, but once the show started, they’re suddenly terrified and screaming to go. Have a Plan B prepared just in case things don’t go according to Plan A. You could just go home if they’re too distraught. Or maybe you can all go out for milkshakes instead so you can talk about the show.

Alternative Fireworks Show Ideas

If the traditional fireworks shows aren’t in the cards this year, you can still have a “fireworks” show at home—and it doesn’t even involve fire. Here are several ideas for an alternative fireworks show:

1. Glowstick fireworks.
Who needs fireworks when you can light up the night with glowsticks? You can decorate each other and your surroundings with glowsticks, or you can take it to a whole new level—glowstick fireworks using a potato launcher. You can buy them on Amazon here, or even at Walmart. But a simple internet search will turn up tons of tutorials out there on how to make these things. Load the launcher with lit up glowsticks, and then shoot them into the sky. It’s amazing to see the glowing lights fly through the air, and kids will love running out to retrieve the sticks so you can shoot it again. But because potato launchers shoot objects at high velocity, make sure only older kids and adults are using it.

2. Glow-in-the-dark bubbles.
With dish soap, water, and glow-in-the-dark paint, you can have a lights show that’s so cool, your kids will never miss the fireworks. Here are some instructions on making your own glowing bubbles.

3. Firework jars.
Have you ever caught fireflies in a jar so you can watch their glow? This time, you’ll be “catching” fireworks in a jar. Have the kids decorate the outside of Mason jars with glow-in-the-dark puffy paint in different colors, and they’ll have a cool jar for keepsakes that will stay lit up even after the lights go out. Find instructions and examples here.

Have fun this Fourth of July, and above all, be safe!

Do you have ideas for taking the fear out of fireworks? How about ideas for alternative fireworks fun? Let me know in the comments!

___

Crissi Langwell is a Petaluma local, blended family mom to three young adults, and author of a bunch of books. Her 11th book, Numbered, a dystopian romance that takes place in 2050, is available at bit.ly/NumberedKindle, Visit Crissi’s author website at crissilangwell.com.

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SRT returns with talented actors, new stage for musicals

Digitale.Stories — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 02:48:41 GMT

The Pavilion sans seats and backdrops. Photo by John Burgess, The Press Democrat

By ROBERT DIGITALE

After a year’s hiatus, Summer Repertory Theatre is back for a new season. And delightfully, it offers audiences both something old and something new.

What’s old is the abundance of collegiate talent that once more has been drawn from around the U.S. to the summer theater program at Santa Rosa Junior College. What’s new is the setting for this year’s three musicals.

On Friday night two dozen actors from 14 colleges and conservatories kicked off the new season with a rollicking version of the ABBA-inspired musical, “Mamma Mia!”

As ever, the cast displayed the captivating vocals and in-sync dance moves that have drawn audiences to summertime productions at the college for nearly five decades. But patrons last week got an added treat, the chance to watch the performance in-the-round inside a temporary white pavilion set up on the campus’s old tennis courts.

Along with “Mamma Mia,” the musicals “Bonnie & Clyde” and “Pippin” will play in the pavilion, a hard-sided tent with glass doors and air conditioning. The 270-seat venue offers an intimate setting that the opening production put to good use.

Artistic Director James Newman said the program’s 47th season will be unlike any other.

The use of the pavilion “won’t really happen at any other time in our history,” Newman said Friday as he welcomed patrons to opening night.

Friday provided the first Summer Rep performance in two years. Last year’s shows were canceled after the program lost an alternate venue to the college’s Burbank Auditorium, which remains in the midst of a $30 million renovation. Burbank is slated to reopen in November for the college’s annual fall musical.

On Friday the audience seemed to love both the show and the new venue.

As director Johanna Pinzler observed, “Mamma Mia!” is a “juke box musical” for which a story has been crafted to give an excuse for breaking out the ABBA songbook. Be prepared for “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes it All.” The show even includes an encore/big dance number that includes “Waterloo,” a song that the show’s creators apparently couldn’t figure a way to wrap the plot around.

The story features a daughter on the eve of her Greek Isle wedding. To her nuptials she has invited three men on the suspicion that any one of them might be her biological father. Of course, she doesn’t tell her mother about the invitations. Twenty years have passed since the mom, Donna, laid eyes on the three fellows. How will it all work out?

The show benefitted from a strong cast, especially Abby Cramer as Donna, Macy McKown as the daughter Sophie and Sam Pickart as the man who still loves Donna.

In the pavilion, five sections of seats surround the stage. On Friday each audience member sat near the action and, with stadium-style seating, everyone had a clear view of the players. Patrons couldn’t see the seven-piece orchestra. It remained hidden behind backdrops, but its sound nicely filled the space.

A tip of the hat to the other actors in this year’s productions: Madison Dietrich, Nicolas Fernandez, Will Fletcher, CJ Garbin, Cole Harksen, Nic Hermick, Charles Mayhew Miller, Sommer O’Donnell, Ariana Perlson, Morgan Sheehan, Jeremy Beloate, Cameron Blakely, Gabbi Browdy, Jamie Goodson, Ben Hardin, Kristen Ivy Haynes, Roberto Perez Kempton, Gillian Lieberman, Caroline Pernick, Ashley West, Lake Wilburn, Carson Cerney, Liev Bruce-Low, Evie Goodwin and Tyler Ono.

Along with the musicals, SRT will produce two smaller shows, “The 39 Steps” and “Sylvia.” Both plays will take place in the college’s Newman Auditorium.

The season runs through Aug. 10. For tickets, performance dates and other information, click here.

6 things I miss about the toddler years

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 13:00:05 GMT

A few weeks ago, we celebrated my youngest child’s high school graduation. I remember people telling me how fast childhood would slip by, and I obviously didn’t take it seriously enough because now they’re practically grownups, and I still have their baby blankets in my closet.
I swear that every year with them is the best one yet, but there’s something extra special about the toddler years. Here are some of the things I miss the most:

1. Their made up sayings.
When my now 21-year-old daughter was two, she’d beg us to take her to “dip dip.” This meant a trip to McDonalds where she could dip chicken nuggets in barbecue sauce. Two decades later, and my daughter now rolls her eyes at the “dip dip” story, having heard it so many times before. But I can still remember my pigtailed little girl pointing to the golden arches, hoping we’ll stop to “dip dip.”

2. Their need for comfort.
There is nothing like a toddler hug, the kind where their whole body fits inside your arms and their little head rests against the crook of your neck. Sure, toddlers can drive you crazy, but when they need a hug, everything else is forgotten. My now 18-year-old son was my most cuddly toddler, and he would find every reason to sit in my lap or snuggle against my shoulder, making up for all the times he made me want to tear out my hair.

3. Reading to them.
I used to love curling up with my toddler and a book, reading it together. We had a few of our favorites—The Runaway Bunny, Goodnight Moon, and Sophie and the New Baby (for my daughter when I was pregnant with my son)—and we’d read them on repeat almost every night. They loved reciting the words with me, pretending they were reading, too, through their memorization skills. Now that they’re older, both kids appreciate a good book, and I absolutely credit our early days of reading together.

4. The drama.
OMG, the drama. Toddler’s are liable to melt over the stupidest things. Because he can’t eat the crayons. Because the toast she wanted is toasted. Because he has to wear clothes. Because the dog is in her way. Because you didn’t let him finish eating dirt. The temper tantrums are real…real ridiculous, that is. But years later, they sure are great sources of nostalgic entertainment.

5. Their imaginations.
My favorite times with the kids were when we played games of pretend. Stuffed animals became ferocious, protective beasts. Blankets became elaborate castle forts. The floor became hot lava. A simple sarong became a jeweled ballgown. Toddlers are so naturally imaginative, they are capable of bring the child out of all of us.

6. Nap time.
Toddler play hard, and they also nap hard. There were times when I couldn’t wait for nap time just so I could get an hour or so of quiet to get stuff done, or even to take my own nap. But once my toddler was out, I couldn’t help peeking in, seeing their chubby little hands curled in fists, their puckered mouths open, their long lashes against their flushed cheeks… Sleeping toddlers are truly like little angels—so much different than sleeping teens (not quite as angelic).

What are some of the things you love the best about the toddler years?

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Crissi Langwell is a Petaluma local, blended family mom to three young adults, and author of a bunch of books. Her newest book, Numbered, a dystopian romance that takes place in 2050, comes out June 27, 2019. Pre-order it at amzn.to/2KMLA5n, Visit Crissi’s author website at crissilangwell.com.

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How to entertain the kids and keep your sanity this summer

Crissi Langwell — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 13:00:15 GMT

Your kids are finally out for the summer! Congratulations! Except…not. You’re about to understand exactly what every teacher goes through during the weekday with your precious angel, except you don’t get a break, there is no weekend, and your precious angel knows the exact number of times to say your name until you crack.

You could spend the entire summer playing hide and seek…and we all know what a good hider you are. Or, you could waltz into summer with a carefully executed plan. I suggest the plan (though a game or twelve of hide and seek isn’t really out of the question).

Since we’re at the beginning of these loooong twelve or so weeks of summer, this is the perfect time to make a plan. When the kids go to bed, start making a list of things you can do. You can involve the kids at a later time to help you come up with ideas, but let’s get real. They think playing video games or watching Bubble Guppies on repeat is having a good time.

Stumped for good ideas? Here are five that will get you on your way:

Have a baking day.

Sure, we’re talking major mess in the kitchen. But trust me, this is going to be fun. Plus, you’re teaching them life skills, so win! Even better, if they’re cute you can start your own cooking show, like this kid. Or you can just do it because baking makes people happy—during, and after when they get to eat the treats.

My kids’ favorite thing to make when they were little were snickerdoodles. You can find my favorite recipe here.

We’ve also made a lot of bread in our home. Here’s a recipe for oatmeal bread that was gone almost as soon as I made it.

Make your own playdough

In the spirit of making things in the kitchen, this one is a fun one. Every parent needs this recipe as part of their parent training. I can remember my own mom making us playdough, and the sheer joy of pushing our hands in the still warm dough that smelled of grape or strawberry, or whatever flavor/color my mom chose to use that day.

I carried on the tradition with my kids, and now I pass it on to you. Try not to eat the dough (though it’s edible, so no worries if you do).

Kool-Aid Playdough
2 cups water
2 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
1⁄2 cup salt
1 tbsp cream of tartar
2 package (.13 oz each) unsweetened Kool-Aid
3 tbsp vegetable oil

Bring water to a boil. While it’s warming, whisk together the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and Kool-Aid. Stir in the vegetable oil with a spoon. Then carefully pour in the hot water, mixing it with a spoon until it’s combined. Knead it with more flour until it’s the right consistency. When done playing with it, store the playdough covered in the refrigerator.

Tie dye!

My kids and I absolutely love tie dye! There’s something so cool about taking an article of clothing and transforming it into something vibrant and unique. The trick is in how you well you twist the clothes beforehand, and then how well you saturate it with dye. You’ll be disappointed if you go sparse on the color, so make sure every visible inch of the fabric is covered with dye.

Our favorite dye is from Dharma Trading, which you can find here.

Send them to camp!

If your kids are a little older and ready to spend a few days away from you, this could absolutely make their summer. There are so many camps out there that will help your kids meet new friends, entertain them, and teach them new things. Plus, you get a kid free vacation without having to leave your home.

You can find the perfect camp for you child at the Press Democrat’s Camp Guide. It’s still not too late to enroll at some camps. My personal favorite, and one my kids have gone to for years (and one I’ve chaperoned at), is Sonoma County 4-H Camp. You don’t need to be a 4-H member, and it’s one of the most affordable camps I’ve seen for all they offer.

Summer Bucket List.

Still stumped? Take out your pen and starting marking up your calendar. Have the kids help you make a list of at least one thing to do each week, then choose a day to do them. It could be a Friday fun day where you go to the beach one week, paint ceramics the next, and have a scavenger hunt the week after that. The sky is the limit! To make it even more fun, write down each idea on a strip of paper and then don’t choose it until your day of fun. At the end of the summer, you’ll have had a really fun summer, and enough memories to last a lifetime.

What are some of the ways you plan to have fun this summer? Let me know in the comments.

___

Crissi Langwell is a Petaluma local, blended family mom to three young adults, and author of a bunch of books. Her newest book, Numbered, a dystopian romance that takes place in 2050, comes out June 27, 2019. Visit Crissi’s author website at crissilangwell.com.

The post How to entertain the kids and keep your sanity this summer appeared first on The Village.

The secret formula for NBA success

Phil Barber — Mon, 20 May 2019 22:38:09 GMT

Get yourself an immigrant who loves rebounding as much as Andrew Bogut.
Credit: Associated Press

Hey, NBA general managers. You want to make the Western or Eastern conference finals next year? Spend less time on your salary cap and college scouting reports, and more time on passport stamps and height charts.

The four teams left standing have virtually no shared traits in terms of their pace or offensive sets or defensive approach or pedigree or geography. They do, however, have one thing in common. Each of the four teams playing tonight and tomorrow signed a foreign-born big man midseason.

The Toronto Raptors traded for Marc Gasol (7-1 native of Spain) on Feb. 7, the same day the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Nikola Mirotic (6-10, Montenegro). Less than a week later, the Portland Trail Blazers signed Enes Kanter (6-11, born in Switzerland, grew up in Turkey). And the Warriors, hedging their bets despite being the team favored to win it all, signed Andrew Bogut (7-0, Australia) on March 6.

All of them have been helpful in the playoffs.

Gasol has started every game for the Raptors and has energized them with his post presence. Mirotic has helped the Bucks spread the court, and has contributed 10.2 points per game in the postseason. The Warriors have exposed Kanter to some extent, but he was huge in the Blazers-Nuggets series and is averaging better than 10 rebounds per game through the playoffs. Bogut has seen his minutes disappear lately, but did start six games in place of injured DeMarcus Cousins.

As you can see, it doesn’t really matter where the guy is from, as long as it’s not Fresno or Chattanooga. The height can vary a bit, and style of play can vary more than that. Your import can be a rugged rebounder and screen setter like Bogut, or a fluid outside shooter like Mirotic. The important thing is to find a large man with an accent who is languishing on someone else’s bench, or playing before modest crowds overseas.

And don’t cheat. Milwaukee tried to double down on the strategy by signing Pau Gasol, Marc’s older brother, on March 3. Pau developed a stress fracture in his foot and won’t play a minute in the playoffs.

So now you have the blueprint. If you want to play in the conference finals next year – and unless you’re the Knicks, I know you do – dig up that Argentine 7-footer being underutilized by a lottery team and go after him hard. Or what’s Dikembe Mutombo doing? He’s only 52.

See the $28 million worth of construction at SRJC’s Burbank Theatre

Digitale.Stories — Mon, 20 May 2019 15:45:32 GMT

The view from backstage into the interior of the Burbank Theater. Photo by Robert Digitale

By ROBERT DIGITALE

The red brick facade and arched front doorways remain. But the interior of Santa Rosa Junior College’s Burbank Theatre is undergoing a striking, $28 million transformation.

The fly loft above the stage at Burbank Theatre. Photo by Robert Digitale.

Those able to take a tour last week of the nearly 80-year-old theater beheld its remaking in progress. Floor-to-ceiling scaffolding stood inside the theater and a steep slope of concrete covered the rear section where stadium-styled seating soon will allow patrons to enjoy unobstructed views of the stage.

Meanwhile, the theater’s exposed fly loft above the stage looked cavernous, and in the lobby shiny metal straps hung down from uncovered ceiling joists – the straps ready to one day hold air conditioning ducts that will sit overhead.

A rendering of the future seating area for Burbank Theatre. Design by Mark Cavagnero Associates and TLCD Architecture.

The first audiences could take their seats in the new theater this fall. A second smaller performance studio also is taking shape next door.

Burbank’s renovation and the construction of the smaller theater became possible due to the passage of Measure H, a $410 million bond approved by voters in 2014.

The future seating area for Burbank Theatre. Photo by Robert Digitale.

The college this month is taking small groups of community members on tours to see the work underway. Officials are hoping patrons will make donations in order to name various parts of the facility – from $500 for a seat to $500,000 for the entire theater.

As part of the changes, Burbank’s capacity will shrink to 400 seats from 600, but the new “raked” seating configuration will give audiences “a terrific view from every seat,” said Leslie McCauley, chairwoman and artistic director of the college’s Theatre Arts department.

A rendering of the 200-seat Studio theatre. Design by Mark Cavagnero Associates and TLCD Architecture.

Next door’s studio theater will seat 200 and allow the college’s noted Summer Repertory Theatre (SRT) to simultaneously offer productions in two different venues. That will mean student dramatists no longer will need to use the classroom-like Newman Auditorium for their more-intimate performances.

The future lobby of Burbank Theatre. Photo by Robert Digitale.

The new theater facilities will feature an expanded outside terrace at the front entrance and a spacious new lobby with larger box office.

Students in the theatre arts program will enjoy such new facilities as a make-up lab, dressing room, green room, costume lab, scene shop, acting lab and rehearsal room.

The entire theater is accessible by wheelchair. Even the orchestra pit has a lift.

The theater renovations were designed by the architectural firm of Mark Cavagnero Associates of San Francisco and the project’s architect of record, TLCD Architecture of Santa Rosa.

A rendering of the front of the renovated Burbank Theatre. Design by Mark Cavagnero Associates and TLCD Architecture.

While the Burbank construction continues, material is slated to arrive this week to build SRT’s temporary theater in the round out on former tennis courts near the west side of campus. That tent-like structure, which McCauley said will feature glass doors and air conditioning, will open June 21 with “Mamma Mia.” The SRT season will include productions of “Bonnie & Clyde,” “Pippin,” “Sylvia” and “The 39 Steps.” For tickets and information, click here

The arched doors at the front entrance remain. Photo by Robert Digitale.

Meanwhile, the Theatre Arts Department plans this November to produce “The Sound of Music” as its annual fall musical. The fall productions, which have included “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables,” have become a popular holiday tradition for families.

Opening night is roughly six months away and much renovation work remains. But McCauley said the department hopes all will be ready to open the musical in Burbank this fall.

While six NBA contenders battle, Warriors seek to cruise

Phil Barber — Sat, 04 May 2019 22:57:37 GMT

Houston’s James Harden sheds a tear for the Warriors’ next opponent. (Photo: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

HOUSTON – Steve Kerr stayed awake until the end.

“I did,” the Warriors coach said after a Saturday-morning shootaround at Toyota Center, site of tonight’s Western Conference semifinal Game 3. “I wanted to go to sleep, but I couldn’t. Just like everybody else.”

Well, not everybody. Andre Iguodala said he was “in bed early, getting my sleep. It’s important for our four-OT game, right? Nah, it was exciting basketball, two teams fighting it out. No subs. Just gutting it out.”

They were referencing the Portland Trailblazers’ epic, four-overtime Game 3 win against the Denver Nuggets in the other West semifinal. And while it was just a throwaway line, Iguodala snoozing while the second and third best teams in the conference were fighting until near-collapse was quite a metaphor for these NBA playoffs.

Three of the four semifinal series are shaping up as 15-round heavyweight bouts. And the Warriors’ reaction? Great! Take these suckers to seven games! And play multiple overtimes every night!

The Warriors are motivated to beat the Houston Rockets for obvious reasons. They can’t advance to another NBA championship without this steppingstone. But they have an ulterior motive for trying to wrap up this series early – as in, win here tonight and Monday, and avoid Game 5 in Oakland.

If the Warriors can sweep the Rockets, they might have as long as a week off while the Blazers and Nuggets remain at each other’s throats. That’s a week of rest for the players, and a week of film study (on two potential opponents) for the Golden State coaching staff, while the other West survivors are offered neither advantage.

Someone asked Kerr whether Friday night’s game will take something out of the Nuggets and Trail Blazers players. Denver Nikola Jokic played 65 minutes in Game 3. Portland’s C.J. McCollum played 60. Damian Lillard played 58, Jamal Murray 55.

“No. Those guys are young,” Kerr said. “They’ll get over it quickly.”

True. But the accumulation of playing time over a long series might be a real factor. And the teams in the East, where both semifinal series (and, presumably, the conference finals) are shaping up as tossups, could be a bit fatigued by the time the NBA Finals tip off.

“In my younger days, probably wouldn’t be a problem,” Iguodala reflected on that Nuggets-Blazers marathon. “But that just shows guys keeping minds and bodies right. It’s mentally as fatiguing as physically. So tough game.”

The Warriors have played 91 postseason games (and counting) since Kerr became coach in the fall of 2014. That’s a lot of mental and physical fatigue. A few extra days off could be the tonic this team wants, and one more hurdle for the rest of the NBA.

National Cannabis Industry Association leader to keynote Santa Rosa event May 7

North Bay Business Journal — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 22:42:08 GMT

The leader of the nation’s only trade association representing the legal cannabis industry will be the keynote speaker for the North Coast Cannabis Industry Conference on May 7 in Santa Rosa.

Aaron Smith, co-founder and executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, will be joined at the event by panels of key women leaders in the cannabis industry, experts in the latest industry mergers and acquisitions plus others offering expertise on a variety of topics.

“With federal legislation advancing that open up banking to the industry and declassify cannabis as a class one drug in some instances this is a key moment for the industry,” said Publisher Brad Bollinger. “The likelihood, timing and impact of the legislation and other developments will all be addressed May 7.”

Keynote speaker Smith had been a public advocate for marijuana policy reform — first under the auspices of California-based medical cannabis advocacy group Safe Access Now in 2005 and then as the California state policy director for the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project until founding NCIA.

Smith’s biography notes he has “successfully built coalitions with elected officials on both sides of the aisle in order to advance marijuana law reform legislation.”

Voters in California approved recreational use of marijuana in 2016, and it took effect at the beginning of last year. The North Bay is among the commercial hubs of the expanding cannabis industry in the state of California.

Smith’s opinion pieces have appeared in major newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times, and he has been a frequent commentator on national television news networks.

Originally from California, he is currently based in Denver with the association. It has government relations offices in the nation’s capital.

Women in Cannabis Panel

The panel will include Cheriene Griffith, vice president of production at Cannacraft; Shannon Hatten, owner, Fiddler’s Greens Topicals/Tinctures; Rachel Hazlett, owner, Lucky 420; Annie Holman, former owner of Derby Bakery and co-founder, The Galley; Alexa Rae Wall, chairwoman, Sonoma County Growers Alliance, co-owner of MoonFlower Delivery; and Karli Warner, co-founder, Garden Society.

Mergers and Acquisitions panel

Speaking will be: Tim Conder, co-founder, CEO of Blackbird Logistics; Alex Coleman, CEO, Tilt Holdings; and Erik Ott, co-founder, KO Acquisitions.

Others speaking at conference are: Andy Roche, vice president of Finance, Poseidon Asset Management; Neal Levine, CEO, Cannabis Trade Foundation; Bill Silver, CEO, Cannacraft; Tamar Maritz, director of Business Development and California regional director, BDS Analytics; and Daniel Witt, President, Sonoma Lab Works.

The North Coast Cannabis Industry Conference takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma County Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa. Tickets are $75 per person and $775 for a table of 10. Registration is scheduled to open March 25 at nbbj.news/canna19.

The event is underwritten by Farella Braun + Martel.

The post National Cannabis Industry Association leader to keynote Santa Rosa event May 7 appeared first on The Emerald Report.

Players shine in SRJC’s Rousing “Superstar”

Digitale.Stories — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 13:00:07 GMT

Noah Sternhill (left) as Judas, Phillip Percy Williams as Jesus and Ariana LaMark as Mary. Photo by Thomas Chown

By ROBERT DIGITALE

What is it about this Jesus? Does he have true star power? Can he deliver what his fans really want?

Nearly all the characters in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the powerful musical from Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts, seem either mystified or agitated by the man. The former seem to adore Jesus and want to latch onto him, at least while his star is rising. The latter, including those in power, want him off the stage for good.

Even Jesus, portrayed by the superbly talented Phillip Percy Williams, appears conflicted about what fame has brought him. He seems supernatural enough when he rejects the call to overthrow his people’s Romans oppressors and instead offers the mystical advice that “to conquer death you only have to die.” But he sounds all too human in Gethsemane when he questions the idea of a sacrificial death on a cross and asks, “If I die, what will be my reward?”

Theatergoers won’t get pat answers on what to make of Jesus. But they can be assured of a first-rate show with rousing vocals, dance moves and instrumental solos.

Along with the cast, members of the nine-piece orchestra often take to the stage for this rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. At the Good Friday premiere, the musicians added to the delight of a nearly packed audience – from the flying fingers of electric guitarist Ian Scherer to the finale’s haunting violin passage from Lisa Doyle.

All in all, it amounts to another great work of community theater, with cast members shining in roles big and small.

Much of the story is presented from the view of Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples. He worries that Jesus is starting to believe the hype about him being the Messiah and has set himself on a collision course with the religious and political establishment. Cast member Noah Sternhill deftly makes Judas a somewhat sympathetic but calculating man who fears he’ll be among those crushed if Jesus pushes his adversaries too far.

Is it self-preservation that prompts Judas to betray his friend for a bag of silver coins? Does Jesus think he’s more than a man? And why did he die?

We get more questions than answers, and the reflections come by way of some very good music. Ariana LaMark as Mary Magdalene gave an outstanding rendition of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” Sternhill, whose talent has energized several past productions, joined the ensemble in rocking their way with style through the key questions of “Superstar.”

Meanwhile, Williams, a guest artist whose professional credits include San Francisco’s Beach Blanket Babylon cabaret show, made his voice soar to incredible heights in a variety of numbers.

Even so, his strongest moments came in portraying a man whipped, mocked and crucified. In those scenes, we may still have questions about the divine goodness of Jesus, but his enemies seem all too familiar with evil.

Other strong performances came from Anthony Martin as Pontius Pilate, Michael Arbitter as Caiaphas, Jozifein Woods as Annas, David Klaut as Peter, Emma LaFever as Simon and Riley Craig as King Herod.

The rest of the cast kept the musical moving through fast-paced dance numbers and great backup singing. A tip of the hat to Asher Berezniy, Allyson Bray, Sarah Cornett, Evan Espinoza, Arabella Harrison, Alex Jimenez, Cheyenne Jordan, Aaronne Louis-Charles, Nate Mercier, Ariana Millar, Allison Paine, Jessica Joy Ramalia, Adrianna Rasmussen, Grace Reid, Stacy Rutz, Vince Bertsch, Tom Fierro, Kaellie Clein-Cunningham, Isaac Hale and Moises Quezada.

The musical is directed by Leslie McCauley with Janis Dunson Wilson as music director.

While the production never proclaims who Jesus is, the near-blinding light that breaks out on stage after his death suggests that we haven’t come to the end of the story. As S. M. Lockridge, a 20th century African-American preacher, said of the events thus far, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.”

The musical continues through May 5 at the Maria Carrillo High School Theatre, 6975 Montecito Blvd. For tickets and other information, click here.

Next up will be the return of SRT, the college’s Summer Repertory Theater, which opens June 21. This year’s offerings include “Mama Mia,” “Pippin,” “Sylvia,” “The 39 Steps” and “Bonnie & Clyde.” For tickets and information, click here.

Here is a preview on the show by longtime arts reporter Dan Taylor.

Poll finds growing majority of Americans say marijuana should be legal

Wire Service — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 17:50:14 GMT

LOS ANGELES — A growing majority of Americans say marijuana should be legal, underscoring a national shift as more states embrace cannabis for medical or recreational use.

Support for legal marijuana hit 61 percent in 2018, up from 57 percent two years ago, according to the General Social Survey, a widely respected trend survey that has been measuring support for legal marijuana since the 1970s.

An analysis of the survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the General Social Survey staff finds that increased backing of legalization cut across all age groups and political parties. The 2018 poll is the first in which a majority of Republicans support legalizing marijuana — 54 percent, up from 45 percent in 2016.

Among Democrats, 76 percent now favor legalization.

The rising support mirrors the evolving legal landscape across the country. Most Americans now live in places where marijuana is legal in some form, with 10 states allowing recreational usage and more than 30 allowing medicinal use.

The GSS asks about making use of marijuana legal, but does not specify whether it should be legal for recreational or medical use.

Legalization advocates say the increasing public support should prompt the U.S. government to reverse course. At the federal level, marijuana is categorized as a dangerous illegal drug, similar to LSD or heroin.

“Our time has come,” said Justin Strekal, political director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML. “Never in modern history has there existed greater public support for ending the nation’s nearly century-long experiment with marijuana prohibition.”

Support for legalization is strongest among 18-to-34-year-olds, with nearly 75 percent favoring it.

But older Americans are taking a more favorable view, too. Forty-six percent of those 65 and older say marijuana should be legal, up from 42 percent in 2016.

Views on marijuana legalization have shifted dramatically: In the 1973 GSS, just 19 percent supported legalization.

The change in Americans’ views about cannabis can also be witnessed on the campaign trail. A growing list of Democratic presidential contenders want the U.S. government to legalize marijuana, including California Sen. Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor whose home state is the nation’s largest legal pot shop, and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, a prominent legalization advocate on Capitol Hill.

Support for legal pot has been gradually growing for years, but it has increased sharply since 2012, when Colorado and Washington state became the first states to legalize the recreational use of cannabis.

By Michael R. Blood for the Associated Press

The post Poll finds growing majority of Americans say marijuana should be legal appeared first on The Emerald Report.

Plenty of laughs in SRJC’s madcap “Great Books”

Digitale.Stories — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 16:46:06 GMT

Cast members Christopher Shayota, Jasmine Flores-Nunez and Alexx Valdez. Photo by Thomas Chown.

By ROBERT DIGITALE

Okay, class. For your midterm, please answer the following questions: “What are the two greatest books ever written and why?”

Regardless of whether you feel glee or despair at such academic challenges, you can find something to like in “All the Great Books (Abridged),” the latest production from Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts. It’s a wacky, scattershot review of the literary canon (slight pun intended). The experience may not inspire you to read but it will give you ample opportunities to laugh.

The play comes from the repertoire of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, a theater group that has made its name presenting in madcap fashion what’s great about American History, the Bible, sports, comedy and, of course, all things penned by the Bard of Avon. The script’s co-writer, Reed Martin, a managing partner for the company, directs this production and has adapted the play for a cast of 12, rather than its usual threesome.

The setup involves the audience taking on the role of remedial high school seniors who still need to pass their school’s English requirement for graduation, which is slated to occur in less than two hours. In desperation, three substitute teachers are brought in to quickly cover a syllabus of more than 80 works of fiction, poetry and prose. They touch on everything from “Great Expectations” to “Green Eggs and Ham,” from “The Divine Comedy” to “Dianetics,” from “The Scarlet Letter “ to “Silent Spring.” Expect bite-sized portions of Tolstoy, Twain, Austen, Homer, Dumas, Brontë, Thoreau and others, served up with zany wit and a dash of slapstick.

The smashups come fast and furious. “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” fuse to become “The Idiotity,” complete with a light-stepping Trojan Horse. “Little Women” is explained in terms of a sports team. “Don Quixote” is presented in the original Spanish, with some creative translation when the characters get huffy. In the final minutes, one-liners sum up the many works not yet highlighted.

The production benefits from its three lead cast members: Alexx Valdez as Coach, Christopher Shayota as Professor and Jasmine Flores-Nunez as Student Teacher. Their unabashed enthusiasm for hijinks brings to mind a mix of Monty Python, Saturday Night Live, Carol Burnett and Groucho Marx. When the crowd takes delight that the professor has declared himself a dramatist schooled at SRJC, Shayota gives a wry smile and offers, “I think some of you have been accepted for the fall.”

A tip of the hat to the rest of the comic cast: Azulito Bernal, Bethany Clark, Giselle Padilla, Patty Olascoaga, Blake Chandler, Elina Ulumbekova, John Zambrano, Joseph Stommel and Eric Boonbangyang.

At Friday night’s opening, the large crowd in Newman Auditorium seemed to relish their participatory role, playing along with a gag linked to the name Plato (achoo!), at intermission handing in their midterm responses to the above best book questions and getting the three leads to sign “diplomas” afterward in the lobby.

The play continues through March 17. For times and tickets, click here.

Next up for SRJC is “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which runs April 19 through May 5 at Maria Carrillo High School.

A most unsettling Sweeney Todd from SSU Theatre Arts

Digitale.Stories — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 19:03:33 GMT

Noah Evans as Sweeney Todd. Photo by James Wirth.

By ROBERT DIGITALE

Last year Noah Evans was warbling about happiness and his longing for childhood friendships as the lead in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” This year he’s pronouncing judgment on the human race – and using a razor’s edge to take his vengeance – in “Sweeny Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

He’ll likely be remembered more as the villain.

Evans and the cast of Sonoma State University’s latest production deliver a powerful and thoroughly unsettling look at a world where even murder doesn’t stop the ways humans abuse one another. In death, bodies can be turned into tasty meat pies and sold to unsuspecting patrons, who seem to relish them.

The production’s opening night Thursday succeeded with strong voices, gripping acting and eye-catching costumes and makeup.

Sweeney Todd seems to have achieved some mythic status in 19th century Great Britain for those rural folk who feared a visit to the vast expanses of London would lead to an untimely disappearance – or worse, some sort of urban cannibalism.

Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s version gives us a reason for the fictitious Todd’s murderous ways: A lecherous judge falsely imprisoned the barber and sent him to Australia so that he could acquire Todd’s beautiful wife and daughter. When after 15 years Todd escapes and returns to London, his wife is reported dead and his daughter a ward/captive of the judge.

The barber sets about scheming revenge. When frustrated, he shifts to randomly killing customers coming in for a shave. His anger is immense, but not his courage. He rarely confronts an adversary face to face. It’s typically from behind with a razor to the throat. He thinks he won’t care about any of his victims. He’s wrong.

Evans embodies Todd, especially as the barber relishes the moments where he’s about to get the revenge he’s so long waited for. The actor’s appearance brought to mind some primping rock star, with pale face, pinstriped pants, long black leather coat and waves of parted black hair that seemed to gain red highlights as the bodies piled up.

Cast members. Photo by James Wirth.

His partner in crime was Rachel Levin as Mrs. Lovett, the pie maker who concocts the method for disposing the corpses. An excellent vocalist, Levin was all too persuasive in portraying a woman who would do anything to keep Todd under her roof.

The story’s other key couple is Todd’s caged daughter Joanna and Anthony, a young sailor who rescued the barber and has been unfailingly kind to him. Hailey Patrick and Jack Adkins give us a reason to care about two young lovers who find themselves sinking under an unending barrage of abuse and injustice.

Except for “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” few of the show’s songs will likely stick with you. The music seems mostly in foreboding minor keys to highlight the drama. When it does turn melodious, such as in “Not While I’m Around,” it’s mostly to contrast the sweet sounds with the lurking danger for some unsuspecting soul. Nonetheless, the orchestra under music director Lynne Morrow deftly moved the story along, adding to both suspense and sorrow.

A tip of the hat to stage director Doyle Ott and the remaining cast members: August Perez, Silas Vaughn, Ryan Contreras, Annie Kessler, Cameron Shellnut, Nate Nolen, Sky Hernandez-Simard, Terra Bransfield, Anastasia Rodriguez, Abbi Samuels, Jennifer Silvera, Shaylan Hammons, Sammie Philp, Avery Wilson, Alex Alonzo, Vivian Knee, Adi Wasserberg, Andrew Cedeño, Marcos Gutierrez and Josh Lovell.

The production continues through Feb. 17 at the university’s Evert B. Person Theatre. For tickets and more information, click here.

Next up is the Power Lines Festival, featuring four plays written and directed by SSU students. The festival runs April 4-13 in Ives Hall 76.

Cameron Shellnut (left) and Noah Evans. Photo by James Wirth.

How the Farm Bill affects hemp, cannabis industries in California

Danny Mueller — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 22:54:32 GMT

Cannabis has been legal in California for more than a year now, and the results have been underwhelming, as legit growers struggle to compete with the entrenched black market.

As the state’s legal cannabis market finds its footing, seismic political shifts are happening across the United States when it comes to hemp, a cannabis sativa that is 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or less by dry weight.

In December, the United States Congress approved the 2018 Farm Bill, which was signed into law by President Trump. The Farm Bill legalizes hemp production and sales, changing the plant’s classification from a controlled substance to an agricultural commodity.

Hemp is a mild-mannered member of the cannabis sativa family, but has countless uses from dietary supplements and cosmetics to clothing and construction materials.

Hemp can also be used to make cannabidiol (CBD) products, which seem to be everywhere and in everything these days. A growing body of research suggests that CBD is an effective treatment for treating pain, anxiety, depression and movement disorders, among other health issues.

The U.S. market for hemp-derived CBD could break $20 billion in 2022, according to industry analysts at the Brightfield Group.

California’s cannabis industry is unmatched, but its hemp production is rather modest, trailing states like Kentucky and North Carolina. The Golden State’s industrial hemp cultivation has been limited to approved growers and research institutions.

In September 2018, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation easing some restrictions on the hemp industry. Coupled with the Farm Bill, this legislation seems designed to make hemp farming more appealing in California.

Legit cannabis growers, those with state permits and licenses, have struggled to compete with the entrenched black market. State tax revenue from cannabis was projected to be about 40 percent lower than expected in 2018. Why? Because illicit grow operations can sell cheaper product.

As the state’s legal cannabis market finds its footing, seismic political shifts are happening across the United States.

Thanks to KCRA 3 for covering my bill, AB 228, which would allow Californians to have better access to hemp-derived products, including those that contain cannabidiol (CBD), that help many treat pain, inflammation, anxiety, and other health issues. https://t.co/fsLMVuwmur

— Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (@AsmAguiarCurry) January 24, 2019

Would a bumper crop of hemp hurt the cannabis industry? Probably not. Industry analysts say demand for hemp-derived CBD will soon eclipse the entire cannabis market. But CBD and THC products don’t serve the same needs for consumers.

It’s also unclear when hemp growers will be allowed to sell cannabidiol (CBD) products in California. A July memo from the state’s public health market makes it clear that while growing hemp is legal, the sale of hemp-derived CBD is not.

Will the state’s position on hemp CBD products change in 2019? Not unless the Food and Drug Administration decides these products can be treated as a food, or California determines they are safe for human and animal consumption.

A bill introduced introduced in the California Senate by Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) would open the door for hemp-derived CBD to be added to food, beverages and cosmetics.

If the bill were to pass, California’s industrial hemp producers could tap into a major market for consumable CBD products. In the Central Valley, hemp could be grown on a massive scale for domestic use or exports.

What may limit the growth of industrial hemp in California are market pressures from the cannabis industry. While the appetite for CBD and other hemp products is rising, the profit margins on hemp are lower. To have a profitable operation, hemp growers need to operate at a much larger scale than cannabis growers.

While an acre of hemp might produce $60,000 in product, the same acre of cannabis flower could sell for four or five times more.

How the cannabis and hemp markets interact remains to be seen. But the decision to legalize industrial hemp is widely seen as a win for farmers in California and across the U.S.

The post How the Farm Bill affects hemp, cannabis industries in California appeared first on The Emerald Report.

San Francisco Clown Conservatory founder holding book talk in Corte Madera

Becky Brisley — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 19:49:37 GMT

Sometimes, clowns get a bad rap. But Jeff Raz is definitely changing that.

The former Cirque du Soleil star, actor, and educator is founder of the Clown Conservatory in San Francisco, as well as the Medical Clown Project, which helps bring a bit of therapeutic relief in the form of brightness and laughter to medical patients.

To Raz, the performance is a way to bring a smile to others, especially when they need it most. Humor has its own power on the path to healing, as we’ve seen here in the aftermath of disaster.

In his new book, “The Snow Clown: Cartwheels on Borders from Alaska to Nebraska,” he explores “how art can connect us across cultural boundaries, and examines the limits of empathy in the face of new and different human experiences.”

He’ll be at the Book Passage in Corte Madera on Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. discuss the book. There will be passage readings, a discussion and a book signing. For more information on the event, click here.

SSU professor holds murder mystery class ahead of new book

Becky Brisley — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 22:04:57 GMT

Mysteries: One of the best-selling genres, and one that stands the test of time — most can’t resist the allure of a classic whodunit.

Sonoma State University professor Jonah Raskin has delved into this world, a bit of shift from his other books, which include “Marijuanaland: Dispatches from an American War” and “The Radical Jack London: Writings on War and Revolution.”

Raskin’s murder-mystery, “Dark Land, Dark Mirror,” follows private eye Tioga Vignetta, and the story is set right here in Sonoma County. Raskin’s second murder mystery is set for release later this year, and it also will take place in the region.

“Vignetta is a “‘local girl’ who makes good and solves crimes with and without the help of the police,” Raskin wrote in an email.

Ahead of the release of his new book, Raskin is holding a workshop on Feb. 1, where he will teach people the basics of writing a murder-mystery. He said he will use examples from classics like “The Maltese Falcon” and “The Big Sleep,” as well as from his own book.

The presentation, offered through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State University, will be at the Glaser Center on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

To register, call 707-664-2691 or visit sonoma.edu/exed/olli.

Raskin’s book can be purchased on Amazon.

10 cannabis series and movies that are actually worth watching

Danny Mueller — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 20:50:21 GMT

Cannabis culture left a new high-water mark in 2018. Canada legalized it. Conservative politicians started to embrace it. Polls showed most Americans supported legalization.

Meanwhile, television and movie studios started taking note of a growing demand for cannabis-centric shows and movies. Look beyond the traditional stoner comedies and you may even see nuanced dramas and documentaries in the mix.

Countless titles are available at your fingertips as Netflix, Hulu, HBO and other streaming services compete feverishly for your attention. With that in mind, here are 10 cannabis series and movies that are actually worth a watch.

High Maintenance. (HBO)

High Maintenance (HBO GO)

A cannabis dealer is the thread that connects disparate stories of New Yorkers in this critically acclaimed HBO series. Ben Sinclair plays The Guy, a bearded pot dealer who finds himself invited into the homes (and lives) of countless near-strangers. The vignettes are authentic, hilarious and often moving. Season three premieres Sunday, Jan. 20.

Weediquette (Hulu)

Looking for a show that’s informative and visually rich? Vice’s Krishna Andavolu hosts “Weediquette,” a series that explores the impacts of cannabis legalization across the economy, healthcare system and culture. Start with “Marijuana Migrants” (Season 1, Episode 4) to hear from families of medical patients who travel to Colorado for treatment.

Friday (Netflix)

“I know you don’t smoke weed … but I’m gonna get you high today, ’cause it’s Friday…” This 1995 buddy comedy united rapper Ice Cube and Chris Tucker in what would soon become a cult classic. Two sequels later, the original “Friday” shines as an endlessly quotable flashback to the mid-90s.

Bong Appétit (Hulu)

Two cannabis cooking shows are knocking heads across streaming platforms. First came the Viceland series “Bong Appétit” which debuted in 2016. Host Abdullah Saeed takes viewers along for multi-course, cannabis-infused meals made by well-known chefs. An early episode sees chefs whipping up cannabis-infused s’mores in Joshua Tree. Less than two years years later, Netflix released its cannabis culinary competition “Cooking on High.” Sadly, it’s not great.

Weeds (Netflix)

Running for eight seasons (2005-2012), this groundbreaking Showtime series mines dark humor from the fictional drug trade in an affluent California suburb. Mary Louise-Parker is Nancy Botwin, a mother of two boys who starts selling cannabis to support her family after the unexpected death of her husband. After falling in love with a DEA agent, Botwin’s split role as a mother and drug kingpin becomes increasingly hard to manage.

Super High Me (Netflix)

“So, how would I even begin to decide which kind to choose?” This 2008 comedy-documentary follows standup comedian and host Doug Benson on his journey abstaining from cannabis for 30 days, then smoking as much of it as possible for the next 30 days. While the film clearly lacks the substance of Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me,” it’s a reliable source of laughs for comedy fans who love cannabis.

Rolling Papers (Netflix)

Colorado and Washington have long been the canaries in the coal mine for states considering legal cannabis. In 2012, local media companies were scrambling to cover the burgeoning cannabis markets in both states. Here, a documentary team goes behind the scenes at the Denver Post to tell the story of Ricardo Baca, Colorado’s first marijuana editor. Watch the trailer here.

Half Baked (HBO GO, Amazon Prime)

Name a ’90s stoner comedy that can hold a candle to “Half Baked.” I’ll wait. What makes this cartoonish, low-budget flick shine are the standout voices of Dave Chappelle and collaborator Neal Brennan. Chappelle plays Thurgood, a “master of the custodial arts” who is forced to raise $1 million selling stolen lab weed to bail his buddy, Kenny, out of jail. It’s 82 minutes of semi-related scenes and pure silliness.

Disjointed (Netflix)

A cannabis sitcom starring Katy Bates? At first glance, this series looks like a rehashing of tired cannabis stereotypes. But a strong ensemble cast and playful spirit make this Netflix original series worth a closer look. Bates plays Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, a fierce cannabis advocate who’s now running a dispensary in Los Angeles. She’s in charge of the shop and ringleader of an eccentric-yet-relatable cast of characters. The show loses marks for the dreaded laugh track, but is redeemed by strong writing and character development. Read the full review here.

Coming soon: Weed the People

Cannabis medicine is big business in the United States, even as the DEA continues to view the plant as a Class 1 controlled substance. An upcoming documentary from Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake examines the latest research into cannabidiol (CBD) through the lens of patients seeking alternative treatments. It’s a provocative and emotionally resonant film that may hit streaming platforms in 2019.

The post 10 cannabis series and movies that are actually worth watching appeared first on The Emerald Report.

A young aspiring journalist chases her dreams amid war in local author’s new novel

Becky Brisley — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:54:41 GMT

When we first meet Claire Meacham, she’s already breaking the status quo.

She’s the protagonist in Rincon Valley author Michelle Ule’s newest novel, “A Poppy in Remembrance.”

It’s the beginning of World War I, and throngs of British men are swarming the London streets, “in a line more than a mile long stretching to Trafalgar Square and blocking traffic.”

As Claire pulls up in a car with her mother, she jumps out over the sound of her mother’s objections, straight into the crowd, with one mission: to find her beloved cousin before he enlists right away.

She jumps up onto a lamppost to leverage her view, as an “approving male chorus eddied around her knees.” But she didn’t pay them any mind.

And as we follow Claire throughout the novel, she retains this fierce independence in a male-dominated era. Her dream is to become a journalist like her father, and she won’t let anything stop her — much less a societal expectation of women in that time.

She gets the chance to work for her father as a stenographer, and eventually meets Reverend Oswald Chambers — someone who makes her think about her faith in relation to the chaos happening around her. “She needed to figure out how such an intimacy with God could affect her peace of mind for an entire war, no matter what her parents thought.”

“The novel features several marquee characters (a real person in a novel), but the most important one is a British YMCA chaplain, Reverend Oswald Chambers,” Ule said. “As Chambers is the revered author of My Utmost for His Highest, I needed to ensure I had all my facts straight about him. So, I traveled to Wheaton College in Chicago to inspect the papers and photos from his time in Egypt during WWI.”

Claire then heads to Egypt in the novel as well, where she volunteers at Chambers’ YMCA ministry. From there, her life truly begins to take a turn as she navigates the grimness of the world during the war, all the while balancing love and her dreams — and it’s an empowering ride along with her.

To keep up with Ule, you can visit her blog by clicking here. She writes a bunch of interesting stuff not only about her novels, but her own journey of faith and love navigating the world.

Emerald Cup: See all the top cannabis winners 2018

Alexandra Bordas — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 20:06:58 GMT

Wisps of marijuana smoke lingered in the air, backlit by orange, red and yellow lights that decorated the cavernous indoor main stage at the Emerald Cup, where awards were handed out Sunday afternoon to fan favorites and top scorers.

Hundreds of people filled the rows of seats at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Escaping the rain, they quietly but eagerly awaited to hear the winners.

In the licensed sun-grown category, meaning marijuana grown outdoors, Tar Hill of Mendocino County and Rebel Grown of Humboldt were runners-up to Humboldt’s Ridgeline Farms, which nabbed first place for its Green Lantern strain.

In the topical category, Newell’s Botanical won first place for its deep-skin, penetrating roll-on topical oil. Co-founder Chelsea Dudgeon, a Santa Rosa High School graduate, was in tears after being awarded the top prize.

“I do not know how we even survived this last year as a small family business. But now we are here as winners, and it is beyond humbling,” Dudgeon said while composing herself for photos.

Dudgeon, along with partner Newell Taylor, started the business in 2016. Together they create natural and organic skin, body and hair products infused with different levels of THC.

The words ‘love’ and ‘community’ were repeated dozens of times throughout the awards ceremony, as attendees cheered and cried alongside the winners.

Country music legend Willie Nelson also was honored at the event for his longtime cannabis activism. Nelson, who founded a recreational cannabis company named Willie’s

The 2018 Emerald Cup’s top three winners by category are listed below, with the company name, followed by the product name.

Licensed sun-grown:

1. Ridgeline Farms – Green Lantern

2. Rebel Grown – Double OG Chem #15

3. Tar Hill – Cherimoya

Licensed mixed light:

1. Tar Hill – Pink Lemonade

2. Josh D. – OG Kush Story

3. DEVI – Peanut Butter Breath

Personal sun-grown:

1. JD Lee – Chili Verde

2. Paula Hudgins – Wedding Cake

3. Cory Rodgers – Cherry Punch 15

Edibles:

1. Utopia – Raspberry Macarons

2. SolDaze – Tropical Mango Bites

3. Budlette Confections – Mellows Black Sesame

Tinctures:

1. Alchemy Jane – Create THC Tincture

2. OM Edibles – Nighttime Elixer

3. Humboldt Apothecary – Love Potion No. 7

Topicals:

1. Newell’s Botanicals – Deep Skin Penetrating Roll-on

2. OM – Lavender Bath Salts

3. CAD – Mimosa

Distillate:

1. Herer Group – The Original Jack Herer

2. Gold Drop/Lemon Tree/Blue River – Lemon Tree

3. Gold Drop/Bon Vivant/Blue River – Blueberry Muffin

CO2:

1. Peak – Huckleberry Zkittlez Amber

2. WildSeed – Candyland

3. Big Sur Extracts – Cloud Drop

Diamonds:

1. The Humboldt Cure – The Humboldt Cure Blend Diamonds

2. WildSeed, LLC – White Recluse Diamonds

3. NUG – White Buffalo OG Live Resin Diamonds

Live resin carts:

1. Fieldz Extracts – Zkittlez Sauce Pen

2. Friendly Farms – Forbidden Fruit

3. Fiddler’s Green – Rogue OG Kush

Rosin:

1. GDP Genetics – Super Glue

2. Fieldz – Zkittles Premium Rosin

3. Field Extracts – Papaya Premium Rosin

Sauce:

1. Humboldt Terp Council – Zkittlez Cake

2. Raw Garden – Zookies

3. Summit Boys – Sundae Driver

Shatter Batter:

1. Suprize Suprize – Cherry Tangerine

2. Suprize Suprize – Royal Kush BX1 “Badder”

3. Suprize Suprize – Holy Nana Crack Batter

Solventless:

1. Frosty – Papaya 120u

2. Tar Hill and Frosty – Tar Hill Pink Lemonade

3. Papa’s Select, in collaboration with Select Solventless grown by Emerald Queen Farms – GMO 1st Pull 120u Water Hash

All CBDs:

Co2/Distillate:

Gold Drop – Lemon Penny

Edibles:

1. Somatik – Goji Berry

2. OM Edibles – CBD Gummi Melange

3. Space Gems – VITA Gems

Tinctures:

1. Humboldt Apothecary – Relax

2. Fiddler’s Green – ACDC Rogue Tincture

3. Humboldt Harvest – 13:1 CBD Terpene Rich

Topical:

Om Edibles – Rose Geranium Bath Salt

Flower:

1. Molecular Farms – Blueberry Banana Bread

2. Molecular Farms – Dr. Fizz

3. Molecular Farms – Garlic Jam

Concentrate:

1. Sublime – Sleep

2. Sublime – High-C

3. WildSeed, LLC – Heritage OG – CBD

You can reach Staff Writer Alexandria Bordas at 707-521-5337 or alexandria.bordas@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @CrossingBordas

A longer version of this story originally ran at Pressdemocrat.com

The post Emerald Cup: See all the top cannabis winners 2018 appeared first on The Emerald Report.

Sonoma County restricts cannabis operations near bike, pedestrian trails amid opposition

Hannah Beausang — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 17:58:05 GMT

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a setback requirement governing cannabis operations near county bike and pedestrian trails, further limiting areas where marijuana can be cultivated.

The move came before an overflow crowd amid opposition from a proposed west county cannabis business and advocates who say it creates additional confusion and excessive regulation for marijuana proprietors.

Some residents who live near the trails or use them described the move as one that protects those public spaces as parks.

Supervisors’ unanimous vote made that policy official when it comes to buffers between county trails and pot businesses. The county now will require 1,000-foot setbacks from such trails. Exceptions are granted on a case-by-case basis.

Supervisors set the rules about public parks in October, when it became clear that setbacks required between cannabis operations and parks didn’t apply to the county’s trail system for bicyclists and pedestrians.

“This is not an actual change to the ordinance, if it were it would go through a much longer process,” Supervisor Lynda Hopkins said. “This is the first time we’ve had an opportunity to affirm that we do in fact have a majority of the board supporting that parks are trails.”

Lawyers representing Jack Buck, who applied for a cannabis farm near a portion of the West County Regional Trail in Graton, made a public call for Hopkins to recuse herself. They accused her of bias based on her family’s ties to a wine company and of previous coordination with opponents to the project, claims that Hopkins has rejected.

Caryl Hart, a longtime parks advocate and the former director of Sonoma County Regional Parks, said those bike paths are “linear parks.”

“Every single use is consistent with the use of all the other regional parks,” she said.

Anna Ransome, a Graton resident representing a group opposed to the west county cannabis proposal, said she was speaking on behalf of about 20 people when she underscored her support of the policy change.

Joe Rogoway, a Santa Rosa attorney who represents Buck and Loud Enterprises, said the “very incremental approach” to cannabis policy is “unfair to everyone.” Rogoway said Buck plans to move forward with the cannabis project on 23 acres of land off the trail despite the new rules. He said they’ll make revisions to the application to provide screening from the trail in hopes the county will approve the project.

“I don’t think that any applicant can feel confident in the county of Sonoma that a (cannabis) project is going to move forward. It’s an extremely problematic ordinance, and so far since the adoption of the ordinance, the supervisors have taken steps to diminish the eligibility of properties and projects,” Rogoway said.

Adam Wise, a cannabis advocate from Petaluma, agreed.

“It’s so messed up how the regulations keep changing,” he said.

Supervisor David Rabbitt underscored his previous stance that the county should stop accepting cannabis business applications until it has clear criteria for evaluating whether farms are appropriate for specific locations.

“We still are just whack-a-mole on the issues as they arise,” he said. “We still don’t know what next week is going to bring, and it’s unfair to all parties involved trying to make the investment in the industry, as well as neighbors and the county itself.”

The post Sonoma County restricts cannabis operations near bike, pedestrian trails amid opposition appeared first on The Emerald Report.

Green rush: Celebrities making waves in the cannabis industry

Emerald Report — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 17:58:00 GMT

Nearly a full year into legalization, California’s Green Rush has made unlikely bedfellows of cannabis brands and celebrities. While some entrepreneurial stars have identities rooted in cannabis culture, others have a more tenuous connection to marijuana.

The buzz around cannabis has reached new heights, drawing investors and entrepreneurs of all stripes. California is now home to the world’s largest cannabis market. More states are pushing to allow medical or adult-use cannabis consumption. To the north, Canada has already started reaping the financial benefit of legalizing and taxing cannabis.

It’s no surprise that celebrities see cannabis as an investment opportunity. Brands like MedMen and Flow Kana are exploring a more polished, professional version of cannabis. Leading cannabis companies in Canada are now valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

On the other side of the spectrum, upstart cannabis brands benefit from increased exposure through their celebrity founders or partners. From pioneering cannabis advocates to (formerly) staunch opponents, here are seven celebrities who have made a splash in the legal cannabis industry:

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@miketyson at the launch of #TysonRanch

A post shared by TysonRanch (@tysonranchofficial) on Jun 1, 2018 at 1:00pm PDT

Mike Tyson: Tyson Ranch

Mike Tyson wants a piece of the cannabis industry. A former heavyweight boxing champion known for erratic behavior, Tyson is now focused on building a cannabis bud brand and resort center in the Mojave Desert.

What’s the connection? Tyson had many aches and pains that he said were relieved by cannabis. “If I didn’t have cannabis I don’t know what would have happened,” he said in an interview with Civilized.

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“Herb is the key to a new understanding of self… It is the vehicle to cosmic consciousness.” #healingofanation #marleynatural . . . . Warning: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Should not be used by women that are pregnant or breastfeeding. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children.

A post shared by M a r l e y N a t u r a l (@marleynatural) on Nov 13, 2018 at 11:02am PST

Bob Marley (estate): Marley Natural

Few figures in cannabis culture can hold a match to Bob Marley. The Jamaican singer left an indelible impression on popular culture with songs rooted in politics, spirituality and, of course, his deep love for cannabis.

The late Bob Marley’s estate agreed to a deal with Privateer Holdings, a Seattle-based private equity firm, allowing the company to develop a line of cannabis products using the singer’s likeness.

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A post shared by Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) on Nov 15, 2018 at 8:10pm PST

Gene Simmons: Invictus MD

How does a straight-edge rocker come to promote a cannabis company? Simmons, 69, has said he never used alcohol, cannabis or other drugs even as he toured widely with KISS. But Simmons accepted $2.5 million and company stock to assume the role of chief evangelist for Invictus MD, a medical and recreational cannabis company based in Vancouver.

“I would like to admit that I was judgmental, arrogant and uninformed, as well as misinformed. I was throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” Simmons said in a 2018 interview with CNBC.

Melissa Etheridge: Etheridge Farms

Grammy-winning singer, guitarist and activist Melissa Etheridge has been advocating for cannabis reform for more than a decade. Etheridge was a light cannabis user, she told Forbes, until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, she supplies cannabis products to local dispensaries through her Etheridge Farms brand.

Snoop Dogg: Leafs by Snoop

This one should be a no-brainer. The Doggfather runs cannabis brand Leafs by Snoop in collaboration with Canada’s Canopy Growth Corporation. He is also one of several early investors in Eaze, a marijuana delivery service that has raised more than $50 million in venture capital while expanding operations throughout California.

Jimmy Buffett: Coral Reefer

Jimmy Buffett, king of island escapism, announced plans for the Coral Reefer cannabis brand with billionaire Beau Wrigley Jr. The singer who penned “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” may now be known as much for his business dealings as his music, with two restaurant franchises in operation and countless products that cater to his fans, dubbed “Parrotheads.”

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Happiest of Birthdays to our Beloved Queen @whoopigoldberg ?Here’s to MANY more? May you continue to bless the lives of those who know you #whoopiandmaya #whoopiandmayaco #happybirthdaywhoopi

A post shared by Whoopi & Maya (@whoopiandmaya) on Nov 13, 2018 at 6:31am PST

Whoopi Goldberg: Whoopi and Maya

In a crowded cannabis industry, some celebrity-backed startups are looking to meet specific needs. Whoopi Goldberg and Om Edibles’ Maya Elisabeth have created a line of cannabis products to ease menstrual discomfort. Whoopi and Maya’s product line ranges from lavender-scented cannabis bath soaks to beeswax topical creams and tinctures.

Goldberg, winner of 13 Emmys and an Academy Award, wrote that she started using medical cannabis to ease symptoms of her glaucoma.

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What a fucking party that was!!! ? ?? #legalizationday #cannabis #TrailerParkBoys #highasfuck

A post shared by TRAILER PARK BOYS (@trailerparkboysofficial) on Oct 18, 2018 at 9:09am PDT

The Trailer Park Boys: Trailer Park Buds

Ricky, Julian and Bubbles (Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay and Mike Smith) have long been cannabis icons in Canada. Most storylines in the hit comedy series center on the Boys growing pot illegally, getting caught and going to jail. The trio who play lovable dirtbags from Sunnyvale Trailer Park are now involved in the legal cannabis industry, thanks to a partnership with OrganiGram.

“Trailer Park Buds” will be a line of pre-rolls sold across Canada and appealing to “those who don’t take themselves too seriously.”

The post Green rush: Celebrities making waves in the cannabis industry appeared first on The Emerald Report.

Holiday shopping guide: 10 gift ideas for cannabis lovers on your list

Danny Mueller — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 22:04:13 GMT

Cannabis legalization has opened a new realm of possibility for holiday shoppers in California. New strains, edibles, oils and devices line the shelves at more than a dozen dispensaries that sell recreational cannabis to adults in the North Bay.

How do you find the perfect gift for the cannabis enthusiast in your life? A novelty product that’s perfect for the first-time cannabis user won’t necessarily hit the mark with a seasoned pot smoker.

Luckily, local dispensaries are staffed with experienced budtenders and cannabis consultants who are happy to guide you through your holiday shopping list. From popular new strains to CBD-heavy lotions and intimate oils, here’s your cannabis holiday gift guide from expert guides at local dispensaries.

For the Canna-Curious

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Forbidden Fruit ?? (Cherry Pie x Tangerine) Take a bite. Flavors: Tangerine blast ?, with sweet cherry ? and tropical fruit undertones. Potency: HIGH Best for: daytime, focused energy, mood lifting. Dropping Soon #elyon #themosthigh #forbiddenfruit #smokegood #clean #sonomacounty #grown #potent #sustainable #sun #powered #cannabis #california #high #cannabiscommunity #licensed #tangerine #cherrypie

A post shared by Elyon (@elyoncannabis) on Aug 24, 2018 at 3:40pm PDT

Cannabis flower is the traditional path to an elevated experience. Behind the colorful names and technical-sounding jargon are some basic compounds and varieties that define the smoking experience.

CBD is the non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, commonly used to treat pain, anxiety, inflammation, seizures and other medical conditions. THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, produces the effects most commonly associated with being high. This compound that has also shown promise as a pain reliever, antioxidant and sleep aid.

“I would go with something that has lower THC,” said Scott, a cannabis consultant at Sonoma Patient Group. He recommends the Forbidden Fruit strain from Elyon, a cannabis company based in Sonoma County.

Forbidden Fruit tests at about 14 or 15 percent THC by weight, according to Scott, which is on the lower end of the scale for cannabis flower. High-potency strains can clock in at 30 percent THC by dry weight.

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@papaandbarkley Thank you lol #releafsoak #papaandbarkley #soothing #relaxing #calming #thc #cbd #cbdoil #bodycare #bath #bathsoak #california

A post shared by Nakia (@legz4daze_) on Aug 20, 2018 at 9:18pm PDT

Looking for deep relaxation without the cough? Coral Alcala, assistant manager of Santa Rosa’s Redwood Herbal Alliance, said her favorite gifts for canna-curious loved ones can be applied to the skin or dropped into a hot bath.

“You never know if people really like smoking,” said Alcala. “Something that gets everybody is the lotion, the topical lotion. Papa and Barkley makes a really good lotion. I get everybody — my grandma, my grandpa — everyone who tries it gets hooked.”

She also recommends cannabis bath soaks, which proponents say helps hydrate your skin and reduce inflammation. For a relatively simple DIY version, you can combine Epsom salts with any cannabis-infused oil and toss in relaxing herbs like lavender and sage to set the mood. Read instructions here.

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??Mendo Breath??by @korovaediblesca #korovaflower #korova #mendobreath #rolling_groot

A post shared by rolling groot (@rolling_groot) on Jul 11, 2018 at 10:27pm PDT

For the Connoisseur

Northern California is home to some of the most sophisticated cannabis consumers. When shopping for a savvy cannabis enthusiast, keep your eyes peeled for interesting strains and higher potency products.

Zack Monday is inventory and e-commerce manager at Mercy Wellness of Cotati. He shared the shop’s recommendations for cannabis connoisseurs this season.

Monday recommends several strains: Mendo Breath, a “heavy-hitting Indica dominant hybrid that brings a sweet vanilla and caramel mixed with funk” flavor; Mojito, a sativa-dominant hybrid concentrate and a “creative monster” that “reeks of citrus and earth,” and Purple Punch, an Indica-dominant flower that’s a blend of Larry OG and Grandaddy Purple.

He also recommends products made by Jetty Extracts, an extraction company that sells cannabis oils, concentrates, vape pens, cartridges and dab applicators. Monday says the company makes “great botanic blends” from sun-grown cannabis with several CBD offerings.

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Tasty, refreshing, and doesn’t send you into outer space! Keeping a couple in the fridge for future hangovers ? • • • #barefootbeerbabe #lagunitas #abx #absoluteextracts #thc #hops #hoppy #cbd #sparklingwater #water #hifi #hifihops #weed #cannabis #naturalmedicine #sonomacounty #supportlocal #buylocal #drinklocal #sonomastrong

A post shared by The Barefoot Beer Babe (@barefootbeerbabe) on Aug 2, 2018 at 11:49am PDT

Looking for a cannabis product with novelty appeal? Monday points to AbsoluteXtracts‘ collaboration with Lagunitas on Hi-Fi Hops, an IPA-inspired and cannabis-infused sparkling beverage. AbsoluteXtracts also makes cannabis vape cartridges, gel capsules, edibles, tinctures and lotion.

Lord Jones is a high-end cannabis retailer specializing in CBD-infused products, like this box of infused sugarplum candies. (Lord Jones / courtesy photo)

For the Significant Other

Cold winter weather means more time indoors with your special person. You can set the mood for romance or share an escape from the winter blues with gifts from local dispensaries.

With everything from cannabis-infused chocolate strawberries to sensation-boosting sativa strains and massage oils, the holidays can be a perfect time to experiment with your partner.

Have an eye for quality and presentation? Lord Jones is a high-end cannabis retailer specializing in CBD-infused products. The company’s infused holiday gumdrops would make a sophisticated stocking stuffer.

Sounds better than socks, right?

The post Holiday shopping guide: 10 gift ideas for cannabis lovers on your list appeared first on The Emerald Report.

Rewired: How teenage cannabis use is linked to lasting brain changes

Danny Mueller — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 17:58:55 GMT

Memory trouble. Accidents. Risky behavior. Does cannabis use have a lasting effect on young people’s brains? After decades of study, most public health experts agree the answer is yes. But just how smoking, vaping or eating marijuana damages parts of the developing brain, especially those associated with learning and memory, remains a subject of debate.

Daily cannabis use has long been linked to impaired learning, memory, attention and decision-making skills in young people. It’s also been associated with lower academic performance and increased rates of mood symptoms like depression.

Surely it’s not as harmful as alcohol, right? Actually, regular cannabis use appears to be worse for young people’s cognitive functions than alcohol use, according to a 2018 study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The lasting effects of cannabis use on cognition “appear to be more pronounced than those observed for alcohol,” write the study’s authors.

Researchers tracked more than 3,800 preteens in Montreal schools from seventh to 11th grades, measuring changes in cognitive function among these students in annual tests. Study result suggest that both cannabis and alcohol use have lasting negative effects on young people’s cognitive functions. Dr. Patricia Conrod, the study’s lead author and professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal, said her team’s findings should serve as a warning to teenagers.

“Our findings suggest young people should do everything they can to delay the onset of their cannabis use, if not avoid it entirely,” said Dr. Conrod in a Healthline interview.

For adolescents and teens, cannabis use can have lingering effects on inhibitory control and working memory, and concurrent effects on delayed recall memory and perceptual reasoning.

While studies point to the negative effects of smoking pot as an adolescent or teenager, pot users who start in adulthood generally do not have similar outcomes. Some neuroscientists have suggested that cannabinoid receptors, which are distributed throughout the brain, may increase during adolescence. Cannabis use could disrupt the endocannabinoid system in this period, leading to changes in certain chemical balances and structures within the brain. Those changes can lead to poorer cognitive and emotional processing in adulthood.

Some health experts point to dabs or butter (butane hash oil), super-concentrated doses extracted from the cannabis plant using solvents, as symbolic of a “new wave” of high-powered cannabis products.

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Getting off early today yay ??? great way to start the week. . . Another great video by @medicatedmarley hop on over and check out her page what are you waiting for ?? — #girlswhosmokebongs #girlswhosmokejoints #girlswhosmokesweed #girlswhosmokedabs #girlswhosmokewax #girlswhosmokekush #girlswhosmokepot #girlswhosmokeblunts #girlswhosmokeweedeveryday #dabgirls #girlswhodab #dabgirlsclub #girlsthatdab #girlsdabtoo #dankdabbergirls #girlswhodabhard #somegirlsdab #detroitdabgirls #dabrig

A post shared by Stoney Brook (@maryjbarbies) on Nov 26, 2018 at 11:17am PST

Campaign to delay

In the era of legal cannabis, California public health campaigns aim to debunk popular myths about marijuana use rather than calling for total abstinence. “Truth or Nah?” — a new campaign from the San Francisco Department of Public Health — wants to help young people “make informed decisions about cannabis” by clearing up misinformation.

“We conducted focus groups and worked with local youths,” said Veronica Vien, a spokeswoman for the city’s health department. “We wanted to dispel those myths they hear about cannabis in school, from peers, or wherever they hang out.”

Fewer high school seniors are regularly using cannabis in San Francisco, according to the health department. In the 2015-2016 school year, some 27.1 percent of high school seniors reported having used cannabis within the last 30 days. The following year, that figure had dropped to 20.5 percent. That’s consistent with a broad downtrend in adolescent cannabis use in California.

San Francisco is running a slang-heavy campaign to curb teen cannabis use. (San Francisco Department of Public Health / TruthorNahSF.org)

Marijuana use has long been considered a rite of passage for young people. In the animated Netflix series “Big Mouth,” a hilarious look at the trials of puberty, friends Nick and Jessi take the cannabis plunge together by eating edibles. It’s a wild ride, but the episode doesn’t shy away from the darker side of cannabis. Nick’s experience is hijacked by anxiety, while Jessi sparks a fight between her concerned mom and stoner dad.

“I do feel very good right now,” Jessi says to Nick. “And I can see why my dad is addicted to this.”

Legalization and access

Critics of cannabis legalization, including former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, argued that legal marijuana would give more adolescents and teenagers access to the substance. It’s an argument that some found compelling, but one that is not supported by data. In Colorado and Washington, cannabis use among adolescents and teens has declined since legalization.

In California, teen marijuana use also seems to be on the decline. A state-funded health survey showed a marked drop in cannabis use among middle and high school students in 2016 and 2017. Survey results over the last four years seem to validate the decline.

While teen cannabis use dips, anxiety and depression rates among young people are on the rise. The odds of adolescents suffering from clinical depression grew by 37 percent between 2005 and 2014, according to a study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A study published this summer found connections between teen cannabis use and disruptions in the brain’s reward circuitry. Data suggests cannabis users have higher rates of mood symptoms like depression in early adulthood.

Much like alcohol, the focus now is on delaying or preventing young people from using cannabis. An occasional toke isn’t likely to cause issues, but habitual cannabis use can damage the brain during important development periods.

The post Rewired: How teenage cannabis use is linked to lasting brain changes appeared first on The Emerald Report.

Willie Nelson will receive an award at this year’s Emerald Cup

Emerald Report — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 16:00:34 GMT

By Estefany Gonzalez

At this point, the Emerald Cup needs little introduction. Over the past 15 years, the phenomenon has flourished into a booming cannabis event commemorating community culture beyond growing and cultivating plants.

Aside from bringing together farmers and out-of-town cannabis enthusiasts each year, the Emerald Cup also brings big-name music acts to town that get better each year. Last year, Grammy award-winning band Portugal. The Man performed alongside a list of acts, including BottleRock favorites Bob Moses and Trip-hop music producer Gramatik.

With an ever-growing number of daily activities, the 2018 Emerald Cup features a long list of speakers, vendors and most impressively an appearance by country music legend Willie Nelson, who founded a recreational cannabis company named Willie’s Reserve and is set to receive an award for his work within the cannabis industry.

Among the plethora of live music over the course of two days, this year’s acts include diverse musical genres appealing to a variety of different musical tastes.

On Saturday, guests can catch Manhattan folk-punks Gogol Bordello, with upbeat energetic songs like “My Companjera” off 2010’s “Trans-Continental Hustle” and “Mishto” from the 2005 album “Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike.” Or, if smooth hip-hop tunes are more your speed, Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli co-founder Chali 2na will also be performing.

Sunday night may appeal to electronic music fans with acts like Big Gigantic and Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) whom are bound to start a dance party but also offers something for the Americana crowd via songstress Margo Price, with country tunes such as “Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)” about drinking whisky like it’s water.

Other notable acts to catch include Protoje, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Antibalas and Lyrics Born. Make sure to log on to the Emerald Cup website for the full musical lineup and an update on set times.

Tip: “Mallrats,” “Chasing Amy” and “Dogma” film fans should make sure to pick up tickets for Saturday because Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes are set for a Jay and Silent Bob comedy performance.

Details: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 -16, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. $80-$499. theemeraldcup.com

The post Willie Nelson will receive an award at this year’s Emerald Cup appeared first on The Emerald Report.

SRJC’s big, beautiful “Shrek” will keep you smiling

Digitale.Stories — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 04:21:10 GMT

Danny Bañales and Isiah Carter. Photo courtesy of SRJC Theatre Arts.

By ROBERT DIGITALE

Ever feel like this big, bright beautiful world is for everybody but you? So does Shrek, and his adventures can jolt your funny bone even as they remind you what matters most about love and friendship.

“Shrek the Musical” is this year’s holiday treat from Santa Rosa Junior College’s Theatre Arts Department. Longtime patrons know that means something special, and this season’s production serves up a fun story and some over-the-top performances by the lead actors. The rest of the cast also gets to light up the stage. They have their time performing catchy musical dance numbers while portraying a horde of displaced fairytale creatures, including Pinocchio, Humpty Dumpty and the three little pigs.

The musical is based on the 2001 film, and there was a reason it won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Also, it’s worth noting that the film’s sound track generally outshines the original songs created for the musical. (Fret not, diehard fans, you will get a rousing finale of “I’m a Believer.”)

What the musical does offer is the chance to see the characters up close, and director Laura Downing-Lee makes the most of it. With the cast’s help we watch a protagonist who for years hasn’t had a friend, and who must decide what to do when others want to draw near to him, possibly including the love of his life.

The production benefits greatly from Danny Bañales, who brings the big green ogre known as Shrek to life. His wee Scotish brogue works, as does his comedic timing while portraying a character whose parents sent him into the world at the age of 7. In musical numbers, perhaps because it was opening night, Bañales occasionally had trouble finding his note. But when he locked in, as on “When Words Fail,” he sang with power and beauty.

Samantha Bohlke-Slater delights as Princess Fiona, bringing an assertive determination to her plans to marry a prince, but also showing gnawing insecurities about who she is. (You’d be unsure, too, if you had spent your childhood and youth locked in a castle with a fire-breathing dragon.) A highlight that showed her musical chops came early in “I Know It’s Today,” sung sweetly with two younger “Fionas,” Annelise Ethington and Maryanne Boaz.

For Donkey, Isiah Carter seems to channel Eddie Murphy with the rapid-fire wit and zaniness of a creature whose mouth is always set on stream of consciousness. Carter makes Donkey the lovable key to bringing Shrek and Fiona together, and he does so with pizzazz in song and with his body-shimmying dance moves.

At times Friday, it seemed the whole production was going to get hijacked by Noah Sternhill as the diminutive and droll Lord Farquaad. He had the audience guffawing with his portrayal of the 3-foot-tall villain who is in love with himself. With a flick of his thick Prince Valiant haircut or a sly glance as he pauses in song, Sternhill knew he had us hooked. And his improbable dance moves alone were worth the price of admission. We already knew he could sing from his past performances in “Mary Poppins” and “Music Man,” but here is a role that will become etched in audience memories.

Dressed in eye-catching costumes by Maryanne Scozzari, the rest of the cast members rose to the occasion. Highlights included Michael Arbitter and his falsetto Pinocchio (not a wooden boy, he says, “I just have a glandular condition) to Jackie Diaz and her knockout version on behalf of the dragon of “Forever.” Fairytale creatures took over the stage in a couple of numbers, as do Lord Farquaad’s minions. Puppeteers deftly animated the dragon and Shrek and Fiona’s parents. Human-sized rats tap danced with the princess.

Peter Crompton’s set of aquamarine hues includes whimsical castle ramparts and towers, plus leaning, petrified trees that reach high overhead. Crew members project animated scenes on a backdrop as locations change.

Conductor Rudolf Budginas and his eight-piece orchestra keep the production rolling along well.

A tip of the hat to the remaining cast members, including Alexx Valdez, Anthony Martensen, Azlin Buggia, Bethany Cox, Sharlene “Charlie” Whitaker, Christopher Shayota, David Klaut, Dean Jahnsen, Emilia Naples, Grace Reid, Jessica Joy Ramalia, Lana Spring, Mallory Gold, Nathaniel Gillespie, Ryan Sayler, Samantha Moore, Terrence Young, Troy Thomas Evans, Kalamity Khaos and Victor Santoyo.

The production is slated for a total of 13 performances through Dec. 2 at the Maria Carrillo High School Theatre, 6975 Montecito Blvd. For tickets and more information, click here.

The cast announced Friday that the college’s Burbank Auditorium should be renovated and ready for productions next summer. Good news indeed.

Delve into Damnation in this Bay Area writer’s paranormal western

Becky Brisley — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 22:52:39 GMT

Let me start with this: Damnation is one awful place.

Imagine being stuck within a few square blocks of dilapidated buildings, an apocalyptic scene all around you. All around you is dust and more dust, stuck in the wildest west. Walk down the road to leave, and you end up walking straight back into the ghost town — “You could see the whole town from end to end in the time it took to smoke a pipe.”

And ghost town is an apt description, as everyone here is dead. Well, sort of.

Did I mention that all there is to eat is pig? Bacon. Pork. Whiskey. Repeat. Swine fed by the bodies of those who died in gunfights.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started “Dawn in Damnation” by San Mateo writer Clark Casey. If you’re sensitive to gore, violence, or horrible men being horrible, this may not be the book for you.

I’m one of those people who are sensitive to the above things, and I’m definitely NOT into western-style stories. So I was surprised when I ended up enjoying this book, for the most part. Plus, it’s a quick read.

“I wanted it to read kind of like Robert B. Parker’s ‘Appaloosa’ books, with short, quick chapters and a lot of dialogue,” Casey said. “In my opinion, most books have entirely too many words.”

Damnation is where you go when you mess up in life — hurt someone, make a horrible choice, you get the idea. Not quite Hell yet, but a pretty grim pit stop. So it makes sense that this group of gross, horrible men (save for possibly a few characters, including the protagonist) is cursed to play poker, eat bacon, and wallow in misery until they shoot one another.

“There are definitely a few crude characters,” Casey said. “I was trying to create an authentic late 19th century town full of outlaws, so it would have been hard to avoid that.”

Casey said he drew inspiration from the HBO series Deadwood and True Blood, and he thought it would be fun to combine the two concepts. So naturally, there are plenty of vicious werewolves that live down the street. And the lone, angsty vampire, Nigel.

Put enough of this book’s characters in the same small space, and you’re bound to have chaos.

And when the rare woman comes to damnation, Ms. Parker, who died while she was pregnant, we really start to see things get out of hand.

And I found myself more fascinated than anything by the vulgarities the different characters spewed, and it added an authenticity to what kind of place Damnation really is (it’s seriously the worst).

Half of the entertainment to be had in Damnation is gunfights. But our narrator, whose occupation in purgatory is to write “The Crapper,” the town’s news on who has showed up and who has moved on, wants to break that chaotic cycle. His theory? You can get into Heaven if you don’t shoot anyone in Damnation for a year. Most people, though? They know they’re going straight to hell.

And Casey uses this sort of second afterlife to show how difficult it is for humans to shift their morals. When a newbie shows up, wide-eyed and confused, he wonders why the town doesn’t have a system of government, or a sheriff, ignorant of the bloody history behind the last time someone tried being sheriff. He envisions all of the town’s prisoners being able to stick together and “march straight up to heaven together.”

But as our narrator notes, “When’s the last time you seen a fella do what’s best for him? You think if you pluck a man from his life and stick him in a one-horse town with a hundred other rotten bastards, he’s gonna act better?”

One of the few redeeming characters, Buddy, does get fed up eventually though. This led to one of my favorite spots in the book, the new list of rules for Damnation:

Rules

Everybody eats.
No raping or killing Ms. Parker.
No shooting a man that ain’t heeled.
No back shooting.
No killing over dumb shit.
The vampire decides whether or not it’s dumb shit.
If the vampire ain’t around, Buddy decides whether or not it’s dumb shit, less he’s real drunk.
If Buddy’s real drunk, don’t start no dumb shit cause he’ll prolly kill y’all anyway.

This kind of humorous tone is present throughout the novel, giving much-needed comic relief after some of the more traumatic fights. At the end of many chapters, you get to see the latest edition of “The Crapper,” and it’s these little touches make the novel so much more enjoyable.

The thing that for some reason really kept me going in this novel was the same thing that drove the characters crazy throughout the story. What really is Damnation, and what comes afterward? And what drives a person’s morality, when fear is no longer a factor?

So is this a family-friendly novel? Nope. Does it have horrible men? Yup. But it’s a fun, quick, Western-style tale that is worth an entertaining afternoon read? Most definitely.

Volunteering in School is Good For Your Brain

David.Sortino — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 21:47:12 GMT

Volunteering at School Is Good For Your Brain! The new school year is almost two months old, and one of the least talked about needs of teachers are classroom volunteers. Classroom volunteers represent an unknown necessity in most schools. They are usually retired senior citizens who are multifaceted in their […]

SRJC’s “Garcia Girls,” a captivating coming-of-age story

Digitale.Stories — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 17:18:11 GMT

Jasmine Flores-Nunez, Aaronne Louis Charles, Giselle Padilla and Rachel Calos. Photo by Thomas Chown

By ROBERT DIGITALE

The Garcia girls take us back.

Their stories speak of children trying to understand the world around them and of young adults wanting to be loved and to fit in. While such themes may be common, their stories offer the twist of being political exiles in a country that doesn’t always welcome immigrants.

“How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents” offers a captivating peek back at four sisters living in America in the early 1960s. The drama kicks off the new theater season at Santa Rosa Junior College.

“Peek” is a suitable descriptor for the play because we get just two stories from the 1991 novel of the same title by Julia Alvarez. The book’s 15 short stories depict the lives of sisters in a family that sought political asylum in the U.S., coming from the Dominican Republic under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.

In the book, Alvarez takes the uncommon approach of beginning with the sisters as adults and then moving in reverse chronological order. For the theater, director John Shillington has taken a different but still unusual structure: a verbatim performance where the actors recite all the novel’s words, including the narration and “attributives,” such as “Fifi said.”

The “page to stage” approach fits surprisingly well. Multiple characters voiced the story as the corresponding drama unfolded before the audience.

In the first act, the narrative added insight about the family’s upper class background. It also helped in understanding the motives behind sister Sandi’s headstrong decision to ignore her mother’s orders on how to behave when the family goes to dinner with an American doctor and his hard-drinking wife. In the second act, the narration offered another twist for the story of sister Yolanda at college. There the stage was shared by two “Yolandas”: one, “Yoyo,” depicting that young adult student, and a second, “Yo,” an older version of herself speaking of those long-ago years.

In the first act, the cast portrayed a family unsure how it would adapt to a new life in New York City in the early 1960s. The actors playing the four sisters delighted in playing innocents amid the wonder of a strange land, one populated with a mean-spirited downstairs neighbor, dashing flamenco dancers at their dinner venue and a doctor’s wife who inappropriately kisses their father.

In the second act, the story revolved around Yolanda navigating college life in the late 1960s. She falls for a boy. He wants her body. The resulting tension and heartbreak causes her to wonder if she ever will find someone to understand who she is, a “peculiar mix of Catholicism and agnosticism, Hispanic and American styles.”

The protagonists of each act shine, first Jasmine Flores-Nunez as Sandi, and later Annelise Hermsen as Yoyo. The supporting cast members are equally strong, including Khalid Shayota, Jisaela Tenney, Giselle Padilla, Rachel Calos, Aaronne Louis-Charles, Shane Roberts, Haley Hollis, Katerina Flores, Riley Craig, Jonathan Flores-Zambrano, Moises Quezada, Patricio Becerril, Evan Espinoza and Kristin Dutra.

The play continues through Oct. 14 at the college’s Newman Auditorium. For times and more information, click here. The performances, which contain strong language and adult content, are recommended for ages 14 and above.

The college’s Burbank Auditorium remains closed for renovation. Thus, the Theatre Arts season continues Nov. 16 to Dec. 2 at Maria Carrillo High School with “Shrek The Musical,” followed by “All the Great Books (abridged)” at Newman Auditorium March 8-17 and ending April 19 to May 5 at Carrillo with “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

In Conversation With Steve Kerr

Phil Barber — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 23:00:43 GMT

Warriors coach Steve Kerr talks with Garry St. Jean at Hanna Boys Center on October 1.

Steve Kerr was the Man of the Hour last night. He appeared with his interviewer, Garry St. Jean, as part of the Sonoma Speaker Series. The event was in the auditorium of Hanna Boys Center, a residential school for at-risk teens outside of Sonoma that does some great work. The two men sat on comfy chairs, framed by potted plants. On the table between them was a bottle of red wine, which St. Jean clearly hogged. There were 345 people in attendance, and the event sold out in 58 minutes.

The two men conversed for about an hour, and then Kerr answered questions from the audience for another half-hour. There weren’t a lot of revelations for veteran Warriors-watchers. In fact, it was sort of a compilation of Steve Kerr’s Greatest Hits.

He talked about Draymond Green’s passion and Stephen Curry’s strong character. He recalled going mostly unrecruited out of high school, and of the joy he wants the Warriors to play with. He repeated stories we’ve heard before, like the time he and Danny Ferry stuck Gregg Popovich with the dinner bill, and how he spliced a clip from a blackjack primer – “never split 10s” – into game tape, using humor to discourage Draymond from passing up future uncontested layups for future contested 3-pointers.

But there were tidbits. There are always tidbits. Here are excerpts:

Kerr on playing for his first NBA coach, Cotton Fitzsimmons: “I was a rookie, I hardly ever played. I was scared to death to make a mistake. So we ran this defensive drill one time where the ball swings, and I didn’t try to get out for a steal because I didn’t want to get beat back-door for a layup. So I just kind of played it safe, and the ball swung, and Cotton, with that gravelly Southern twang, he goes, ‘Hold on!’ And he goes, ‘Kerr, I’ll bet your parents voted for Goldwater.’ I wasn’t sure what he meant. What do you mean? He said, ‘You’re so damn conservative, take a chance once in a while.’”

St. Jean confirmed, when Kerr asked, that Gregg Popovich used to diagram plays on a legal pad with a No. 2 pencil in his early days as an NBA coach

All that droll video editing? Kerr got the idea from Phil Jackson. For example, one year the Bulls had three viable centers in Luc Longley, Will Perdue and Bill Wennington. Jackson showed a clip in which a TV announcer said, “And the Bulls are again going with their three-headed monster at center.” Jackson immediately cut to the three-headed knight from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

Organizers showed a well-known video compilation of Kerr offering words of encouragement to Curry, notably telling his brilliant point guard to ignore the shooting numbers during an off game and focus on the plus-minus. Kerr added this kicker: “The part they didn’t pick up, (Curry) goes, ‘I need a song.’ This is what he said to me. Because he was struggling. He goes, I need a song in my head. Just to get out of his own… And I said, ‘Well, all right.’ And does anybody like the band Fun? Anybody like Fun? So there’s this song called ‘Carry On.’ You guys have heard the song ‘Carry On’? I love that song. For whatever reason, I think I had heard it that day. So I go, ‘You know that song ‘Carry On’ by Fun?’ He goes, ‘yeah, yeah.’ I go, ‘Well, sing that when you’re out there.’ And then we started talking about the plus-minus and the shooting totals. And that’s why at the end I said, ‘Carry on, my son.’”

Someone asked Kerr about his health, and this is how the coach replied: “Doing better, thank you for asking. Played golf a few weeks ago for the first time in a while. … It’s funny. If you’re a golfer, you know what I’m talking about. … I was swinging easy to protect my back, and the ball was just like, (whooshing sound). It was like, why don’t I do this all the time?”

One man asked Kerr when he was going to run for political office like Bill Bradley. Kerr: “Very flattering. I’ve been playing and practicing and coaching basketball for 30 years, so I’m not exactly sure how I would just all of a sudden become qualified for something like that. But I appreciate the sentiment. Although the bar has been lowered some. We’re all candidates for the next presidential election.”

At one point a guy asked Kerr which qualities are efficacious in a coaching role as opposed to a GM role. Kerr interrupted him to ask, “What does efficacious mean?” When the man reworded, it turned into a two-part question, the second part being, How do you stay so down to earth? To which Kerr replied: “I think it’s mostly just trying to be as efficacious as possible.”

Kerr followed that one-liner with a story: “When I worked in TV, I worked a game with Charles Barkley. It was Charles and Marv Albert and me, it was a three-man booth, and we were doing a Knicks game. And Marv Albert says, ‘And Charles, the Knicks show flashes of brilliance, but then it seems that a lethargy sets in.’ And Charles goes, ‘Marv, I don’t know what lethargy means, but if it means they suck then I agree with you.’”

Kerr on leadership: “The best leaders I played for were probably Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson. And they reminded me a lot of my dad, in that they were clearly in charge, they were very funny, had a real sense of humor, I knew they cared about me, I knew they loved me, and I was a tiny bit afraid of them. That’s leadership, I guess.”

Kerr, when asked what he is doing to hang on to key free agents like Kevin Durant: “Paying them a lot of money?”

A boy asked Kerr whom he would add to the Warriors roster if he could choose any player in the game. Kerr mulled it over, then said: “I’m perfectly happy with the group that we have.”

The final question to Kerr was who would pick among Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. “Oh, that’s easy,” Kerr said. “Michael.”

10 classic stories to get you in the spooky spirit (and to use as decor)

Becky Brisley — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 01:41:56 GMT

As soon as I see leaves changing color, I begin to crave a certain type of novel. You know — the ones that match the aura of the gray, foggy mornings and delve into darker themes.

When I was a poor college student, I often ended up digging out my favorite ones and using them as Halloween decorations in the windowsill, all lined up in a row. I much preferred these as opposed to monster-themed window clings (not to bash those, they’re adorable and wonderful). Scary tales also could be used to spruce up an end or coffee table for Halloween.

Here are my top ten favorites. Kick back with a nice cup of tea on a chilly autumn morning with one of these, and perhaps revisit an old tale. For the short stories, many can be found inside of larger anthologies that often have quite interesting covers.

1. “The Birth-Mark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

This is probably my favorite Hawthorne tale, and it’s delightfully eeire. I’ve never been able to look at science in the same way. All of Hawthorne’s (author of The Scarlet Letter) stories are perfect for fall with their explorations of some of the most fundamental themes in literature. (Bonus, check out Rappaccini’s Daughter for a similar vibe.)

2. “Frankenstein,” by Mary Shelley

I know this is the most stereotypical thing to be on this list, but I promise you’ll notice new things when you read it again. I’ve had to write probably ten essays on this book, and I still never get tired of it. Shelley is an amazing mastermind. Also, I’m going to take a moment to post my favorite thing ever:

3. “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” by Robert Louis Stevenson

A London lawyer investigates the mysterious situation between his friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and Edward Hyde, who has been committing evil acts all over town. The story itself is about the evil that exists within us all, and the dark, London-y setting is perfect for October. This story has stuck with me for a long time, and I read it every year.

4. “Pickman’s Model,” by H.P. Lovecraft

Lovecraft has always been a master at dark diction that makes the reader uncomfortable—when reading “Pickman’s Model,” the imagery lingers, constantly haunting thoughts. When the narrator tries to recount the tale of his encounter with Pickman, an artist known for creating grotesque, dark paintings, his extreme fear and anxiety is still present.

5. “The Doll,” by Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates’ “The Doll” retains a disturbing tone throughout. Florence Parr, now in her forties, is drawn to a house by a sort of paranormal force that she can’t explain. What she does know, though, is that the house is identical to the dollhouse of her childhood: Oates makes a point of describing it, and the dolls, in length, with disturbing diction. A perfect spooky tale.

6. “Good Country People,” by Flannery O’Connor

OK so this may be Southern Gothic, but that doesn’t mean it’s not super disturbing and great for Halloween time. In “Good Country People,” O’Connor uses the Southern stereotype of “good country people” to display the motif of reality versus illusion, with her iconic Southern Gothic style. I’ll put any O’Connor story up against some horror novel, and it will freak me out more every time.

7. “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar,” by Edgar Allan Poe

If you know Poe, you know his writing is some of the most chilling ever. He touches on motifs of darkness, despair, addiction, evil and much, much more. I’m in love with every story he’s written. The best one, though? The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar. Poe’s story fits in with the same ranks of other Gothic classics like Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” and even Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” However, while those stories explore the consequences of taking strictly scientific study too far, Poe’s story instead shows the grim ramifications of taking more pseudo-scientific exploration too far. Poe’s resolution to this story is one of his most gruesome uses of imagery in his repertoire, and he uses it to represent how awful the consequences can be when we meddle into dark practices that disturb nature.

8. “Dracula,” by Brahm Stoker

Here’s the thing. When I read Dracula, I get majorly weird vibes from Stoker, like he wasn’t a fan of women’s equality. I could go on and on about this topic, how he uses the darkness of vampirism to symbolize the Victorian fear of the liberation and independence of women from the clutches of societal normality, but that’s not quite fun. The story itself is still a classic, and for good reason.

9 . “Jane Eyre,” by Charlotte Bronte

This story is another great Victorian classic, filled with all of the gray English countryside and drama — and of course, the haunting Thornfield manor. What’s in store for young Jane? Find out!

10. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” by J.K. Rowling

You’re never too old to revisit this series, and fall is the perfect time to hop into Hogwarts. After all, that’s when students begin school, and wizardry goes with October like flowers go with May. Grab some butterbeer and get warm.

Do you have favorite October reads? I’d love to hear about them. Let me know at becky.brisley@pressdemocrat.com.

5 ways to organize your bookshelf

Becky Brisley — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 21:15:09 GMT

For book lovers, your bookshelf is a sacred space — it’s where these treasured possessions rest when we’re not using them to visit another world for a while. But if your books are randomly placed, not only can they be difficult to find, but it may not be as aesthetically pleasing, either. I asked people on Facebook how they organized their shelves, and I got a surprising amount of responses. Here are five ways to organize your books.

1. The obvious, alphabetically: This is the most common way to organize. While bookshops usually sort by the author’s last name, you may find it more appealing to organize your books alphabetically by title. If you do this, you’ll never have to spend forever scanning the shelves — it will always be where you need it. Also, there’s something very satisfying about alphabetizing your collection. You get to know it again, and taking care of your books brings a sense of pride.

2. By genre or topic: This can be as broad or as specific as you want. It often can help in addition to alphabetically, especially if you have a lot of different subjects. I like to separate fiction from nonfiction, and I like to keep poetry and graphic novels on their own shelves. However, depending on your collection, it may be advantageous to be even more specific. Perhaps you have a TON of novels. Why not group them into sections of mystery, romance, essays, etc.?

Here’s Bracken’s method: “By topic, then generally by date of the topic. Most of my books are non-fiction, so I have a section on presidents, with the presidents in order. A section on wars, with the wars in order. A section on religion, with the specific religions clustered together then arranged in a weird combination of date and subject matter. It’s almost like I’ve made my own Dewey Decimal System.”

And here’s Joanne’s: “I go first Topical > then Author because Jake and I have such disparate and varied reading tastes between us that doing just one sort was…not helpful. We have a science section, history, classic lit fiction, adult fiction, and juvenile fiction (which is most of the fiction in our house tbh because I devour kids books) and comics (which is mainly Archie and Pokemon atm) and then of course reference books…and textbooks…”

3. By size: A lot of people choose to organize their collections by size, which offers a more aesthetically pleasing look. You could go from biggest to smallest, or use larger books like bookends on either side. It’s a solid method, and if you’re a visual learner, it may even be easier for you remember what the book looks like and pick it out that way.

Here’s Amanda’s method: “By size! Tallest on the left to smallest on the right. Then also smallest on the top to tallest on the bottom (ie old school small paper back books on the top shelf to like coffee table books on the bottom).”

And Claire’s: “Size! Smallest on ends going to bigger in the middle! This probably only works because I have a super loooooong shelf that runs across an entire wall but it looks v cool.”

4. By color: Again, quite the aesthetically pleasing option. A lot of people prefer this method for visual memorization as well. Plus, it can just be super cute.

Here’s Elissa’s response: “Color man. I’m all about that ROYGBV aesthetic.”

Be careful, though, because it may make the situation worse, as Crissi wrote: “ I totally want to do color, because it looks so cool. But I’m not that organized, and I’ll probably never find any of the books I want to read again.”

5. Chronologically: This is a great way to organize certain subjects, like when Bracken mentioned history books. It may be a more difficult option if you’re organizing novels, but it can be a fun way of learning more about your collection and deciding what to read based on the time period.

Bill uses this method, in addition to the first: “Generally date of when it was written but within that by author.”

I’d love to see your wonderful bookshelves! If you have an amazing setup, email a photo to me at becky.brisley@pressdemocrat.com. If you have additional methods, please share in the comments. Happy organizing

Why Santa Rosa City Needs a Technical High School

David.Sortino — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 14:53:58 GMT

A recent Press Democrat article titled “Santa Rosa City Schools Renews Push for College-prep Class Requirements” for all students is in my opinion a simplistic approach toward meeting the needs of all high school students and could actually accelerate the high school drop-out rate and even increase juvenile delinquency. My […]

West final is here. Does Houston care?

Phil Barber — Mon, 14 May 2018 20:30:01 GMT

Why is this truck not painted with an image of James Harden’s beard?

HOUSTON – I was watching a local TV newscast last night, on the eve of the Western Conference final. The guys on set were hyping the series, breaking down the Rockets’ chances against the Warriors and referring to an online poll showing that nearly half of the station’s viewership believe Houston will win both Game 1 and Game 2 here.

They ended with four surprising words: “Tickets are still available.”

Really? For the Rockets’ biggest game in at least 20 years? Against the hated Warriors?

Indeed, even today there are Game 1 tickets for sale, and not just via resale sites like StubHub. At around 3 p.m., I counted 87 tickets available through the Toyota Center website, ranging from right behind the team benches to upper level behind one basket.

Keep in mind that Houston is a huge city – fourth largest in the US, according to a 2016 Census Bureau estimate. The larger metropolitan area, with close to 7 million people, is fifth largest. You’d think they could find enough folks to fill a basketball arena.

This apathy was reinforced when I took a walk late yesterday afternoon. I’m staying downtown, and the neighborhood was sleepy on a Sunday. But I walked a good while and saw plenty of Houstonians. A solid proportion were wearing Astros gear – star caps, Jose Altuve jerseys, even an oversized shirt printed with the Astros’ famed polluted-sunset color scheme. I also saw a pickup truck hand-painted with images of Houston Texans football players. But I’m not sure I came across a single piece of Rockets merchandise.

What gives, Houston? Are you excited about this team or not? Can’t the best record in the NBA in 2017-18 get you pumped? Is presumptive MVP James Harden not enough, by himself, to lure you to the West final? Deep down inside, do you assume that the Warriors are about to reclaim their dominance and take this series?

Perhaps I’m reacting to a small sample size. When the ball tips off tonight at 6 p.m. Pacific, let’s assume the Toyota Center will be rocking, and that only a handful of Warriors fans will have infiltrated the stands. I hope so, anyway. I know what things will like at Oracle Arena. The battle for the West will be a lot more fun if Houston can simulate that hostile atmosphere.

News from New Orleans: Pelicans aren’t shaking in their sneakers

Phil Barber — Fri, 04 May 2018 20:53:45 GMT

New Orleans’ Anthony Davis practices shots as if doom were not hanging over the Pelicans.

NEW ORLEANS – I went to the Pelicans’ shootaround (or at least the very end of it) this morning, and I have important news to report. The players who will face the Warriors tonight in Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal series were not catatonic. I didn’t see anyone hyperventilating or visibly trembling. No one sat on the Smoothie King Center court, hugging his knees and rocking back and forth, muttering about Kevin Durant.

There are many reasons to discount the Pelicans’ chances in this series, now that the Warriors are up 2-0 and Stephen Curry is pretending he never left. But PANIC does not appear to be one of those reasons.

In fact, watching the Pelicans post-practice, you might have thought they were leading the series.

While a few players, including star center Anthony Davis, put up shots at the far basket, most of the crew divided into two factions and held a half-court shooting contest. Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday appeared to be the captains. They shot from the corners, from the deep wings and, finally, from midcourt, keeping track of shots made from each spot, needling one another and crowing about who won.

“Everybody came in today in good spirits, ready to get after it tonight,” New Orleans forward Darius Miller said a little later, standing outside the home locker room.

It’s interesting that Rondo seems to play a central role is this levelheadedness. He is the veteran member of the team, and a former NBA champion with the Celtics. He also has a history of being hard to get along with. The Pelicans are his fifth team in four seasons. Three days ago at Oracle Arena, Rondo did many weird things – including wiping his face sweat all over the basketball before Draymond Green shot free throws – to get under Green’s skin.

But Rondo has strong leadership traits, too, and these young Pelicans need what he’s dishing out right now.

“Same thing he’s been talking all year – keeping the same attitude, not getting too high or too low,” Miller said. “Same thing he’s been preaching all year, and we’ve done a good job up to now, so I feel like we’ll do that tonight, too.

The Pelicans’ confidence bodes well for basketball fans. Having dropped back-to-back games in Oakland, and facing a championship team that is humming along like a bullet train, they are in a tough spot. So I was curious to see the Pelicans’ demeanor. Maybe they would be tight. Maybe they would be wearing the pressure. In which case, you could easily foresee a Game 3 blowout.

But no, Alvin Gentry’s team looked fully at ease, and ready to play basketball. That doesn’t mean they’ll beat the Warriors, but it increases the likelihood that they’ll play well. And when the Pelicans are playing well, they are a thoroughly entertaining team.

‘Kinetic Kompendium’: A Sonoma County artist’s colorful chronology

Becky Brisley — Tue, 01 May 2018 21:41:48 GMT

Imagine a giant, colorful monster rolling toward you in the middle of the street.

Don’t freak out — it’s just a work of art. More specifically, it’s Kinetic Sculpture Racing.

And next to the monster? A dozen or more equally colorful creations, all racing to win.

And you can see decades’ worth of these fantastical works of art in a new book, “Kinetic Kompendium: 50 Years Of Kinetic Sculpture Racing.” The author, Sonoma County artist Dawn Thomas, has been racing for the past few years.

“The original cross country event, the World Championship Great Arcata To Ferndale Cross Country Kinetic Sculpture Race, now known as the Kinetic Grand Championship in Humboldt County, is also called the ‘Triathlon of the Art World,’” Thomas said. “Art and engineering are combined with physical endurance during a three-day cross country race that includes sand, mud, pavement, a bay crossing, a river crossing and major hills.”

So where did it all begin? Well, naturally, in 1968, with a child’s tricycle, two metal workers and a friendly rivalry, the race itself came to life. Thomas said the concept of kinetic sculpture racing originated in Ferndale in 1969 when local sculptor Hobart Brown “improved” the appearance of his son’s tricycle by welding on two additional wheels and other embellishments, calling it the “Pentacycle.” Fellow artist Jack Mays then challenged him to the race, and a tradition was born. Neither of the two even won the inaugural race — Thomas said the first winner was Bob Brown of Eureka, whose sculpture was a “smoke-emitting turtle that laid eggs.” Who could ask for more in a work of art? Even then-Congressman Don Clausen famously took the Pentacycle for a spin, Thomas sad.

Among the hundreds of other creations over the years have been sculptures from “Chicken and Waffles” to “The Nightmare Of The Iguana.” Thomas said many of the themes are puns.

“The artwork is often a statement of the folks who made it,” Thomas said. “Some folks really like to go all-out and pretend they are aliens from another planet, while others are content to do minimal decorating, and try and go fast.”

But, Thomas said, Brown always believed that the race requires both art and speed to be a success.

The rules aren’t quite easy either. The course is now 50 miles and takes 3 days, Thomas said, with sand dunes and two water crossings. Contestants need to carry equipment they need, including sleeping bags and toothbrushes. The most challenging aspect? Their feet must not touch the ground to propel them forward, Thomas said.

“This race attracts Polymath,” Thomas said. “Folks need STEAM skills: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math to build and race these sculptures. It encourages folks who are really good at one thing to find folks who are good at other things, to work together to build the best sculpture.”

Thomas said she’s been hooked on the sport since her and her partner entered the race six years ago. The tandem trike’s theme? “Trike-a-saurus,” decked out in “with Stegosaurus-like plates of recycled plastic.” After a harsh but fun first race, Thomas said she was relieved to return.

“When we rolled into Ferndale I was so relieved that I ran off to a Port-a-Pottie and broke down and cried,” she said. “We have been hooked ever since.”

Thomas sought out all of the material she could on the race, but she found that resources were lacking — so, she made her own. The result is a chronological, coffee-table style book filled with a fascinating history of the race. The history is meticulously presented, but the best part? The photographs. Each picture emits the innocent, playful joy that the racers feel, and that’s truly the spirit that has kept this race a tradition. There also are photos of historical documents related to the race.

You also get to see examples of past works of art, which are truly remarkable. My personal favorite? The band on wheels, also known as the “Funtastic Music Machine.” It’s piled with horns, drums and more. Though as the book points out, it might have had trouble traversing the required aquatic portion of the race.

And in the second half of the book, we get to meet the winners of the competition, as well as see photos of their winning artwork. It’s wonderful to see the moments of this race frozen in time, and to see how connected the community seems.

“After our first year we knew we had found our people,” Thomas said. “Folks welcomed us, helped us, fed us, and treated us like one of the family. Now, 5 years in, I know so many of them, and am so impressed at what a big place the race has in their lives. They spend so much time and energy on their sculptures … It is incredible.”

You can find the book on Thomas’ website, kinetickompendium.com, and on Amazon. This year’s event, over Memorial Day weekend, will be an especially incredible one — the 50th anniversary. The championship will begin on Saturday, at the noon whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Racers will circle the Plaza three times, in front of hundreds of spectators, then head out to through the Arcata Bottoms to the Manila Dunes.

So, what’s the point of it all? Well, a quote from Brown at the beginning of the book might put it best.

“We’re adults having fun so children desire to grow older.”

The Coppolas at the North Coast Wine Challenge?

Tasting.Room — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 23:38:03 GMT

Francis Ford Coppola and Eleanor were at the North Coast Wine Challenge — that is with six degrees of separation.

Corey Beck sat on our panel and the CEO and chief winemaker of Geyserville’s Francis Ford Coppola Winery was happy to answer our questions about the artists in residence … most of them.

With the winners announced this week, kudos goes to Kokomo Wines of the Dry Creek Valley, which snagged the top prize for its Kokomo 2016 Pinot Noir Gopher Hills Block Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast. The pinot scored the highest points ever awarded in this contest: 100 out of 100. Click here for a peek at all the winners.

While we were searching for those high-scoring wines last week, a day and a half of sipping through a pool of 1012 entries, we learned the winery is working on a concept to allow people to experience its wine, food and entertainment without coming to the physical location.

“The direct to consumer concept will be developed within the next 12 months,” Beck said. “Geographically, it’s not in Wine Country.”

We couldn’t get any more out of Beck on this topic, even after tasting 106 glasses of wine. That said, Beck was more than willing to talk about Eleanor’s remarkable challenge.

During last year’s premiere of Eleanor’s “Paris Can Wait,” Beck said he watched the film and then delighted in what Eleanor told a crowd of 120 people when the lights came up.

“She challenged them to do something out of their comfort zone,” said the forty-seven-year-old Beck. “She wrote, produced and directed the film, beginning at age 78, completing it when she was 80.”

The film follows a trek from Cannes to Paris, one that normally takes seven hours by car, but when you factor in a French romantic all bets are off. Anne (Diane Lane) is married to a successful but inattentive movie producer (Alec Baldwin) and unexpectedly finds herself taking the trip with her husband’s business associate (Armaud Viard). The travelers take time for the finer things in life, extraordinary sights, as well as a sensual feast of food and wine.

For the time being, it appears the muse has gone on sabbatical. Beck said neither Eleanor nor Francis is working on any projects to date. Francis seems to be enjoying his role as vintner, traveling from his Victorian in Rutherford to the Sonoma County winery at least once every two weeks to check in and have lunch at Rustic.

“Francis developed the recipes at Rustic,” Beck said.

He reminded us that Francis grew up in New York in the 1950s where wine was made in the basement.

“Francis’ father and uncle made wine,” Beck said. “California grapes were shipped by rail to Queens.”

The Academy Award winning director, best known for his “Godfather” series and “Apocalypse Now,” has come full circle. Francis couldn’t resist Wine Country, and as we were tasting through the region’s finest, it was good to have Francis, and Eleanor for that matter, at the table, with only six sips of separation.

“Not Quite Happily Ever After” a story set in Sonoma County

Crissi Langwell — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 22:38:13 GMT

Five years after publishing her debut novel, “Growing Home,” Sonoma County author Heidi Freestone has published follow-up novel, “Not Quite Happily Ever After,” continuing the story of Sara, a divorcee who fled the big city to her new home in Sonoma County, and found love and her fairytale ending.

This second novel, however, tells what happens after the happily ever after. Set ten years after the first book, Sara discovers she no longer fits into her dream job at the local land trust, a seductive stranger is making her question her perfect marriage, and her best friend Jen has been diagnosed with depression. This last development has inspired Sara and her husband, Matt, to take in Jen’s son, along with all the issues that come with raising a child.

A lover of the land, Freestone incorporates gardening and environmental issues into her writing, this book included.

“I have either worked at nurseries or been a landscape gardener and designer for all my professional life, and I think that, except for the gophers, Sonoma County is probably the best place you can find to garden and grow food,” Freestone said. Having moved from Southern California many years ago, Freestone remembers when the train used to run down Sebastopol’s main street. “I have to admit that the changes we, and time, have wrought on the wild land in the county prompted Sara’s career choice” as an environmental lawyer, Freestone said.

The Sonoma County author attributes the large amount of contemporary women’s fiction she’s read as inspiration behind her own novel writing. While caring for her newborn grandson, she devoured many lighthearted reads, and was especially drawn to books that incorporated entertaining and easygoing topics with factual, relevant information. This motivated Freestone to begin writing her own stories, using what she knew from tending the earth, and entwining it with the stories that ran through her head.

“Not Quite Happily Ever” is available at most online retailers, including Sebastopol Community Market in the Barlow, and also at the Sonoma County Library. Learn more about this novel at heidifreestone.com/Not-Quite-Book.html.

Six Months, Post Firestorm

weather — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 21:45:49 GMT

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Coffey Park at sunset, January 22, 2018 in Santa Rosa. Rainwater pools in a cleared lot from the Tubbs fire. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2018

Six months, post firestorm.

Time does not stand still. Well, maybe it does if one is waiting for their child to be born, baseball season to start or stuck in Bay Area traffic. Marking the anniversary of an event is something we all do, whether it’s good or bad. Sunday was the six month anniversary of wildfires that tore at the heart of Sonoma County; on the ninth of October, our community began the painstaking process of grieving and rebuilding what was lost in those first frenetic, horrific hours. For the staff of the Press Democrat, there is rarely a day we are not in the fire zone reporting stories. There are so, so many stories to tell of angst and renewal and of heartbreak and loss.

There’s been less than 10 days in the past six months I haven’t been in the fire zone while working. It’s hard not to relive what happened that night as I cruise through neighborhoods working on one story or another. I think we all relive those days, directly affected or not.

At times I feel I’m living through a macabre Stephen King novel.

Having documented the 2015 Valley fire in Lake County from the beginning to the end of the first year, I realize just how different the fires that swept through Sonoma County were, but also how much that has not changed in regards to mental and physical trauma. I could write much more about what I’ve personally witnessed, but obviously, the pictures say much more than I ever could.

A sign off Dogwood Drive in Coffey Park, February 27, 2018. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2018

Sisters Lynn Van Fleit, left, and Susan Komar, with husband Chris Wednesday, April 4, 2018, lost their homes in Fountaingrove and Coffey Park, respectively, to the Tubbs fire in October 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2018

On Astaire Court in Coffey Park a new home goes up late in to a winter afternoon, Thursday March 8, 2018 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Humberto Anaya of Orman and Associates Pool Demolition of Danville, demolishes a Larkfield Pool from the inside out, Wednesday March 21, 2018. Several pools in the are are being taken out and backfilled because of the Tubbs fire. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

On Astaire Court in Coffey Park a new home is reflected in a burned lot flooded with rainwater, Wednesday March 21, 2018 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

A blacktail deer looks grazes for spring vegetation at Pepperwood Preserve, March 20, 2018. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Travis Broadhead, left, and Cordell Meiburg 19, play hoops in front of the razed home of the Broadhead family, January 18, 2018 in Coffey Park. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2018

In Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park, Wednesday March 21, 2018. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Builder-owner Ron Chaney, Wednesday March 21, 2018 is using the existing facade to rebuild the home his father built in 1984 after it was partially gutted by the Tubbs fire in Coffey Park. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

A homeowner in Hidden Valley requests to keep the driveway to their razed home, Wednesday March 21, 2018 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

A crow munches on cat food in Coffey Park Tubbs fire zone, Wednesday March 21, 2018 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Argonaut Constructors Marco Dani hoses down dust and ash as excavator operator Thommy Palmer Jr. clears a home off Oak Haven Court in the Hidden Hills subdivision near Santa Rosa, Thursday April 5, 2018. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2018

Jeremy May and Mark Valdez walk past burned and stacked cars from the Tubbs fire zone off Shiloh Road in Windsor, Thursday April 5, 2018. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Santa Rosa resident Heather DeHan of Tetra Tech monitors the safety of workers on the cleanup process of a structure in Larkfield, Thursday April 5, 2018. The hearts on her helmet are for every lot she has cleaned (40) since the October firestorm. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2018

California Poppies join in the colorful cacophony of cream cups, or Platystemon californicus (species of California poppies) wildflowers rising from the ashes of the burned landscape at Pepperwood Preserve, Monday March 26, 2018 near Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Fine wood finisher and author Tracy Raptis of Novato is collaborating with mixed media sculptor Peter Phibbs on bringing back to life burned cypress trees at Paradise Ridge Winery, Friday March 30, 2018 in Santa Rosa. Some of the works will be installed in the temporary tasting room and may be sold to raise money for charities and non-profits. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Wildflowers take root under a burned tree at the Mayacamas Ranch near Calistoga, Tuesday March 27, 2018 . (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

California buttercups rise from the ashes and below the singed outlines of oak trees at the Sonoma Valley Regional Park in Glen Ellen, Wednesday March 28, 2018. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

The forest floor, shaded by burned fir and bay trees comes to life as a fern stretches from the burned ground off Franz Valley Road near Calistoga, Tuesday March 27, 2018. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Jerry Buhrz home escaped the wrath of the Tubbs fire in October, one of the few standing in Fountaingrove, Tuesday March 27, 2018 in Santa Rosa. However, he and his wife Serene have yet to move back to their home due to the benzene in the water and various other issues. Buhrz was the first to report to the city that there was a problem with the water after noticing a smell coming out of the faucets in his home. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Grant Sherwood, left, Friday March 23, 2018, takes a final look around an aging English walnut tree on his family’s cleared lot in Larkfield, severely damaged by the October Tubbs fire. The Sherwood family had to have the tree removed. At right, Brandy Sherwood and her daughter June talk with woodworker Andrew Somawang, who will be making a table out of the wood from the tree. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Brandy and Brad Sherwood, Friday March 23, 2018, watch as crews cut down an English walnut tree on their burned home site, damaged by the October Tubbs fire in Larkfield. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Heavy rain caused a small debris flow on Adobe Canyon Road in Kenwood, Thursday March 22, 2018 in the Nuns fire zone. A county crew was called out to clear the road of rocks and mud. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Daniel Rogers, his brother Chuck and his mom Phyllis Rogers listen intently during the Mark West rebuilding meeting at Mark West Elementary, Wednesday March 21, 2018 in Larkfield. Their mother Phyllis lost her home to the Tubbs fire in Larkfield. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

The Mark West rebuilding meeting at Mark West Elementary, Wednesday March 21, 2018 in Larkfield. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

A tree removal company takes down a burned tree in Coffey Park, Tuesday March 13, 208 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

A debris truck rolls along Highway 101 near College Ave., Tuesday March 6, 2018 in Santa Rosa. There is a marked increase in big rigs due to the clean-up caused by the October 2017 fires in Sonoma County. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Sonoma State University president Judy Sakaki wipes away a tear as she and her husband Patrick McCallum, left, reunite with Santa Rosa firefighter Tony Niel who along with another firefighter, rescued the two in Fountaingrove during the early hours of the Tubbs fire in October. Sakaki honored the firefighters during the Project: Rebuild, sponsored by the North Bay Business Journal at the Double Tree Hotel in Rohnert Park, Friday March 2, 2018. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

in Kenwood, a rainbow makes a brief appearance above the Nuns fire ravaged Mayacamas Mountains as a winter storm rolls through Sonoma County, Thursday March 1, 2018. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Supervisor James Gore, right, comforts fellow supervisor Susan Gorin, Tuesday Feb. 27, 2018 in Santa Rosa at the Board of Supervisors after she gave an emotional critique of the county’s alert system to the October fires. Gorin lost her home during the firestorm. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Rick Lopes, Chief of Public Affairs of the Contractors State License Board is interviewed by a KRON 4 television reporter after a press conference highlighting a recent sting operation netting several unlicensed contractors who were out to defraud fire victims. The press conference was held in Coffey Park in conjunction with the Sonoma County District Attorney. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2018

The super moon sets next to a damaged Pocket fire tree off Geysers Road, as it emerges from the Earth’s shadow, Wednesday Jan. 31, 2018 above the Alexander Valley. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Jan Verspecht’s Fountaingrove home survived the October firestorm, but a new problem has risen after tests found benzene in the drinking water. On Friday Jan. 26, 2018, Verspecht filled his home brewing containers with potable water supplied by the City of Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Jan Verspecht’s Fountaingrove home survived the October firestorm, but a new problem has arisen after tests found benzene in the drinking water. On Friday Jan. 26, 2018 Santa Rosa city worker Marcial Gonzalez trucked in potable water to fill containers for the family to use in cooking and drinking. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Jill and her husband Arthur Dawson in the trailer they call home after the Nuns fire in Glen Ellen took out their home in October. A neighbor of the Dawson family purchased a trailer for the couple to live in and a smaller one for their teenage son, Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Michael Wagner walks through a burned portion of his land in Foothill Ranch near Santa Rosa, Monday Jan. 15, 2018, the trees decimated by the Tubbs fire in October 2017. Among the variety are fir, madrone and oak trees. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Mark Neumann, 32, helps his mother Debbie Neumann maneuver around her burned Fountaingrove home, Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018. Evan Neumann, right, 45, and his brother Mark were arrested on their way to sift debris at the home for being in the fire zone curfew and charged with misdemeanors. They were attempting to retrieve family belongings before the first rain set in. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2018

Anthony Azevedo, 10, of Windsor, gets high fives after clubbing a home run during the Fastball Strike One Sonoma/Napa Fire Benefit Baseball Clinic at the Epicenter in Santa Rosa, Friday Jan. 5, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2018

Houston Evans Jr., in front of his childhood home off Dennis Lane, Friday Dec. 29, 2017 where his mother, Valerie Evans, perished in the Tubbs fire in October. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

The home of Art and Seiko Grant, Dec. 28, 2017, who lived on Sundown Trail in Mark West lost their lives when the Tubbs fire roared through in October 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017.

Michael Russo, right, greets his physician Ele Lozares-Lewis in newly installed “Clinic in a Can”, shipping containers that have been converted in to exam rooms at Santa Rosa Community Health in Santa Rosa, Thursday Dec. 28, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Worker continue to clear homes razed by the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa’s Fountaingrove community, December 26, 2017. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat) 2017

Josh Bade, 9, and Maya Veal 9, relax in donated stuffed animals for Sonoma County fire victims, as their parents help to clean up the donation center, Wednesday Dec. 27, 2017 as the center is being closed in downtown Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Edison Chan brings a little Christmas cheer to the cleaned lot of his family’s Rincon Ridge home in Fountaingrove, Wednesday Dec. 20, 2017. The family and their neighbors lost just about everything as the Tubbs fire swept through, burning thousands of homes in Fountaigrove and Santa Rosa in October. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Pacific Gas and Electric lineman Derek Leonard checks a fuse cutout as workers restore power to Coffey Park, Tuesday Dec. 19, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

A sign painted on debris in Coffey Park directs Santa at a burned home in Coffey Park. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

-Kent Porter

7 quality bargain wines spotted at Costco

Tasting.Room — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 05:04:12 GMT

Some see Costco as the devil incarnate because when you shop there you give way to temptation; you begin to buy in bulk. For the wine connoisseur, this could mean a pallet of wine instead of a bottle or two.

Costco is the number one retailer in the U.S, according to Market Watch magazine, and so we’ve created a survival guide to spare you from impulsive spending while directing you to the best deals.

#1) Appreciate the “muscle of Costco,” as Dale Dinter puts it. The wine steward said the retailer offers wine at roughly 20% to 30% below the prices you’ll find at wineries. The downside is that product moves swiftly and you might not find certain wines. With this in mind, don’t go to Costco to shop for a particular brand. Instead shop for surprising finds.

#2) Search out budget-wise bottlings. On a recent shopping excursion at Santa Rosa’s Costco, I found these bottlings that definitely over-deliver at this $9.99 price point.

Kim Crawford, 2017 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Kendall-Jackson 2016 Vintners Reserve California Chardonnay

Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 66 California

Brancaia Red Blend, Toscana, Italy

#3) Try Costco’s Kirkland brand because the producers behind it are respectable. For instance, Kirkland’s brut and rosé champagne are made by the reputable Champagne de Bruyne, according to the Wine Spectator. One smart bottling I spotted was the Kirkland, 2015 Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma County at $9.99.

#4) Allow yourself to do a little boutique wine shopping right there in the midst of this colossal retailer, knowing that the cost savings are on your side. Here are a couple of jewels I also came across on the shelves.

Carol Shelton, 2013 Old Vine Carignane at $22.99.

Seghesio, 2014 Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel at $32.99.

#5) Beware of the high priced bottlings. BuzzFeed reports this outrageous sighting at one Costco: the Bowmore Single Malt Scotch priced at $18,999. Do your best to lock your gaze on the deals.

Good luck on your next trip to Costco. Just remember to shop for budget-savvy surprises.

‘The Secret Life of Mrs. London’ revealed

Crissi Langwell — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:21:55 GMT

Rebecca Rosenberg, author of debut novel, “The Secret Life of Mrs. London.”

Most people are familiar with Jack London, the famed author of classic novels like “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang,” and who made his home in the hills of the Sonoma Valley. But are you familiar with his wife, Charmian? A flamboyant, accomplished, hard-working author herself, Jack London’s second wife is the star of Rebecca Rosenberg’s debut novel, “The Secret Life of Mrs. London.”

Married to Jack London, it would be presumed that Charmian lived a life mostly in his shadow. In some ways, this appears true, as she devotedly typed her husband’s work as he dictated, then edited each piece later. She aided her husband’s writing career by drawing character sketches, filling in descriptions, and smoothing over rough spots in his work. However, writing was one of Charmian’s many personal passions, and she penned several full-length novel of her own in her lifetime.

But the juiciest part of Charmian’s colorful and charismatic life was one of her other passions — Harry Houdini.

Rosenberg elegantly weaves in details of Charmian’s life with Jack and her sensual affair with Harry Houdini in this captivating story that blends fact with fiction. Many of the details come from Charmian’s own journals, which she wrote in almost every day of her life. Through Rosenberg’s writing, readers can easily identify with Mrs. London and her complex love life.

One of the most striking parallels between Rosenberg and Charmian is their experience with fire. In 1914, a mysterious fire consumed Wolf House on their Sonoma Valley property. In 2017, Rosenberg and her husband, former owners of Sonoma Lavender Farm, lost their home and lavender fields to the October fires.

Rosenberg is presenting “The Secret Life of Mrs. London” at three exciting events in Sonoma County, both of which can be found at rebecca-rosenberg.com/myevents

On Saturday, March 17, she’ll be at Breathless Wines celebrating Women’s History Month with a glass of bubbles and shamrock butter cookies. This “Books & Bubbles” event includes author Patricia V. Davis, author of the Secret Spice Café Series, and takes place 1-4 p.m. Breathless Wines is located at 499 Moore Lane, Healdsburg.

Then on Monday, March 26, Rosenberg will present her book at an event at Aqus Café. Starting at 7 p.m., Rosenberg will share portions of her novel and sign books. Aqus Café is located at 189 H St, Corner of 2nd and H, Petaluma, CA.

On Monday, April 16, Rosenberg will join four other authors at the monthly Dine With Local Authors event at Gaia’s Garden in Santa Rosa. From 6-8 p.m., she and other authors will read excerpts from their books. To reserve your space at Rosenberg’s table, email Jeane Slone at info@jeaneslone.com, or call 707- 544-2491. Minimum $5 food purchase. Gaia’s Garden is located at 1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.

For more information and to find out where you can find “The Secret Life of Mrs. London,” visit rebecca-rosenberg.com.

Note: Check out the Sonoma Index-Tribune article on Rebecca Rosenberg here.

GameBreaker: A podcast recommendation for you

Phil Barber — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 18:52:31 GMT

I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I’ve always had a complaint: There aren’t enough good ones about sports. Most of the sports podcasts that have met my ear are interview style, and deal mainly with current events surrounding one team or one league. In effect, they’re largely indistinguishable from better-than-average sports talk radio.

I yearn for something meatier. So my interest was piqued recently by the arrival of “GameBreaker with Keith Olbermann,” an Audible Original series that makes its public debut today. Audible, which is owned by Amazon and started as a producer of audiobooks, has branched out into podcasts, and the company is doing some interesting work.

I listened to six of the 10 GameBreaker episodes, and I liked them a lot. These are layered, audio magazine-style features, and there is depth and creativity in the subjects. Here’s the audio trailer, if you want to get a sense of what they’re doing.

One bit of relief: Olbermann, the veteran of ESPN and MSNBC, does not narrate the episodes. He merely provides a brief introduction of each topic. His voice, too iconic at this point, would have been a distraction.

The centerpiece of the series is a three-episode dive into the rape case involving members of the Steubenville, Ohio, high school football team in 2012. I followed that case with interest, partly because I have a colleague who grew up in Steubenville and played football there.

I listened to GameBreaker’s Stuebenville treatment with trepidation, ready to pause the pod and turn to something else, because I had no desire to hear (again) of the terrible things that happened to that young woman. I was happily surprised. The GameBreaker episodes spend scant time recapping the crimes. Instead, they focus on everything that came after – the prosecutor’s investigation, the people who became outraged at what they perceived as a cover-up, the involvement of hackers aligned with the group Anonymous, and how the city of Steubenville wound up besieged and divided by the incident.

It’s fascinating, and it challenged my assumptions. I came away thinking differently about Anonymous’ doxing efforts in Steubenville, and about vigilantism in general.

Do you podcast? I’d like to know what you think about GameBreaker.

Warriors-Rockets rivalry could produce another record

Phil Barber — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 23:31:09 GMT

If the Warriors and Rockets keep shooting straight, this could be a historic NBA season.
Credit: AP

Those crafty Warriors. Even in a season that doesn’t knock your socks off, they might find a way to do something historic.

The 2017-18 NBA campaign has become notable primarily because of the ascendance of the Houston Rockets. They have been sensational – better than just about anybody expected – since adding point guard Chris Paul and a couple of key worker bees on the defensive end. The Rockets have won 17 consecutive games and counting, refusing to relinquish the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference to the relentless Warriors (who have won six straight since returning from the All-Star break).

It’s shaping up to be a fantastic finish in the West. And it could result in another superlative for the Warriors, who checked off a couple of major boxes when they finished 73-9 and started the season 24-0 in 2015-16.

This year, they could become the best of the second-best. That is, they could finish with the top record ever among teams that failed to complete a regular season as the NBA’s best.

Does that makes sense?

To illustrate, let’s look at the current bearers of that standard. And we don’t have to go too far back in time to find them.

Two years ago, when Golden State went 73-9 to break the mark established by the 1995-96 Bulls (before being upset by Cleveland in the NBA Finals), the San Antonio Spurs quietly put together a stellar season of their own. The Spurs finished 67-15 that year, a full 10 games ahead of No. 3 Cleveland. I used basketball-reference.com to look back through NBA (and even BAA) history, and no No. 2 team ever boasted a winning percentage to match San Antonio’s .817 in 2015-16.

The Warriors enter tonight’s game against a diminished (but still solid) Spurs team with a record of 50-14 (.781). The Rockets, who have a tough game at Toronto tomorrow night, are one game ahead of them at 51-13 (.797). If Golden State and Houston both win out over their final 18 games, the Warriors will own another (albeit less glorious) record. They also could end up tied with the 2017-18 Rockets or the 2015-16 Spurs for the title of greatest regular-season also-ran in NBA history.

Can the Rockets and Warriors really go undefeated over the final month of the season, though? It seems highly unlikely. Then again, these two newly minted rivals look like they’ll be pushing one another from afar as we head down the stretch. So anything is possible – even 69-13 and 68-14.

Austin Jackson, Mario Edwards Jr. and one big old chain

Phil Barber — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 22:20:27 GMT

Austin Jackson: Billy Ryan High School alumnus and SF Giants outfielder.

Austin Jackson is seven years older than Mario Edwards Jr. The Giants’ new outfielder doesn’t really know the Raiders defensive lineman, he says. And he hasn’t seen him in a while. I told Jackson that Edwards, now listed at 294 pounds, may be larger than he recalls.

“I bet he is,” Jackson told me last Friday at AT&T Park.” He was big then, though. He used to wear this chain around his neck, like this big, thick chain. I’m like, man, what’s this kid – this ain’t like no kid, man.”

Edwards was truly a man among boys at Billy Ryan High School in Denton, Texas – the school from which Jackson also graduated. He was a football player, but that doesn’t do him justice. ESPN ranked Edwards as the No. 1 prospect in the nation, at any position, when he was a senior. He went on to Florida State, and the Raiders drafted him in the second round in 2015. He’s a good young player who has missed time with injuries.

Jackson was drafted by the Yankees right out of high school and was later traded to the Tigers; he made his MLB debut with Detroit in 2010 and played 4½ seasons there (including the 2012 World Series against the Giants). He bounced around to the Mariners, Cubs, White Sox and Indians, and signed with San Francisco on Jan. 22. And after one conversation on the eve of FanFest, I can report that he’s a funny, funny dude.

Jackson said Ryan High was a football power when he got there, and when he left, and when Edwards played there, and still is today.

“At some point you’d think they would take a dip,” he said. “Where you getting these kids from? You got guys that’s 6-8. When I played basketball there, our tallest guy was 6-3, 6-4. He was the center. They got guys 6-9. What ya’ll eatin’, man?”

Jackson did not play football in high school, despite some heavy recruiting.

“They tried every year,” he said. “My mom was like, nah, you a little too skinny to be out there. And I’m glad. I really wanted to go, cause all my friends played. And (the coach is) like, ‘Look, you don’t have to do anything but run straight down the field. That’s all you gotta do.’ And I was like, man, I could do that. Cause I could catch it. I could catch that thing. But it worked out for the best.”

Jackson is looking forward to bumping into Edwards, who is entering the final year of his initial four-year contract with the Raiders. The kid made a pretty big impression on his fellow Billy Ryan alumnus the first time.

“Like I said,” Jackson noted, “when you wearing a chain, like an anchor chain that anchors boats? I’m thinking you’re pretty strong.”

Johan Santana, YouTube and the making of Sean Manaea

Phil Barber — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 17:44:33 GMT

YouTube video of Johan Santana striking out 17 Rangers.

As the A’s media mixer at Jack London Square was winding down last Friday, I saw starting pitcher Sean Manaea sitting with a couple of teammates and poring over the new coffee-table book celebrating the A’s 50^th season in Oakland. They were into it. (“Converse cleats? They wore Converse cleats?”)

A few minutes later, Manaea was alone with the book. He was clearly interested in the history of the game, so I sat down and asked him about his earliest baseball memories. I learned a couple things. One: Sean Manaea is a really bright and engaging athlete. (I had talked to him only in group settings before this.) And two: For baseball players of a certain age, YouTube was like a magic portal.

Manaea grew up in northern Indiana, but he became a Phillies fan after randomly tuning in to one of their games on TV. As he recalled: “I thought, ‘Huh, those blue stars over the I’s…’ I think I paid a little more attention. I always wanted to just be different from everybody else.”

Manaea had a Little League coach who took his team to U.S. Cellular Field, home of the White Sox, for interleague Cubs-Sox games. The White Sox won the World Series in 2005, and Manaea slowly got hooked.

By the time he hit Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana, Manaea had found his favorite MLB player: Johan Santana, the two-time Cy Young winner who played for the Twins and Mets.

“Watching ‘Baseball Tonight,’ his name would always come up,” Manaea told me. “He was a lefty like me. From then on it was just hours and hours of watching YouTube videos of other pitchers.”

A lot of us watched our favorite baseball players when we were kids. But Manaea became sort of obsessive about it. If he were a decade older, he would have come of age at a time when the Internet was too prehistoric to provide much help. Five or 10 years older and he would have had endless Web-based viewing options. This was the mid- to late 2000s, though, and one site reigned.

“I’d just go on YouTube and type ‘Johan Santana’ in the search bar and watch all the videos I could of him,” Manaea said. “And then I just slowly started getting into, like, Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay, guys around that time. I would literally be at the computer for hours just watching video and being so fascinated, how they could throw a ball and make it do all these different things.”

Manaea wouldn’t just watch passively. He’d wait until his parents were gone and mimic his heroes’ throwing motions, right there in the living room.

“Behind my couch, I would just start practicing dry work, and trying to throw like they did,” Manaea said. “I’d be watching video like, ‘OK, do that with my hand.’ Pause the video, go behind my couch and start practicing mechanics.”

Manaea said he still watches a lot of video of other MLB pitchers, guys like Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw. Something must be working. Manaea, who turns 25 tomorrow, is considered one of the best young arms in the American League.

But he’s never met Johan Santana.

“Obviously, he was my childhood legend, so if ever the opportunity arose, that would be definitely a cool moment,” Manaea said.

Just a week ago, Santana told MLB Network that he’d like to attempt one final comeback. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2012, so “long shot” doesn’t seem adequate to describe his chances. But who knows, maybe the old lefty will make a miracle comeback and Manaea will get a chance to duel with his YouTube hero.

Romeo, check out these hip Valentine’s parties in Napa

Tasting.Room — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 21:23:07 GMT

This Valentine’s Day, if you want to step into your senses and benefit North Bay Fire victims at the same time, check out this hip “Devoured Party” on Feb. 10.

Devoured plays to romantic foodies and wine geeks looking for a date that’s out of the ordinary. Whimsy is included in the five course meal and one example is the wine challenge for blindfolded tasters set within a game of musical chairs. Another activity is a mini class offered on creating playful meals with aphrodisiacs.

Aside from the Devoured dinner party for couples, there’s also a lunch gathering for singles Feb. 10.

What follows is a Q & A with the brainchild of Devoured, Joy Nordenstrom.

Q: What makes the blind-folded tasting such a hit?

A: “Sparked by a fun memory of being asked to choose the wines that flowed during an epic night in 1998 at Shanghai 1930, I had the pleasure of dining with cast members from the Phantom of the Opera and Stevie Wonder. Discussing the nuances of the wines with Stevie always made me curious if I would discover additional levels of flavor and texture if I wasn’t relying so much on my sense of sight. With several of these blind-folded, aroma enhanced wine tastings now under my belt, I have witnessed that when blindfolded individuals have a unique ability to break down the barriers of connection by eliminating the need to be in control and know what is happening around them. It brings an exciting element of vulnerability to the tasting. And how can you not be more playful and flirtatious when playing with blindfolds in a public setting? This unique way of tasting new wines works well because by removing one sense we discover it heightens all the others – textures become more sensual in your mouth, smells more vibrant, and the taste of a piece of fruit or the nibble of chocolate reveals yet another level of flavor in the wine.”

Q: Why does the food and wine world play well with romance?

A: “I believe if more people saw romance as the ability to create a richer life with a greater sense of meaning, they may put their cell phones away to invest more time in strengthening their creative romantic muscles. They would begin to more regularly dream up exciting adventurous chapters in this journey they are blessed to call their life. One of the best parts of thinking this way is becoming more conscious and creative around the meals we make and eat. Cultivating this ability to turn something routine into something special doesn’t take much effort and becomes easier over time.”

Q: Why are you qualified to create these kinds of events?

A: “I have enjoyed guiding individuals in ways to be their best in partnership, since 2007 when Joy of Romance, Inc. officially launched. I believe a key component in thriving relationships is the ability to creatively cultivate and honor special times together. It’s these moments that strengthen the foundation of your partnership, create your love story and allow you to more easily weather the storms. Part of Joy of Romance, Inc. has always incorporated designing and teaching our clients how to implement these types of magical moments around excellent wine and food.”

Zin-crazed up for ZinEX

Tasting.Room — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 21:52:41 GMT

Zinfandel fanatics are preparing to make their yearly pilgrimage to San Francisco Jan. 18 to 20 to taste through countless bottles of zinfandel as the 2016 vintage rolls onto the market.

And so it begins … another year of zin-pandemonium.

Organizers of ZinEx (formerly known as the ZAP Tasting) are expecting nearly 2,000 people to swoop in from all over the country – including New York, Texas and Washington State — for their string of events. The highlight of the weekend, expected to draw 1,200 people, is the Grand Tasting Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1098 The Embarcadero. Tickets for all the events range in price from $45 to $250 at www.zinfandelexperience.com.

For the zin-crazed who can’t make the holy trek, the Net will improvise. #Zinfandel Live will play to the masses with posts from lifestyle bloggers, radio personalities and citizen journalists.

Organizers say they are embracing millennials with some net-savvy tricks because there’s a growing trend of this population showing up on ZinEX’s doorstep.

While there’s an uptick of Millennials, the bulk of the general audience represents Gen X’ers, with most of the VIP community Baby Boomers, according to Robert X Trent of ZinEx.

Cathy Dangler of Tahoe City is a zin recidivist of sorts. Dangler, who quipped “I’m young at heart,” won’t reveal her age but said she frequents the event and this will be her seventh tasting. The zin-lover said her goal is to taste between 40 and 50 zins at the Grand Tasting.

“I enjoy the berry flavors of zinfandel along with the jammy characteristics and the strong aromas,” she said. “I prefer the ones with less alcohol content and enjoy the strong tannins and slightly spicy flavors of zin.”

The event will showcase the 2016 vintage, the first in four years where the drought hasn’t affected the flavor profile of the wine, according to Erik Miller of Healdsburg’s Kokomo.

“We saw average rainfall and had more of an average crop size,” said Miller, who will pour his wines at the tasting. “It was one of the earliest vintages on record, which allowed for full ripeness, without extreme heat during harvest.”

Zinfandel, which originated in Croatia, is a varietal that America was enthusiastic to adopt. It was introduced to California in the 1850s during the Gold Rush.

“Zinfandel is a prototypical immigrant success story,” according to Bill Nachbaur of Healdsburg’s Acorn Winery. “It’s an obscure grape that got no respect in Europe, came to the US in the 1820s, changed its name when it arrived, and found some success as a table grape on Long Island and in Massachusetts before hitching a ride with a Massachusetts sea captain to California, where it quickly became California’s most widely planted wine grape.”

Nachbaur, who also will be pouring at the tasting, said, despite zinfandels roots in Croatia, “it’s still California’s own grape because California is where it gained recognition and where it continues to make great wine.”

The countdown for bubbles has begun

Tasting.Room — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 21:10:30 GMT

I am an unabashed fan of sparklers – so much so that an editor once called me Bubbles Melnik.

Every year I get excited for the bubbly tastings and this year, as I tasted through two flights of sparklers, I was taken by the quality of the top scorers. It made me think of the tasting I had once where I gathered a panel of American and French palates. I’ll never forget the surprise on the faces of the French tasters when the sparkers were unbagged. They were amazed at the quality of California bubbly and had thought some to be French. It was a “California comes of age” moment.

This week I roll out the second of two flights of California sparklers — $26 and above. As we discover these sparklers and others during bubbly season, I figure it’s a good time for a few pointers for the practical consumer:

1) Yes, it is possible to budget the good life. Tasty top picks under $25 include:

Roederer Estate’s NV Anderson Valley Brut

Domaine Chandon’s Brut Classic, NV California

Mirabelle NV North Coast Brut

2) A key serving tip: When chilling bubbly, never put bottles in the

freezer. Just put them in the fridge for a few hours or if you’re in a hurry

put a bottle in a champagne bucket half filled with ice and water for 30

minutes.

3) Good eats with bubbly include: Hog Island Oyster, Sterling Caviar, smoked

salmon, steak tartare with cilantro or avocado, Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese and

sliced pears with prosciutto and hazelnuts.

A guide to how your child learns

David.Sortino — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 00:51:31 GMT

Our juvenile hall population is at an all time high, 2.2 million inmates at an average cost of about $35,000 per inmate (OJJDP, 2006). In fact, we lead the world in incarcerated juvenile offenders and the juvenile system is fast becoming a breeding ground for adult prisons. In Washington State […]

Rise Up Sonoma raises $550,000

Tasting.Room — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 21:04:45 GMT

Sunday’s Rise Up Sonoma event raised 550,000 for people who are suffering from the worst firestorm in California’s history, killing 24 people in Sonoma County, leaving thousands homeless, and the landscape scarred.

The challenges ahead for those affected already have organizers talking about planning an event for next year.

As celebrity chef Guy Fieri put it, “Our friends and family will need us for the next five years as they rebuild their homes and communities. I would love to bring back our winery and restaurant friends together again next year to Rise Up Sonoma.”

The event at the Jackson Theater of the Sonoma Country Day School in Santa Rosa drew 400-plus people, and it was filled with goodwill sipping and highbrow treats. But it also proved to be a rare crossroads for the victims and fire fighters, a chance meeting for people like Lisa Mattson and Lance MacDonald.

“I had no idea a guy would walk across the room and say ‘I was one of the people who saved your house,’” Mattson said.

The director of marketing & communications at Jordan Vineyard & Winery said MacDonald recognized her from her Facebook profile picture, and he proceeded to tell her exactly how her house was saved and her art was spared.

Mattson and her husband, Damon, were in Sitges, Spain when the fire began its rampage Oct. 8, and MacDonald was a volunteer working with a crew from Healdsburg. He detailed the triage of how 3929 Rincon Ridge in Fountaingrove was saved.

“I knew our garage was on fire, but I never knew the back of the house was on fire,” Mattson said.

The marketing expert plans to rebuild and has created a support group for people like her, as well as others who are already inhabiting their homes.

“They’re living in the rubble,” Mattson said. “How do we come together so we can be strong?”

The wildfires dominated the conversation throughout the evening, with everyone determined to pitch in. Restaurateur Sondra Bernstein of Sonoma’s Girl & the Fig said this was her fourth or fifth fundraiser.

“I’m grateful to be here and serve people,” she said. “Obviously there’s a lot of people in need of assistance.”

Bernstein had a tray of Cauliflower Stormato, and other dishes nearby included Quail Egg BLTs and Deviled Eggs with a dollop of Kim Chi at the base.

More than 50 chefs and restaurants participated, as well as 40-plus vintners and breweries. Each participating vintner donated a 3-liter bottling for the private auction.

Sonoma County Vintners and winemakers pouring their wares included John Holdredge of his namesake winery, Mike Officer of Carlisle, Mike Sullivan of Benovia, and Chris Strieter of Senses Wines.

“The spirit of Sonoma County is here,” Holdredge said. “We all want to help those who are struggling.”

The charities benefiting from the event include:

Care Relief Fund, calrestfoundation.org/fires.html

Redwood Credit Union Fund, redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief

UnDocuFund Fire Relief for Sonoma County, http://undocufund.org

Homes for Sonoma, homesforsonoma.org

Rebuild Wine Country, rebuildwinecountry.org

Burners Without Borders, burnerswithoutborders.org/projects/oasis-village

Six Weeks of The Tubbs Fire

weather — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:42:30 GMT

A Cal Fire firefighter protects a home on the left from catching fire on Randon Way in Coffey Park, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Six weeks out, post Tubbs fire.

It seems like a year.

I realized the other day I’d not traveled outside the Tubbs fire zone (except coverage for 49ers games and few forays to other fires) in nearly five weeks due to the Press Democrat’s ongoing coverage. Putting it down in words has been the biggest setback and have gone through several drafts. It’s difficult, each one of us at the PD know someone, including our own coworkers, directly impacted by those terrible days of fire. As journalists, we report what happens in our community. When a disaster of this magnitude hits, we shift in to overdrive to tell these stories. When it happens, literally in your own backyard, the need to communicate through photographs and words becomes paramount. The fires have brought our community closer together. I’ve photographed people I’ve not seen in years and made new friends in the fire zone. Each with riveting tales of angst and heroism. My story isn’t heroic, but rather, a documentation of our community.

Even though this is only my work here, each photographer, writer, page designer, editor, those in online, press operations, carriers to those in our advertising departments, have done their part to tell the story of the firestorm. The Press Democrat, with our smaller staff compared with the Chronicle, the LA Times, The Sacramento Bee, etc., have amassed a body of work that documented this past six weeks events in great depth and detail. I’m proud to call them friends and coworkers. Our families have shown incredible strength and patience as our lives and their schedules have somehow made it all work. Without my wife and son, I would be lost.

Now if you can get through this very long post, I congratulate you for hanging with it.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

When the offshore flow cranks up, it makes every firefighter nervous. A convergence of low relative humidity, drought stressed vegetation, slope alignment and high temperatures make for explosive fire conditions. But…

It was the wind.

Diablo. Sundowner. Santa Ana.

Each coastal region of California has a name for fall foehn offshore wind events. In southern California, it’s the dreaded Santa Ana winds. On the central coast, say Santa Barbara, it’s the Sundowner. On our North Coast it’s the Diablo.

According to Wikipedia, “The Diablo winds are created by the combination of strong inland high pressure at the surface, strongly sinking air aloft, and lower pressure off the California coast. The air descending from aloft as well as from the Coast Ranges compresses at sea level where it warms as much as 20 °F (11 °C), and loses humidity. If the pressure gradient is large enough, the dry offshore wind can become quite strong with gusts reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) or higher, particularly along and in the lee of the ridges of the coast range where the higher wind speed aloft acts like a pump, drawing warm, dry surface air from the windward eastern side up and over the ridgelines. This effect is especially dangerous with respect to wildfires as it can enhance the updraft generated by the heat in such fires.”

The National Weather Service had been highlighting fire weather in their forecasts as much as a week out. By Thursday, October fifth, fire weather watches and red flag warnings were posted to reflect the upcoming offshore wind event.

In our lifetime, we all will look back on the north coast firestorms, remembering what we were doing that day and the frightening memories.

An apartment complex burns along Old Redwood Highway near Cardinal Newman, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Relaxing at around three in the afternoon on Oct. 8, dozing off, I snapped awake when the wind threw leaves on my face. The familiar disaster pit in my stomach made itself known. The wind event forecast had started to build. Weather is fascinating, but much like the Valley fire in Lake County during September 2015, I couldn’t shake an unmistakable feeling of dread, no matter what I did. 35 years of shooting fires in California had me on heightened alert. I checked online weather stations every hour after that, noticing how the winds were backing to the offshore direction as the relative humidity dropped.

At the beginning of our dry season, a firefighter friend quipped that he thought it was going to be a normal fire season. Nothing major. Fires burned north and south of us, but very few in Sonoma County. We almost made it without a scratch.

Almost.

Cal Fire firefighters protect a structure at 1108 Bennett Lane and Highway 128 in Napa County close to the origin of the Tubbs fire, Sunday Oct. 8, 2017. The house later burned to the ground. The home was among the first to catch fire. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

At around six, my wife and I went to buy picture frames at Coddingtown. On our way back home, we drove through Coffey Park, and through our old Windrose neighborhood. As a family, we would load our son up in his Radio Flyer, leash our chocolate lab and wagon train our way through Coffey Park for daily walk, often winding up at the play structures there. We have dozens of friends in the fire zone, met through block parties, Easter egg hunts and Mark West Youth Club Little League games, where we spent the better part of 9 years watching our son play baseball. Good friends, good neighbors, strong community. Eventually we moved away but a piece of our hearts still call it home.

A home and vehicle burn in the Coffey Park area of northwest Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter/ Press Democrat) 2017

Darkness and wind kept that feeling of dread tightly wrapped, squeezing. We hung family photos but kept the slider open, listening to the wind. More than once my wife and I glanced worriedly at one another as a gust of wind would sweep through the open door.

The Tubbs fire sweeps down a ridgeline as it crosses through Mountain Home Ranch and Porter Creek Road, Sunday Oct. 8, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

I flipped on my police/fire scanner at around 9:45 and within seconds heard the Tubbs and Atlas Peak fire’s tone out in Napa County. I’ve covered fires in extremely windy conditions and the blazes ended up being contained at under 10 acres, hoped this might be the case. The gnawing feeling stayed though.

Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman directs an ambulance on Mark West Springs Road near Safari West, Sunday Oct. 8, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

After some quick goodbyes at home, I drove over Mark West Springs Road, dodging chunks of limbs and trees. The wind was like a funnel in the canyon and I was extremely worried that a tree might fall in front or on top of my car. You think about these things happening, but count on the law of averages that it won’t. My first glimpse of the Tubbs fire was the view coming down the grade in to Calistoga. Fire always looks bigger at night and the glow was quite pronounced.

The Tubbs fire rips over Mountain Home Ranch Road Oct. 8, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

The fire was not on Tubbs Lane, actually igniting closer to Bennett Lane and Highway 128. When I arrived, a Cal Fire captain told me to be careful, “This is the type of wind that kills people.” It wasn’t exactly pandemonium, the firefight was controlled, but after watching the ease in which the fire moved through vineyards and surrounding mountainous vegetation, I got the very real feeling that the Tubbs was going to reach Santa Rosa in a few short hours. The wind was that strong; and to be honest, menacing.

Cal Fire firefighters protect a structure at 1108 Bennett Lane and Highway 128 in Napa County close to the origin of the Tubbs fire, Sunday Oct. 8, 2017. The house later burned to the ground and was among the first to catch fire. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Boxed in on Highway 128, additional fire crews, dozers and rescue personnel arrived on scene. I managed to squeeze by a strike team of inmate hand crews as they unloaded. One wheel in a deep ditch and the other on the side of the road. I made it. Not sure how. Driving back through Porter Creek I raced the fire. It jumped the road in front and behind me and the world at that moment seemed to be on fire. I met up with Monte Rio Fire chief Steve Baxman, who was in the process of evacuating those who refused to leave. I later learned that he and a crew saved several people, but Baxman got pretty close and got out but not before taking a beating to himself and his rig.

Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman puts on his nomex jacket fire gear on Mark West Springs Road near Safari West, Sunday Oct. 8, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Now understand, the wind seemed to evolve. As many big fires do, the Tubbs seemed to pulsate. It would lay back for a minute, then surge forward ripping through dozens of acres in seconds. It was surreal. At about this time, I called Ted Appel, our managing editor, about the fire. At first he wasn’t sure about the scope of the blaze. But after updating him every five minutes and sending pictures, Ted realized just how bad things were becoming. I reinforced the idea that staff should start coming in to report on the fire. I was anxious, but calm, this was shaping up to be the biggest disaster in Sonoma County’s history. As journalists do, we needed to be in the thick of it to report first hand.

Being out in a disaster as it unfolds is heartbreaking, unnerving and amazing all at the same time. Nature moves with such power and unbelievable ferocity. It takes no prisoners, only consumes at it’s free unrepentant will.

I rolled up the backside of Fountaingrove thinking maybe the Tubbs was going to crest on Foothill Ranch. Oddly, there was only a slight glow from behind the Ranch. At about that time, Kenwood and Glen Ellen broke fires and I headed that way thinking that the Tubbs would take a few hours to reach just the outskirts of the city.

Homes burn in Kenwood early Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

In Kenwood, a winery worker moves his work truck away from flame, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Glen Ellen firefighters work to protect a structure off Dunbar Road, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Narrow but intense strips of fire greeted me while driving through the Valley of the Moon. The wind? 60mph. I stayed for maybe 45 minutes shooting pictures.

It gets a little hazy here. I remember seeing houses on fire on Rincon Ridge through thick smoke; single glows here and there. There were reports of the fire jumping Highway 101. I wound up on Skyfarm Drive (did I take Riebli Road to Cross Creek?) as fire was blowing through, nearly every home was on fire. I maneuvered over center line markers, all the while being calm, ember cast all around, pushed by relentless wind.

A home burns on Skyfarm Drive in Fountaingrove during the early hours of the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

I also made photos on Cross Creek Drive and some other streets near the Fountaingrove Golf Course.

A home burns in Fountaingrove, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Carefully, I made my way down to the Round Barn, the ember wash and smoke thick. Some places along the way were just to dangerous to stop and make pictures. Newsman yes, stupid, no.

The Historic Round Barn burns in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

I’d heard that there were guests staying in the Hilton Hotel that were in need of evacuation, but only found a couple, turning on to Round Barn Blvd.

Guests of the Hilton Hotel in Fountaingrove, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 evacuate from the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

The hazardous view from my car window as the Tubbs fire blows through the Hilton Hotel in Fountaingrove. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017.

At the bottom of Fountaingrove, I found Journey’s End Mobile Home Park nearly engulfed by fire. The image looks like a desert of fire. Fir trees at the Mendocino over crossing were exploding, making it hazardous to cross Highway 101. Puerto Vallarta Restaurant was in flames along Cleveland Ave., as was most of the vegetation around it.

The Journey’s End Mobile Home Park is reduced to ashes along Mendocino Ave., Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

The Tubbs fire jumps Highway 101 at the Mendocino over crossing in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Along Cleveland Ave. in Santa Rosa, Puerto Vallarta Restaurant burns to the ground, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 201

Going as far as possible down Old Redwood Highway towards Larkfield I came across Willies Wine Bar which was involved, as was the apartment complex next door (see photo at top of this post). I couldn’t see if Cardinal Newman High School was on fire, but homes on Ursuline drive were beginning to catch fire and I was worried about the power lines and poles, so erred on the side of safety.

Willies Wine bar burns, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Doubling back, I headed towards Kaiser Permanante, learning the hospital was being evacuated. There I ran in to reporter Martin Espinoza, who jumped in as we headed back in to Fountaingrove. By then, photographer Christopher Chung was navigating road blocks to cover other parts of the burning city around Larkfield. A text tree set up by photographer Alvin Jornada kept us updated to the fires progression as fellow photographer Beth Schlanker and Director of Photography Chad Surmick joined the fray.

Kaiser Hospital is evacuated due to the Tubbs fire early Monday morning in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Santa Rosa fire station 5 burns on the top of Fountaingrove in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Bill Stites watches his neighborhood burn in Fountaingrove, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

After smacking a few curbs in my car because of dense smoke, we headed back down the hill, Espinoza all the while making Facebook live videos, drawing in thousands of people to the firestorm. We wound up in Coffey Park on Santa Rosa’s northwest side and the scene was as unbelievable as the conflagration in Fountaingrove. Firefighters were making a stand along the perimeter of Barnes Road and San Miguel Drive, limiting the Tubb’s progression further to the west and south.

A home burns in Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Gold Ridge firefighters use a deck gun to protect structures in Coffey Park in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

A Coffey Park home burns on Randon Way, early Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Gold Ridge firefighters used a deck gun to protect structures in Coffey Park in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

An American flag whips in the wind as structures burn in Coffey Park, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 at Randon Way and Hopper Lane. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Houses seemed to explode everywhere we looked. A Cal Fire crew cooled down the exposure of another home. Above is a series shot within about two minutes. The first frenetic hours of the fire are summed up in this series, man against nature. So much extreme fire, so little resources.

After dropping Martin off at his car, I went back to Hopper Lane and the surrounding Coffey Park areas, documenting. Block after block was burning, to the point of being incomprehensible. I came across a fire crew from Cazadero, spread thin up and down Skyview Drive.

An ember wash surrounds a Cazadero firefighter as he attempts to thwart the spread of fire on Skyview Drive, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

A Cazadero firefighter attempts to thwart the spread of fire on Skyview Drive, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Coffey Park homes burn early Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

It seemed just about everywhere you went, something was on fire…..

People photograph Kmart burning Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Kmart burns in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Applebee’s burns off Hopper Lane in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

The first light of day cast an eerie, sickly glow over Coffey Park. The scope of the disaster was warily apparent. Eight hours of near hell had led to a very large swath of Santa Rosa being razed.

A resident of Coffey Park moves in to see his burned home, Monday Oct. 9, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Sunrise turns the smoke an eerie color at Coffey Park in Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Cars were flipped by fire spin-ups on Hemlock Street near Coffey Park, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Gas lines still aflame, residents of Coffey Park returned to their homes to sift and survey the damage Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Residents of Coffey Park returned to their homes to sift and survey the damage Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Individual home owners began to trickle in to survey what as left of their neighborhoods. It wasn’t until the next day the fire areas became cut off to most residents.

Rincon Valley firefighters rescue a dog as a housing complex burns off Mark West Road in Larkfield, Monday Oct. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

A home off Rincon Ridge at Fountaingrove Parkway was gutted, along with all but a few on the east side of Fountaingrove. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

The next several days became a blur. Each of us worked 15 hours a day documenting unprecedented destruction and sorrow. With other fires to cover, we spread out county wide. Cities and towns were being evacuated as nixle alerts kept coming hour after hour. Daily, I would hit the Tubbs fire zone and then branch out to other locations. On Oct. 11, Beth Schlanker and I covered the Sonoma area being evacuated. I wound up on High Road at the head of the Nuns fire as the wind shifted pushing flames toward homes.

A San Diego Cal Fire firefighter monitors a flare up on a the head of the Nuns fire (the Southern LNU Complex), Wednesday Oct. 11, 2017 off of High Road above the Sonoma Valley. A wind shift caused flames to move quickly up hill and threaten homes in the area. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

A San Diego Cal Fire firefighter houses down a structure from the advancing Nuns fire (the Southern LNU Complex), Wednesday Oct. 11, 2017 off of High Road above the Sonoma Valley. A wind shift caused flames to move quickly up hill and threaten homes in the area. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

I wound up at the Pocket fire at sunset the following day, working to get photos of air support building retardant lines around structures at Hawkeye Ranch off Geysers Road.

A Cal Fire air taker makes a drop on the Pocket fire at sunset as the pilot protects structures on the Hawkeye Ranch off Geysers Road above Geyserville, Thursday Oct. 12, 2017. Crews were able to save all the structures. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

A Cal Fire air taker makes a drop on the Pocket fire as the pilot protects structures on the Hawkeye Ranch off Geysers Road above Geyserville, Thursday Oct. 12, 2017. Crews were able to save all the structures. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Brush in a vineyard burns as it singes grapevines at the head of the Pocket fire in Geyserville, Thursday Oct. 12, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Each day, a different location…

Amy Jones-Kerr, Superintendent of the Roseland School District, looks over the remains of the Roseland Collegiate Prep High School on the campus next to Cardinal Newman, Friday Oct 13, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Helitanker 743, based out of the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport drops on a portion of the Tubbs fire on Mt. St. Helena, Friday Oct. 13, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

A home off Glen Eagle Court in Fountaingrove, a victim of the Tubbs fire, Friday Oct. 13, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Capping an intense but heartbreaking week, I headed home for family time. Aware, warily, that the National Weather Service had again posted red flag warnings for early Saturday morning in the mountains of Sonoma and Napa Counties. Again, fire broke out near Oakmont, and the Nuns fire burned more structures near Sonoma, the wind being he main culprit.

Awoken in the dead of night on an order to evacuate, Skyhawk residents watch the glow of an approaching fire from their Skyhawk Homes near Los Alamos Road in Santa Rosa, Saturday Oct. 14, 2017. They eventually left the area. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Zinfandel grapes were burned after several homes burned in the Castle Road area, Saturday Oct. 14, 2017 in Sonoma. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Firefighters from Compton but a scratch and wet line around a fire on Lovall Valley Road in Sonoma, Saturday Oct. 14, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

King Tut stands guard on History Hill as firefighters monitor a backfiring operation, Saturday Oct. 14, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Sunday, the rest day. Then back at it.

Below is an almost daily chronicle that I have been working on.

Phyllis Rogers checks for mail in front of her destroyed home in Larkfield, Monday Oct. 16, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Alameda County Search and Rescue teams search for a sign of human remains in the Coffey Park area of Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 16, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

The National Guard deploys in to Larkfield, Monday Oct. 16, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

A bird takes advantage of a leaky sprinkler controller in the Coffey Park area of Santa Rosa, Monday Oct. 16, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Jordan Rossman, left, and Cody Frank of the Dexter, Oregon Volunteer Fire Department put to hot spots in the roots of trees along Franz Valley Road near Calistoga, Tuesday Oct. 17, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Jordan Rossman of the Dexter, Oregon Volunteer Fire Department straightens out firehose after helping to extinguish hot spots along Franz Valley Road near Calistoga, Tuesday Oct. 17, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

A tent city has appeared at the fire staging area, Tuesday Oct. 17, 2017 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Signs are appearing all over Sonoma County, especially at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa Tuesday Oct. 17, 2017, thanking first responders. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Santa Rosa firefighter Tony Niel and his son Jordon, 13, sift through the debris of their home in Larkfield, Wednesday Oct. 18, 2017. Niel and his family evacuated from their home as the Tubbs fire bore down on their neighborhood last week. After making sure his children and wife were safe, Niel headed in to work to help fight the fires in Coffey Park. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Judy K. Sakaki, President of Sonoma State University is embraced by her husband Jack McCallum and Emily Hinton, left, the student representative to the Sonoma State University Board of Trustees, Wednesday Oct. 18, 2017 prior to a ceremony honoring first responders. Sakaki and her husband were rescued by Santa Rosa firefighters in Fountaingrove during the Tubbs fire last week. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Bud Pochini, a volunteer with Knights Valley, lost his home to the Tubbs fire as it crossed through the valley, saving homes elsewhere in the area, Thursday Oct. 19, 2017 near Calistoga. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Gordon Easter and finance Gail Hale returned to their homes on Hopper Lane in Coffey Park, Friday Oct. 20, 2017, sharing a moment of thankfulness of being alive. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Lacey Tower returns to her Jenna Place home in Coffey Park, Friday Oct. 20, 2017. The sign was put together by her parents. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Sarah Boryszewski found a collection of porcelain bells given to her by her grandfather after digging for her belongings in the remains of Boryszewski’s home in Coffey Park, Friday Oct. 20, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

At Coffey Park in Santa Rosa, Traci Lattie and her partner Wayne Hovey intend to rebuild, and are letting everyone know, Monday Oct. 23, 2017. On Monday they met with their insurance agent. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Rincon Ridge in Fountaingrove, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2017 in Santa Rosa, burned by the Tubbs fire. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Norm and Norma (didn’t want last name used) take their first look of their razed Fountaingrove home, Thursday Oct. 26, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Natasha and her son Edison Chan bought their Rincon Ridge home in 2003. On Thursday Oct. 26, 2017, the two were searching through the home in the mid day heat. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

First grade teacher Leslie Thomas greets her students at Hidden Valley Elementary School in Santa Rosa, nearly three weeks after the Tubbs fire raged Santa Rosa and portions of Hidden Valley. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Second graders head to class at Hidden Valley Elementary School, Friday Oct. 27, 2017 in Santa Rosa, nearly three weeks after the Tubbs fire. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Rincon Valley firefighter Sid Andreis is thanked by Molsberry’s Market part owner Brian Molsberry, Tuesday Oct. 31, 2017 after Andreis and other crews saved portions of Larkfield from the Tubbs fire. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Three year-old Austin Altus of Santa Rosa wanted to make his electric vehicle in to a fire truck on behalf of his family’s best friend, Santa Rosa firefighter Travis Berg, Tuesday Oct. 31, 2017 while trick or treating with his mom Erica on McDonald Ave. in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Windsor and Rincon Valley Fire Protection District fire chief Jack Piccinini talks with Larkfield and Wikiup residents about the Tubbs fire, Thursday Nov. 2, 2017 in the engine bay at the Larkfield fire station. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017.

A crew from Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa work in to the night to clear debris from a razed home on Hillary Court in Coffey Park, Monday Nov. 6, 2017, one month after the Tubbs fire roared through Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Louis Pell plays tetherball with his eight year-old daughter Lilly in front of their burned home on Randon Way in Coffey Park, Tuesday Nov. 7, 2017 in Santa Rosa (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Then it was a trip down to San Francisco to photograph the Band Together benefit concert for north bay fire relief. The evening was quite warm and the views from the upper deck of the city were amazing. On the field at the Giants digs, there was a lot of smoke in that air. Ahem.

The San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge are aglow during the Band Together benefit concert for north bay fire relief in San Francisco, Thursday Nov. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat

Tim and Lori Sarver, left, and Justin and Hollie Tracy lost their homes in Coffey Park and Larkfield in the Tubbs fire, acknowledging their loss by using their phones during Band Together benefit concert for north bay fire relief in San Francisco, Thursday Nov. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat

Autumn Kavosick of Novato uses the Giants pitchers mound to make a statement during the Band Together benefit concert for north bay fire relief in San Francisco, Thursday Nov. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat

Headliner act Metallica performs during the Band Together benefit concert for north bay fire relief in San Francisco, Thursday Nov. 9, 2017. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat

The Cardinal Newman varsity basketball team joins in prayer led by coach Tom Bonfigli before a basketball game against the Analy High School Tigers, Tuesday Nov. 21, 2017. Several of the team members lost their family homes to the Tubbs fire in October. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Cardinal Newman teacher and baseball coach Derek DeBenedetti teaches the finer points of math at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cotati, Thursday Nov. 16, 2017, Newman’s new digs for the senior class after the Tubbs fire destroyed a portion of their school in October. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

Shelly Norby, who lost her Journey’s End home to the Tubbs fire in October, brings a little holiday cheer to The Great Thanksgiving Banquet put on by the Redwood Gospel Mission at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Wednesday Nov. 22, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017 (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

Having lost their home in Coffey Park to the Tubbs fire, Joanne Bartlett holds back tears as she and her husband Byron were given coats at The Great Thanksgiving Banquet put on by the Redwood Gospel Mission at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Wednesday Nov. 22, 2017 in Santa Rosa. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2017

A Thanksgiving Day dinner was given to workers clearing lots burned by the Tubbs fire in the Coffey Park area of Santa Rosa, Thursday Nov. 23, 2017 by Ghilotti Construction. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Jayme Farmer, left, welcomes Martha Marquez to her family’s Thanksgiving Day dinner, Thursday Nov. 23, 2017 after Marquez and her husband lost their home in Fountaingrove to the Tubbs fire in October. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2017

-Kent Porter

Wine Country, scarred but resilient

Tasting.Room — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 04:56:01 GMT

Luther Burbank’s “chosen spot in all the world” is showing its resilience in the aftermath of the wildfires.

The land, ribbed with vineyards, is scarred but people in this agrarian culture of ours are already rebuilding. And here’s what’s giving us a fighting chance: we are inhabited by winemakers who are well-versed of how to deal with calamity. We have some of the most resourceful people on the planet living and toiling in Wine Country. And they are not easily discouraged. They are people who have gravitated to winemaking because of its inherent challenges. They are farmers of grapes in Northern California, and wildfires are among Mother Nature’s cruel tricks in this region. But after talking with several winemakers who were affected by the fires, I’m encouraged by how they dealt with the triage of the firestorm and how they plan to rebuild.

One vintner reminded me of the warehouse fire on Mare Island 12 years ago and how devastating it was for some vintners who suffered far greater losses. The fire damaged or destroyed more than 4.5 million bottles of wine. Some wineries lost entire vintages and, others, entire inventories.

No one could have foreseen the extent to which these wildfires raged, devouring entire subdivisions, and burning whole wineries to the ground.

But when it comes to resilience, there’s no better place to tap it than in Northern California‘s Wine Country where winemakers are filled with resourcefulness. These are farmers of grapes who are trained to take on calamity.

Living in limbo has become the new normal

Tasting.Room — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 19:18:56 GMT

The other day I leapt out of bed after seeing what I thought were flames on a mountain ridge in the not so distant sky. Luckily, I was mistaken. The raging fire I imagined was a harmless orange sun rising in the sky.

“I’m jumpy,” I told my husband. “I’m not used to being at the mercy of the wind.”

We’ve evacuated twice. Even though we’re back at home again, we’re mindful that a mandatory evacuation is still in force just three blocks away.

All of our important documents and treasured pictures continue to be stashed in our cars so we can run out immediately should the bullhorn screech “evacuate now.”

We count ourselves among the lucky ones. I know 10 people who have lost their homes, including an employee at Safeway. She burst into tears in the check-out line. A colleague of hers later explained, in so many words, it’s hell to lose your home.

I saw the scarred earth on Coffey Park in Santa Rosa where the houses were reduced to twigs, and the landmark Round Barn which now resembles a crater.

I find myself up at 2 a.m. writing this because sleep, for me, requires some semblance of certainty and it’s not afforded to those of us living in limbo.

I tell myself maybe I’m not coping as well because I recently lost my mother to a massive stroke. To be sure, it’s cruel to lose your mother and then find yourself immersed in a community besieged by a firestorm. But here’s the surprise. I’m coping better because losing my mother made me focus on her most important lesson — how to deal with a life and death calamity.

My mother taught me this lesson when we were en route to Bali on a mother/daughter trip and something dramatic happened — the plane fell 5000 feet from the sky.

There was sheer panic as the plane spiraled from wind shear, and I had what I thought was my last conversation with my mom on this Earth.

In that delirious conversation, I told my mom that my husband would do a good job of raising our four-year old daughter. My mom didn’t miss a beat. She told me to “snap out of it. Planes are strong. They are built to be buffeted. We’ll be fine.”

As I sit in my house, which may or may not be standing by the end of the week, I hear my mother’s comforting words, “You are strong. You’re built to be buffeted. You’ll be fine.”

One mayor in Italy knows how to draw a crowd with vino.

Tasting.Room — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 23:39:14 GMT

Free Wine Fountain Opens In Italy (24 hours)

Jordan Winery celebrates Cabernet with Ed Sheeran parody

Tasting.Room — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 21:30:55 GMT

The Grammy Award for Best Parody goes to …Lisa Mattson and her team at Healdsburg’s Jordan Vineyard and Winery.

To celebrate the cabernet harvest, here’s the team’s first attempt at this unique category – lyric video animation parody.

It’s called the “Shape of Cab”

Check out the original Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” lyric video and the parody song lyrics.

Mattson has a powerful muse because clever is her specialty.

We just received Jordan’s Halloween invitation for its sales team and the theme is “Denial on the Nile at the Temple of Jordan Winery.” The invitation says: “Avoid the curse of Ra and RSVP,” and the message is packaged in a mummy, encased in sarcophagus.

Everyone at my house was wowed, including one member who prefers not to be named. But this particular member asked if he could take the mummy off to college to decorate his dorm room. I hope Mattson and her tribe take in the compliment.

Humor and hijinks are at an all time high in the drink industry and it’s a particularly fun time to track the wild ride of marketers. Brewers are taking a lesson from the whimsy of the wine world. Companies like Rogue Ale and Spirits in Newport Oregon, and the Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park, Florida are putting out some out-of-the-box brands.

If you’re not taking note of the spirited fun in the beverage industry at this point in time, stop working. Take your fingers off the keys of your computer. Put your smart phone away. Uncork a bottle of wine and watch this video. Then thank the Millennials, the offspring of the Baby Boomers, for fueling this crazy fun.

Ingenuity should always be celebrated.

A Tornado 30 Years Ago

weather — Fri, 26 May 2017 17:29:45 GMT

The Gallego family, Joe, left, and son Jim, right search for valuables in the bar that they built, destroyed by the Saragosa, Texas tornado, May 22, 1987. (© Kent Porter 1987)

Back Story.

Most of us can recall a story or an experience decades after it happened. It’s true of photojournalists too. Give us a description of the photo and in most cases we will recall the time, light and the feeling we had when we shot the picture.

In 1987, I was a 25 year-old working with the Midland Reporter-Telegram in west Texas. I had worked at the MRT for three years shooting a variety of daily assignments….Texas culture fascinated me, and found the people to be polite and engaging. There were endless pictures to be made, and our photo staff of four meshed well in photographing those stories. We spent a lot of time together; parties, camping, going to movies, just hanging out. It was my family away from home and these three gentlemen left an indelible mark on my life. They were more seasoned than I, and picked up on their love of news within my first month of employment. It was a great place to learn the trade of photojournalism.

From that experience, I embraced spot news and the weather aspect of west Texas. I took to storm chasing very easily. Weather affects us all of course, and was struck by the beauty and raw power of a spring thunderstorm on the southern plains.

On May 22, 1987, I was with my girlfriend shopping at the grocery store for that nights meal. Weather forecasts back then consisted of the back page of the newspaper and the nightly TV news repeating a well worn mantra of a 20% chance of rain, everyday, all year long.

No internet in those days.

That evening, the clouds in Midland were sliding east to west, 180 degrees of normal. I was brooding all day, so I carried my portable police scanner on the shopping trip. I got a roll of the eyes from my girlfriend, but insisted.

At around 8:10pm (while looking for Cheerios) a Skywarn storm spotter broadcast that a tornado was on the ground in Reeves County, 120 miles west and south of Midland. I perked up and forgot about the cereal. The spotter came back and said the twister had dissipated. I still had a gut feeling something was out of place. Six minutes minutes later, the spotter reported a very large wedge tornado on the ground east of the small farming community of Saragosa. I remember the next report, etched in my memory.

“The tornado has hit Saragosa. Oh my god we need help now. We need help, lots of help! ”

Now, the chain of command in a newsroom can be blurry. Usually an editor will tell you to go, respecting a journalists instincts. In this case, I had to drive back to my apartment to make a phone call to the newsroom. The City Editor at the time was unsure whether to go or not, it was out of our circulation area and 120 miles away. I realized it was a big story because of the scanner traffic and knew that every media outlet from Texas (and then some) would be at the disaster by 5am and we would be behind in our coverage. The story needed to be told. Exasperated (couldn’t get a hold of my supervisor) I told him I was going. I’m certain the wheels of insubordination were turning at that moment, but since I was on my day off, I made the personal decision to commit to the story. No harm if the story were to fall through, but that would’ve been just fine if it had happened that way, too many people perished that horrible, destructive night.

It took two hours to drive there. I arrived in Saragosa around 10:30pm and was greeted by utter devastation. Flood lights illuminated the scene, rescuers were everywhere. A EF4 tornado scraped 80 percent of Saragosa in to oblivion. In cruel fate, a Head Start graduation ceremony was being held at the Catholic Hall of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the town center. Over 100 people were in inside where 22 men, women and children were killed. Eight others died in the storm. I shot pictures the entire night and well in to the next day, leaving to make an 11pm deadline on May 23. Over the course of the week, I made the 240 mile round trip daily, covering the clean-up and funerals. That August, I was hired by the Press Democrat and never went back to Saragosa.

Last week, while on a storm chasing trip to the central plains, I took a day and visited after 30 years, my first time back.

Jim Gallego lives next door to the bar which was owned by his father Joe before the Saragosa Tornado swept it away in 1987. Gallego visits the footprint of the bar every day to feed his livestock . (© Kent Porter)

Jim Gallego is 30 years older now. He remembers the night of May 22, 1987 like it was yesterday. The tornado roared in to Saragosa, ripping into it’s heart. He saw the twister on the flat horizon and immediately realized he needed to get the entire family to safety. Toyah Creek ran under Highway 17 and was just 100 yards from the Gallego residence. Without hesitation, the extended family of 12 sprinted to the creek and wedged themselves under the overpass, the bridge offered the most protection. As the tornado passed over Saragosa, it obliterated the bar and home his father Joe Gallego built in 1959. Passing overhead, the vortex yanked out two of the younger family members who were later found alive. The entire family suffered injuries from airborne debris -scars remain today- but all survived. Today, Jim runs a garage in the small town, who’s population has fluctuated to about 250 people since the tornado struck. He will remain in Saragosa.

Jim Gallego feeds livestock on land that his father bought in 1959. The horse in the background survived the Saragosa tornado that hit my 22, 1987. ( © Kent Porter)

Unlike Jim Gallgeo, Peggy and Bob Walker rode out the storm in their stone house south of the Gallego residence. The home was built tough, and stood up well in the tornado. A few walls battled the 200mph winds and won, but the land was stripped bare and their large pecan trees never recovered. It took them a year to recover and rebuild, but declined to use the Red Cross to rebuild. The organization wanted to build a 400 square foot residence, but the Walker’s wanted the same footprint built from the same material. Today, the home has the same stone pattern. Living in to their elder years, they are comfortable with their experience as west Texas natives.

Peggy and Bob Walker sit in stunned silence May 23, 1987, the morning after Saragosa, Texas was hit by an EF4 tornado, killing 30 people. (© Kent Porter)

Peggy and Bob Walker enjoy a mild west Texas day, May 19, 2017 in Saragosa, 30 years after a tornado demolished their home. (© Kent Porter)

Peggy Walker looks at the damage May 23, 1987, the morning after Saragosa, Texas was hit by an EF4 tornado, killing 30 people. (© Kent Porter)

The tornado tore a path of destruction 1/2 mile wide leveling just about everything in its path.

The home of Ernesto and Ysela Bordayo is barely visible on the left side of the photo, wiped out by the Saragosa tornado. (© Kent Porter)

It was purely a fluke that Ernesto Bordayo wasn’t at home when the wind hit. His children got a little too rough with each other and his daughter got clubbed in the head by mistake. After a trip to the doctor with family in tow, Bordayo needed to stop by a field he was tending west of Saragosa to pull pumps out of wells, thinking that rain coming in might flood and damage the pumps. Standing in the field just a few miles away, the Bordayo’s saw the debris field lift and pulverize homes in it’s path, pieces of broken homes falling almost in slow motion from the periphery of the tornado. They hurried home, only to find nothing left. The town was nearly destroyed.

Ernesto Bordayo loads fencing, Friday May 19, 2017, across the street from his home which has been rebuilt after the Saragosa tornado. To the right, background, dozens of homes once stood. (© Kent Porter)

“But by the Grace of God, the tornado didn’t happen when people were sleeping,” says Bordayo “more people would have died.”

The windswept home of Ernesto and Ysela Bordayo of Saragosa Texas, was rebuilt t after the Saragosa tornado in 1987. (© Kent Porter)

Where the house use to stand, concrete debris and a semblance of a tree that never recovered from the tornado’s wrath. (© Kent Porter)

A large tornado can drearily re-arrange an area and strip vegetation from the soil and make it unrecognizable. In Saragosa, mesquite trees grow to the size of small houses. Mulberry trees dot the region for shade and native pecan trees can be found throughout Texas. Thirty years after the tornado, I found the trees that survived that night, never made it back.

Jose Rosalio Candelas sifts through the wreckage of his store on Highway 17 in Saragosa. Months after the twister hit, Candelas rebuilt his store, brick by brick with the help of others and eventually reopened. He died in 2004. (© Kent Porter)

Rescue crews searched well in to the early morning hours at the Catholic Hall of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church where 22 men, women and children died May 22, 1987 in Saragosa. (©Kent Porter)

The morning after the tornado, families began to find their loved ones as they walked the path of the tornado. 121 people were injured. (©Kent Porter)

In 1987 the town did not have a warning siren. After the clean-up, a tornado siren was installed just a stones throw from Highway 17, Friday may 19, 2017. (©Kent Porter)

A week after the tornado ravaged the town, a mass burial took place at the Saragosa cemetery, where most of the tornado victims now rest.

-Kent Porter

School Readiness, Poverty and Children’s Brain Development

David.Sortino — Thu, 04 May 2017 23:38:39 GMT

School Readiness, Poverty and Children’s Brain Development

Breaking news: Buster Posey

Lowell Cohn — Wed, 03 May 2017 05:46:06 GMT

Breaking news. Posey did not hit a home run in tonight’s Giants slaughter at the hands of the Dodgers. He didn’t have an RBI either. Hey, I know homers and RBIs are old-style metrics and I’m a moron to refer to them. But Posey, the Giants’slugger,’ has two homers and four RBIs and it’s May. That makes him great I suppose. The Rockies Nolan Arenado has seven home runs and 17 RBIs. Me, I’ll take Arenado over Posey in my batting order, although that shows I know nothing.

Am I being unfair to Posey? No. He’s the Giants best and he’s not good enough. He came up in the seventh with two men on and grounded out to short. Typical. Sure, the Giants relievers suck and their starting pitching I’ll grade “Suck-plus.” And they have injuries, although Denard Span being injured may not be so awful. Not that I wish him anything bad. He seems like a nice man. It’s just that he adds nothing. And I mean nothing. So, yes, there are worse players and worse issues than Posey.

But Posey is the standard bearer. Some standard bearer. This year’s Giants are history. And he disappoints.

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On Ageism

Lowell Cohn — Tue, 02 May 2017 17:53:29 GMT

I stirred things up lately suggesting Buster Posey is overrated. My opinion until he proves me wrong. I’m entitled to my opinion. You’re entitled to disagree, to call me uninformed or baseball ignorant or unappreciative of true greatness. That’s what this blog is all about — a give-and-take of passionate ideas. That’s what I did as a columnist, stimulated passionate conversation. It’s what a columnist must do.

It saddens me — disgusts me — that some readers who disagreed with my take on Posey attacked me personally because of my age — 71. This is called an ad hominen argument and it’s the lowest form of arguing. You go ad hominen when you don’t have good points to argue. So you attack the person.

I am used to ad hominem arguments. Believe me. They don’t hurt my feelings. Someone who goes ad hominen is beneath me and should be beneath you.

But I want to discuss one ad hominem form. The old-age argument. People, outraged with my take on Posey said I should take a nap, said I am a crankly old man. That sort of junk. For starters, I’ve been exactly like this my whole career. Unless readers have been hiding under a rock they should know that. My stance has nothing to do with age. If anything I’m more mellow now.

It is clear readers don’t go after a writer’s race, religion — that sort of stuff. Age is the same thing — should be. Criticizing my age is criticizing all senior citizens. It is a prejudice. Some silly writer in the Chron recently criticized Dianne Feinstein for being old. Where did the Chron get this guy? Criticism based on age is moronic, crude and rude. It is like calling someone a dirty Jew or using the N-word. Anyone who put me down because I’m old — you know who you are — should be ashamed. You just dissed your parents and grandparents.

Aside from that, please feel free to disagree with me. Keep it coming.

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Why Buster Posey Owes me a Thank you, Lowell

Lowell Cohn — Tue, 02 May 2017 05:41:22 GMT

Buster Posey owes me a thank you for getting him refocused on his job with my constructive and very pointed and well-deserved criticism. His job involves hitting home runs. He hit a homer in Game 1 vs. the Dodgers. I’m happy to have helped. Now he needs to make a habit of hitting with power, hitting homers and driving in runs. If any readers have problems getting motivated let me know. Maybe I can help you too.

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Why Buster Posey is Overrated

Lowell Cohn — Mon, 01 May 2017 16:47:22 GMT

I say Buster Posey is overrated. I have been tweeting that and readers are sore at me. I can take it. Besides, I’m retired and life is grand.

Is Posey an excellent hitter? Sure he is.

Is Posey an excellent catcher? Sure he is.

Is he a good guy? He seems to be.

So, what’s my beef? Just this. He gets paid 21 million a season for many years to come. That’s big money for, allegedly, the best player on the team. I guess he is the best. For that dough, the Giants expect him to be a cleanup hitter. He bats fourth. A cleanup hitter cleans up. Drives in runs. Hits with power. Changes games. You know that.

Posey does not do all of the above. As of Monday morning he has one home run and three RBIs. That’s eighth hitter stuff. That’s weak.

He is batting .354. Excellent. But it’s soft. Very soft. You want to know his batting average with runners in scoring position? .235. That’s what. Weak. The Giants are overpaying for that measly production and they are over-depending on him. If he were fast — he isn’t — he could be a leadoff hitter. In a real batting order, he’d bat sixth. That’s why I say he’s overrated.

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Poverty and Children’s Brain Development

David.Sortino — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 19:54:10 GMT

According to official poverty statistics, 22.7% of families in California were classified as not having enough resources to make ends meet in 2014. This is down from 2013 (23.5%), but well above the recent low in 2007 (17.3%). Although the poverty rate in Sonoma County is lower, (19.7), the question […]

Shout out to Larry Tabor

Lowell Cohn — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 05:53:59 GMT

Went to my dentist on Tuesday, the great Larry Tabor of Castro Valley. Got a cleaning from Victoria. Got the Good Tooth Go-Ahead. Larry is a dentist deluxe and he flies his own plane and once a month he flies to Mexico to provide free dental service. In Yiddish we’d call him a mensch. So shout out to you, Larry, and also to Tiffany, a noted sports fan in your office.

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‘The Wolf,’ a great restaurant

Lowell Cohn — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 16:51:40 GMT

For a long time Baywolf was the best restaurant in Oakland. People were visiting from out of town, I took them to Baywolf. The people who owned Baywolf recently retired, and Rich and Rebekah Wood, who own the fabulous Wood Tavern on College Avenue, took over Baywolf and renamed it The Wolf. It opened recently.

Sunday night, I went there with my wife Dawn, Susan Slusser the A-plus writer who covers the A’s for the Chronicle and her husband Dan Brown, the A-plus sportswriter for the Mercury News.

We felt a special connection to the place because A’s manager Bob Melvin has an ownership share in The Wolf. I’ll get back to Bob in a moment.

I am not a restaurant critic so bear with me here. But The Wolf is as good as Baywolf and more up to date. My wife, who has the highest standards, is in love with the place. All four of us are. I had steak. She had duck. Dan and Susan had cod. All terrific. Service was exemplary. Co-owner Rich Wood kept visiting with us and pouring wine.

You have a special occasion, go to The Wolf. Tell them Lowell sent you. No, don’t.

Now back to Bob Melvin. I have known him forever. Remember, he played for the Giants when I was a young man. And I like Bob — he’s one of my all-time favorites. Last year, he and I had dinner at Wood Tavern. Just two guys out for the night. And, yes, I did have dinner with certain sports figures over the years — Bob, Bill Walsh, Frank Robinson, Ken Korach, Jeffrey Leonard, Ken Macha, Art Howe, Marty Lurie (a million times), Vince Cotroneo, Chris Mullin. I never had dinner with Jim Harbaugh but I want to. My treat.

So Bob and I were at Wood Tavern last year and Rich Wood was with us and we were drinking a great Italian red and Rich said he wasn’t sure what to name his new place. I said, “Call it The Wolf as an homage to Baywolf.” And sure enough he named it The Wolf. Susan Slusser was skeptical about my story, but when our meal at The Wolf ended, Rich, God love him, handed me a card he had signed. On it he wrote, “Naming rights.”

I feel honored.

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In honor of Dwight Clark

Lowell Cohn — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 03:40:46 GMT

Hello, everyone. Here is my column on the great Dwight Clark. To read it, click here

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Kaepernick will stand during Anthem

Lowell Cohn — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 19:24:47 GMT

Colin Kaepernick is so self-serving. Last season, he didn’t stand during the Anthem. Now it’s being reported he will stand next season. I’ll tell you why he’ll stand. He’s a free agent and he doesn’t want his kneeling to affect his job prospects with teams who might frown on what he did. What a phony. So much for his stance — I mean his kneel.

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Wine tasting with Lowell

Lowell Cohn — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 19:23:57 GMT

Being recently retired, I went wine tasting on Thursday with my great friend Mike Murray. I mean now a Thursday is as good as a Saturday. Usually, I taste in Dry Creek but for a change-up (baseball metaphor there), we went to Sonoma and tasted on the Square for starters.

Starting at Passaggio. Wow! Small, stylish room, Mike and I the only tasters (remember it was Thursday), Kate in charge of pouring. She poured the whole line pretty much. A 2014 unoaked Chardonnay was pure Burgundy. Just wonderful. Discounted to 17 bucks. Drank it when I got home to much praise from my wife and son Grant. Also bought a Grenache — like a French beaujolais — and a Black Knight Vineyards 2015 Pinot Noir. Not sure if I can lay it down for a few years. Again, pure Burgundy. Could compete with French Burgundy reds. Love it.

Kate asked where we were tasting next. I said we didn’t know. She pointed across the courtyard and said, “MacLaren, you’ll love it.”

I’ve always been in love with love.

We went into MacLaren and met owner/winemaker Steve Law. From Scotland. Said “wee” for small, said “bairn” for child. Full of linguistic thrills. Specializes in Syrah. Phenomenal. And I mean phenomenal. He poured four Syrahs which could compete with fine Northern Rhones. I bought two from 2013, the Moaveni Vineyard and the Atoosa’s Vineyard. I would have bought more but I’m a poor (former) sports columnist.

Steve asked how I heard about his place. I said I just had tasted at another fabulous place, Passaggio, and Kate recommended MacLaren. Steve smiled. He pointed across the room where a man and a woman were talking. The woman, he said, was Cindy Cosco, owner/winemaker at Passaggio. So, I got to meet Cindy, now one of my wine heroes.

Small wine world. I love Sonoma County wineries. You get to meet owners, winemakers, children, parents, grand parents, sometimes even the dog.

For our final stop, Mike and I drove up a hill and through the woods to Petroni. If you dine at the North Beach Restaurant in the City you know Petroni. Lorenzo, one of the owners — now gone — started a Sonoma winery where they make a Sangiovese that is world class. He used to call it Brunello di Sonoma, but ran into legal issues with Italian vintners over the name. Now it’s called Poggio Alla Pietra. Same great wine.

Anyway, when we drove up to Petroni a big gate stopped us, a gate like from a castle. Closed tight. We thought we were sunk it being after hours and us not having an appointment. I noticed a little buzzer along a wall. Buzzed. What the heck. Woman came on, nice voice. I asked if we could taste — feeling like Dorothy trying to see the Wizard. Woman said sure. Gate swung open.

We were shown to a cave, went on a long way. Jennifer our personal guide. Call her our wine angel. We toured the cave, noticed several alcoves with large wooden tables. She sat us down in our own alcove. Fetched wine. I use the word fetched because she was running all over the place. She let us taste Poggio. Be still my heart. A chardonnay, a Rossa di Sonoma — Poggio’s little cousin. All nectar of the gods.

Bought a bunch. Bought a magnum of 2007 Syrah because the Press Democrat Sports Dept. is hosting a dinner for me next week as a final see-you-later, and I’m donating the magnum to the cause.

So, three great great wineries. One great great day. Can’t say retirement sucks.

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Clip Winner!

weather — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 22:30:39 GMT

Follow me on Twitter @kentphotos and Instagram, kpfotog

This past Saturday Feb. 4, 2017, I was named the National Press Photographers Association’s West Region Photographer of the Year.

First off, I do toot my own horn from time to time. It’s a great accomplishment to win this contest. News images are judged once a month against other photographers from California, Nevada, Hawaii and Arizona. Judges are other photographers and editors from newspapers around the country outside our West Region. It’s truly a judge of peers. You are awarded 50 points for first, 40 for second and 30 for third and five points for entering (sorta like adding your name to homework). At the end of the year, the points are tallied and first through third is given out to those photographers. There’s a catch. The photos have to be published online (I’m not talking Twitter or Instagram either) or in the newspaper. The categories are Spot News, General News, Feature, Sports Action, Sports Feature, Picture Story/Photo Essay, Illustration/ Portrait.

Wise Acre Farm Great Pyrenees Buddy, watches over the flock off Arata Lane in Windsor, Friday March 3, 2016. The egg stand is open again after a dispute with a winery about a right-of-way was solved after owner Bryan Boyd put in his own entrance to the farm. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

It just so happens I had the most points at the end of 2016, so I won. The last person on our photo staff to do this was John Burgess, back in the 90’s.

Over the years I’ve hit and missed, having never placed above third. It really is arbitrary, photos you might think will place sometimes don’t. Consistency is the key, keeping yourself from getting wrapped up and shooting for contests sake will destroy your shooting ability.

Since covering Lake County’s devastating fires in 2015 (and the 2016 Clayton fire) and my brush with life and career changing near calamity, I decided to double down on how I relate with people I photograph. I’m out to tell your story, not mine. Sometimes the images are hard to look at and upset. My job is to simply bring home what happens in our community, good or bad. As for the ‘Clip Winner’ header, in the pre-digital days we use to clip out the picture from the paper and send it by snail mail to be judged. Thus the term. Here are a variety photos that placed including multiple images from picture stories

Protesters from the SEIU 1021 rush their way past security guards during the State of the County report at the Double Tree Hotel in Rohnert Park Wednesday, January 27, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Nick Kent a forest manager with Cal Fire, looks for greenery on fir trees burned by the Valley Fire in Boggs State Forest in Cobb, Monday Jan. 11, 2016. These trees will all be felled because of the fire. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Santa Rosa firefighters, Teddy Day, middle, and Mike Johnson call for more oxygen as they attempt to resuscitate a family pet that was rescued from a house fire on East Foothill Drive in Santa Rosa. At left, firefighter Mike Nealon attempts the same. Both animals died despite the firefighters efforts. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

63 year-old Eddie Scanlon of Petaluma heads out to the Doran Park surf, Tuesday Jan. 12, 2016 in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

With persuasion from Kelseyville High School Coach and Lake County Supervisor, Rob Brown, Upper Lake High School sophomore wrestler Christina Wilson shows her form after making weight Wednesday Feb. 24, 2016 after an all county workout at Kelseyville High School. Wilson is headed to state after winning the NCS title in the 121 pound class. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

A home burns in Lower Lake due to the Clayton fire in Lake County, Sunday August 14, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

A home off Winchester Street in Lower Lake is in ruins due to the Clayton fire Sunday August 14, 2016 in Lake County. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Bennett Leda of Healdsburg’s Cal Fire station monitors the Clayton fire as it approaches Morgan Valley Road near Lower Lake, Sunday August 14, 2016 in Lake County. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Ruben Ybarra of Lower Lake watches as Joe Garza, Terrance Manley and Riaz Ali with an OES crew from Sacramento Metro Fire Department, cover the grave of his three dogs that died during the Clayton Fire, Monday August 15, 2016 in Lake County. Ybarra spent the night at what’s left of his home, background having walked in to check on his property after the fire swept through. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Off Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake, the first night of the Rocky fire threatened several homes in July 2015. The same view in April 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The Rocky fire burned in to August 2015, jumping Highway 20 at one point, sending firefighters scrambling. On April 15, wildflowers and green grass dominate the same hillside. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

A destroyed home in Middletown because of the Valley fire on Wardlaw Street, Sunday Sept. 13, 2015. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

Marcus Semien of the Athletics breaks his bat on a pop-up against the White Sox during the A’s home opener, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Giants third baseman Matt Duffy dives for a hot liner off the bat of Dodger Yasiel Puig in the third inning-he later scored- during opening day at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Tauren Nixon of the Broncos interferes with Johnny Holton on a series of plays where Denver was called for three pass interference calls that led to an Oakland TD, Sunday Nov. 6, 2016 in Oakland.

A law enforcement officer cuts down a marijuana grow in the hills above Kelseyville, Friday June 17, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner gives up a three run home run to Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta in the second inning, Monday Oct. 10, 2016 at AT$T Park in San Francisco. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

After helping to evacuate a home next door, Cal Fire officer Kyle Steis moves quickly from a trailer on fire in Fulton, Tuesday June 21, 2016 that caught fire as the result of a house fire. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Overcome with heat, Rincon Valley firefighter Nate DeJung rests after battling the interior of a house fire in Fulton, Tuesday June 21, 2016. DeJung was taken to the hospital to be checked out. The fire sent billowing black clouds of smoke over Fulton and River Roads, burning a structure and contents in and around the yard and next door to the home. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Tanker 910, a DC10, makes a drop on the head of the Sawmill fire in the Geysers, Sunday Sept. 25, 2016 near Cloverdale. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Lifeguards in training test out their surfboard skills during a Sonoma County Regional Park lifeguard summer camp at Spring Lake Lagoon in Santa Rosa, Monday June 27, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

On the Regina Marie in Bodega Bay, from left clockwise, Darrio Bracamonte of Santa Rosa, Wolfgang Kurz of Sonoma and Eddie Cheever of Petaluma unload 14,000 pounds of dungeness crab. Crab and salmon season are overlapping, and many owners including the Regina Marie are opting to crab, while others are fishing for both, Thursday May 5, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Michael Haworth of Sebastopol is reflected in a Little Caesar camper trailer that he owns, Friday May 6, 2016 in Sebastopol. The trailers were built after WWII by the Sokolis Brothers of Sebastopol. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Ted McIssac, 65, feeds barely from a local brewery to his Angus cattle on a cold wet day near Olema, Monday March 7, 2016. In the Background is Black Mountain. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The Historic C Ranch on the Pt. Reyes Peninsula basks under moonlight, Wednesday March 16, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Rich Grossi and his great granddaughter Emma Ferrero take a break from feeding sheep and other livestock at the historic M Ranch in the Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Monday March 14, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

At the historic A Ranch at the Pt. Reyes National Seashore, holstein head to the milking bran, Tuesday March 8, 2016, creating a temporary cow blockade on the road to the lighthouse. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The FBI rolls back to the Calistoga command post after a second suspect was taken in to custody, involving the Windsor armored car robbery, Tuesday July 12, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Windsor teens T.J. Keith, left, and Alex Tancreto greet friends Jonathan Kelley, far left and driver Austin Hensel after the latter two became stuck in Mark West Station flood waters. Keith and Tancreto helped to push the truck to higher ground, Thursday March 10, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Teslights Sales Director Marc Kelley with LED tubes, Wednesday March 2, 2016. Teslights a year-old Santa Rosa LED lighting company has a manufacturing plant in China and has recently received approval for a PG&E rebate program for business customers.(Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Julian Thorn of Permanent Land Solutions of Sebastopol holds family friend McCoy Grail, 2, as he surveys that damage, to a friends home Sunday March 6, 2016, after a large redwood tree crashed through a home in Camp Meeker during the wind and rainstorm Saturday night. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Fire Chief Steve Baxman, 46-year volunteer with Monte Rio Fire, drives the narrow slot canyon roads in the Russian River District. Baxman is worried about wildland fires in the area, many of the roads are narrow, and homes dot the terraces in thick forested and brush covered hillsides. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Fire Chief Steve Baxman, 46-year volunteer with Monte Rio Fire, talks with Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Gradek, left, and Cal Fire captain Chris Rickert as they discuss which engines to release from a vegetation fire along Highway 116 in Monte Rio, Friday July 15, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The Perseid meteor shower above Geysers Road in Geyserville, Friday morning August 12, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Serving on death row at San Quentin State Prison, Tuesday August 16, 2016, Michael Schultz passes the day by reading in his cell. According to newspaper reports, Schultz raped and strangled Cynthia Burger, 44, in 1993 in her Port Hueneme, Ca. condo. Schultz was convicted in 2003 for her murder. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

A guard with rifle, watches over San Quentin’s Death Row, Tuesday August 16, 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Petaluma firefighters enter a home off Stewart Drive in Petaluma to knock down an attic fire stemming from a brush fire that damaged eight homes, Tuesday Sept. 27, 2016 parallel to Highway 101. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Nichole McCarty and her son Jeremiah Bishop ,6, give a heartfelt and tearful embrace to Bishop’s Thomas Page Elementary school teacher Teresa Peterson, after McCarty’s children were put on a list to receive new bikes from Innovative Screen Printing and Embroidery in Rohnert Park, Friday Dec. 16, 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Saint Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church in Bodega is illuminated by a single strand of lights around the doorway under the winter hue of a cold clear night, Tuesday Dec. 20, 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

The pulled pork sandwich with beans as a side with a glass of HopMonk Tavern Ale, Thursday Dec. 8, 2016 at the Twin Oaks Road House in Penngrove. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

As the temperatures plunge to near freezing, good samaritan Natasha Suka gives the shirt off her back to a freezing Missy Nitisha at the Ninth Street over crossing in Santa Rosa, Wednesday Sept. 7, 2016. Nitisha’s jackets were stolen earlier in the day. Suka and her family were rolling to different locations to drop food and clothing to Santa Rosa’s homeless. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

A kite surfer glides across Bodega Harbor, Monday May 16, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Chicago’s Albert Almora Jr. fails to catch a triple by Conor Gillaspie which scored two runs in the eighth inning of Game 3 during the NLDS at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 10, 2016.

-Kent Porter

Kaepernick opts out

Lowell Cohn — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 18:16:06 GMT

Being reported Colin Kaepernick will opt out of his 49ers contract and probably test free agency. The 9ers don’t need him, so good. Let him go. If he thinks he’ll get a starting job with another team, totally deluded. Somehow, he opted out of being a good quarterback a few seasons back. Still a mystery how or why. Just regressed.

The post Kaepernick opts out appeared first on Cohn Zohn.

When Choosing Wrong Answers Can be Right.

David.Sortino — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 19:19:22 GMT

With exams always on the front burner for many students, new research suggests that unusual test taking techniques can actually help students achieve higher performance. As a student, I was taught what is called “errorless learning” or to create study conditions that prevent errors. However, some researchers suggest a more […]

When Choosing Wrong Answers Can be Right!

David.Sortino — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 04:30:17 GMT

When Choosing Wrong Answers Can be Right

LagunaPic-Redux

weather — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 19:34:49 GMT

Follow me on Twitter: @kentphotos and Instgram: kpfotog

Sonoma County endured an entire week of Friday the 13th, pummeled by record rainfall and consequential flooding. Tiring of wet clothes, hair, eyes, ears with days of soggy waders and an unfortunate dip in the floodwaters of Guerneville, I took a deep breath this morning and headed to the Laguna de Santa Rosa. An oasis in the middle of our urban sprawl, It’s my go to place to make art when in need of a photographic recharge. For a brief five minute window, I was rewarded with a just enough color to make Friday the 13th less intimidating.

Here’s to nature.

The Laguna de Santa Rosa, flooded by record rainfall, glows, early Friday January 13, 2017. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat)

-Kent Porter

Donald’s Trumps’ Moral Judgment?

David.Sortino — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 16:24:20 GMT

Donald’s Trumps’ Moral Judgment?

Why Should We Be Concerned.

David.Sortino — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 03:46:13 GMT

Why should we be concerned regarding California’s move to delay labeling of products containing a chemical commonly known as BPA. Please read below. Today’s children face dangerous environmental hazards that can affect critical developmental milestones, particularly brain development. According to a Northwestern Medical study (2011), the number of […]

Electronics and Your Student’s Novelty Seeking Brain

David.Sortino — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 03:42:30 GMT

A serious dilemma facing today’s teachers and parents is the negative effect the gadgetry of electronics is having on our children’s learning potential and/or ability to focus in school. In short, this lack of focus might be directly attributed to our brains’ need for novelty? In other words, our brain, […]

What Season Is It?

weather — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 18:50:57 GMT

Follow me on Twitter @kentphotos

Instagram: kpfotog

Can we get this sports thing straight now?

Remember when we baby boomers were young? There were three seasons. Baseball, basketball and football, of course there was track and field and cross country and volleyball, softball and soccer too, but the big three in 1976 (eighth grade y’all) were the above three. As I embark on my fourth decade of shooting professional sports, these observations are needed.

–Madison Bumgarner could take on Clint Eastwood and Chuck Norris and win. Doodly doo, buh wah wah.

Madison Bumgarner pitched a complete game 5 hitter to beat the Royals 5-0 during game 5 of the World Series in San Francisco, Sunday Oct. 26, 2014. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2014

–Bruce Bochy looks like a catcher. Don’t mess with a catcher. Even Chuck Norris would agree.

Hunter Pence and Bruce Bochy embrace after the Giants beat the Nationals to move to the NLCS, Tuesday Oct. 7, 2014 during game 4 of the NLDS at AT&T Park in San Francisco. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2014

Roger Craig was always fun to photograph I never had to interview him, so I’m not sure what his personality was like. But he always made for interesting pictures.

SF Giants manager Roger Craig is introduced during opening day in 1988. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

–I remember watching the 1972 World Series in Oakland and my dad paying $12 for our tickets. True, they were nose bleed seats, but hey, $12 bucks?

Some people take baseball very, very seriously. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

–After Al Davis built Mt. Davis to accommodate the Raiders, the stadium now resembles something out of an Independence Day movie.

Opening day for the Oakland A’s beneath Mt. Davis. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat)

–Could you imagine what would happen if they had bat day still? I’ve hung on to my trusty Tito Fuentes bat complete with rock marks on the barrel.

–I like the confines of the Giants digs, but covering games at Candlestick was and adventure unto itself. Every night was like an Alaskan winter. You could SEE Mt. Denali on a clear night. Really. You could. I’m not kidding. Russia too.

–If you’re a photojournalist, you will remember certain El Nino 49er football games where actual kitty litter was used to soak up the foot deep puddles on the sidelines. Those were some of the worst conditions on planet Earth at the time. Maybe all time. Actually it was like that even when it wasn’t raining.

–Me? Exaggerate? Naw.

-Speaking of gnaw, the last season of shooting at the stick afforded me the great view of a rat chomping on discarded food in the photo meal area under the stands. It was a big sucker too.

Steve Young takes the game ball after a victory over the Dallas Cowboys, propelling the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 1995. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

–Oh, but the light at Candlestick could get really nice, especially in late fall.

–AT&T park is comfortable, and the views are spectacular. However, when the crowd gets rocking, the overhead shooting position basket actually sways and vibrates. It’s sorta like an earthquake.

World Series between the Giants and the Kansas City Royals, October 26, 2014. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

–Is anyone else bothered by the little strike zone square that ESPN is using on their broadcasts? C’mon, it’s baseball. 900 million people know where the strike zone is.

–The Warriors fans are the loudest people on the face of the earth. Even with ear plugs, my ears ring for days.

–What did you say?

The Warriors beat LA, 100-99 during to force a seventh and deciding game against the Clippers, Thursday May 1, 2014. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2014

–Typical sports photojournalist day with a game time of 7:05pm (I’m talking World Series or Super Bowl type events) in 40 easy steps:

Wake up at 6am
Eat Breakfast
Brush Teeth
Take shower, dress in journalist clothes. No time to comb hair.
Leave home at 6:05am
Drive to coworker Chris Chung’s house to carpool. (fuel efficiency).
Drive nearly an hour just to get out of Sonoma County.
Drive another three hours just to get through Marin County.
Park.
Walk to stadium with nearly 8,000 pounds of gear.
Get credentials, set up computers in Photo workroom, which will eventually look like someone had a food fight at the end of the night.
Look for photo spots on the field.
Walk to upper level to place remote camera.
Walk back down, worry about field photo spots.
Eat.
Set up online photo galleries.
Commute back down to the field to watch batting practice and make pregame pictures.
Get admonished by security for stepping on, horrors, the grass.
Get admonished by network types for getting in their live, on field shots.
Bleh.
Search for the almost impossible task of finding someone from Sonoma County attending the game.
Shoot pictures of them eating, because it’s still two hours before the game.
Transmit photos of people eating.
Go to the restroom. Pee for the first time all day.
Go back to the field, worry about field positions a little more.
Take obligatory selfie
Get blocked during National Anthem
Get blocked some more by umpires or on deck hitter during game.
Shoot more of the game.
Walk back up to third level to grab remote camera.
Transmit action from the game. People are already throwing food.
Catch thrown food with bare hands and eat it.
Pack up gear in to tiny suitcases.
Walk back to the lot with 8,000 pounds of gear.
Drive home. The Golden Gate Bridge doesn’t impress that late at night.
Arrive home at 1:30am.
Dog barks, waking entire household up.
Decompress for three minutes.
Sleep.
Repeat.

Chris Chung and I during the last Oakland A’s playoff appearance.

-Kent Porter

Valley Fire, A Year After

weather — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 00:07:43 GMT

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House lights from the occupied home of Ron Haskett and his wife Kathleen Ahart, play in contrast to the darkness of a destroyed neighborhood on Summit Blvd. in Cobb Tuesday Aug. 30, 2016. The Valley fire took out nearly the entire neighborhood including the fir trees that once enveloped the area, leaving sky high views. The couple were the first to rebuild in the area. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

It’s been over a year since the Valley fire swept through southern Lake County. Documenting the regrowth of the area has meant a lot of trips back and forth from Sonoma County, which comes out to about 72 round trips. I’m sure that I missed things photographically, but my intention was to go up and not have an agenda when I looked to document the aftermath of such a disaster. I’ve been time and again drawn to the barren hillsides that were once flush with fir and oak trees. The sometimes bleak terrain where homes and lives once flourished has given way to a new way of life. Homes are being rebuilt, albeit probably slower than some thought. With the absence of trees, planted gardens are flourishing, reacting to the nearly non existent tree cover in the communities of Cobb, Gifford and Anderson Springs. Still, there is desolation. Anderson Springs is quiet, the septic issue has been a setback for those looking to rebuild. Foundations and homes are starting to pop up, but not with the frequency as the other communities. Middletown and Hidden Valley are also rebuilding.

Barbara McWilliams, 72, of Anderson Springs, was discovered Sunday Sept 13, 2015 in her home, a victim of the Valley fire. On Tuesday July 19, 2016 a sunflower grows next to the footprint of her home. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

Mentally, the scars will remain for years. Disasters of Valley fire magnitude have this effect. Those that were trapped by the flames and lived to tell the story relate nightmares and flashbacks. Anger remains. Heartache for what was, will remain with those that rebuild from the ashes. Everyone has a story to tell about the fire. Residents are eager to describe in detail the horror of watching flames indiscriminately devour their lives in matter of seconds, evacuating with nothing but the clothes on their back and mourning for an entire community with its vibrant ecosystem of life.

Margit Pataki takes a plunge in Anderson Springs, Monday Aug. 29, 2016 surrounded by burned trees and vacant parcels. A resident of Rose Anderson Road of the community, Pataki lost her home of 20 years to the the 2015 Valley fire. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Hoberg’s Resort is one of the last places in the Valley fire zone in need of debris removal, upper photo is from Sept. 13, 2015 and lower photo is from August 29, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Anderson Springs was all but wiped out by the Valley fire last September. Tall pines that once grew were burned, forcing crews to cut down most of them, Thursday Aug. 18, 2016, leaving a stark and changed landscape. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Ron Haskett and his wife Kathleen Ahart take a moment to enjoy a sunset from the back deck of their newly built home on Summit Blvd. in Cobb Tuesday Aug. 30, 2016. A year after the Valley fire destroyed hundreds of homes in the Cobb Mountain area, they were among the first to rebuild. A year ago, they put a flag at the wreckage of their home, intent on rebuilding. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

On Hoberg Drive east, a firefighter attempted to save a structure on Sept. 12, 2015 during the Valley fire as others burn around him. In July 2016, the land remains bare as others are in the process of being rebuilt. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

A portion of the Middletown Garden Apartments burns early Sunday morning September 13, 2015 in Middletown. In July 2016, the complex has been nearly rebuilt. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Harbin Hot Springs near Middletown, Sept, 14, 2015 after the Valley fire swept through. In August 2016, the popular resort is looking to reopen for the holidays. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Beside the charred landscape and scorched trees, few remnants remain of the Valley fire, Tuesday Aug. 30, 2016 in Cobb. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

A home on Meadow View Drive in Hidden Valley Lake burns, Saturday Sept. 12, 2015 due to the Valley fire. The same neighborhood in September 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

On September 13, 2015 the Bennett home is engulfed as the Valley fire rages. Below, Bo Bennett and his grandson Eli, 4, have a discussion about bricks, Monday Aug. 29, 2016, salvaged from the chimney of the Bennett house in Middletown, some of the only remnants of the house that was razed during the Valley fire. The Bennett family intends to rebuild. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

During Cobb Elementary’s first day of School, Wednesday Aug. 10, 2016 principal David Leonard, right, greets sixth grade teacher Marc Moreda. Leonard lost his home to the Valley Fire a year ago. At left is school secretary Karen Huff. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Hidden Valley resident Bonnie Bishop, 55, lost her home off Noble Ranch Road to the Valley fire, which is now being rebuilt. Now she is part of a crew that is clearing charred trees in danger of falling at the Middletown Trailside Nature Preserve and EcoArts Park, Friday Sept. 2, 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Mark Calegari of Cobb inspects the deck of his Valley fire rebuilt home in Cobb, Tuesday Sept. 6, 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

The Valley fire destroyed dozens of homes in Middletown, with these on Stewart Street, Sept. 14, 2015. A year after the Valley fire destroyed dozens of homes, the area is dotted with rebuilding efforts. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Frank Werts is still cutting up remnants of fir trees that grew on his property in Anderson Springs, Friday Sept. 2, 2016, a year after the Valley fire burned his home and most belongings. Living in a donated motor home, Werts is in the process of rebuilding his home…and life. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

I’ve learned several things in my time documenting the fire zone. The picture of the goats, below, was a surprise encounter. Reporter Martin Espinoza and I fed them what we had and tried to give them water. Sadly, the owner of the goats told me that one died several months after the fire.

In what I used to imagine as a trip which seemed to take forever to cross Mt. St. Helena, in reality can take as little as 12 minutes on a good traffic day. I can recount the conversations with so many people about life in Lake County. Those that reside there, acknowledge the county does have it’s problems; but then again can’t that be said for every community?

For those of us that know the backroads, there are breathtaking views. In my coverage of the area, I try to incorporate the scenic aspects to the region and I think it serves as a tremendous example of a Sense of Place. Having grown up in Lake County (started in third grade) I would revel in the summers spent on the lake, fishing and swimming, diving off Lucerne’s Community Pier (now gone) and camping in the Mendocino National Forest. Winter could be especially boring, the lake was cold and too rough to fish. When I got older a driver’s license meant freedom from the family taxi, I was able to explore regions only see from afar. With a camera, I was able to make pictures in new places and gain a unique perspective on the life people were living there. In reality, what we experience in our youth leads us down the path to a greater understanding of what it’s like to be rich or poor. When the Valley fire roared over Cobb, I felt as though I’d been sucker punched. This was an afront to a community that I once called home. I took the coverage very seriously and at times became both mentally and physically overwhelmed. Those personal images from the first night of the fire will be etched in my memory until I die, to only be softened by the march of time. The way I see it, how do you make meaningful pictures if you can’t relate to someone on a personal level? Sitting down and listening to the stories of the disaster was a vehicle to human interaction. In some ways, I think our society has forgotten how to listen to those with problems. There were days I didn’t make any pictures, because the stories were riveting. Riveting.

Goats were let out their enclosure in hopes that they would survive the Valley fire in September of 2015 on Gifford Spring Road, which they did. A year later, the houses and most of the trees are gone, Tuesday Sept. 6, 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Cal Fire dozer operator Drew Bohan joined his wife Nahani, left, for their daughters first day of kindergarten at Cobb Elementary School, Wednesday Aug. 10, 2016. Lohan wears a shirt dedicated to the 104 Boggs helitac crew that was burned over in the early stages of the Valley fire. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

A remnant of the Valley fire in Middletown, Friday Sept. 2, 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Slowly, Jacqueline Bartlett’s home in Anderson Springs is being rebuilt, Monday Aug. 29, 2016. Nearly to the end of Anderson Springs Road, tucked in to a hillside, the Valley fire burned nearly every home in the community. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Sometimes you come across (with the help of reporters) people working together as a cohesive entity. Such was the case of a crew clearing a heavily forested area named Middletown Trailside Nature Preserve and EcoArts Park. This group of men and women are painstakingly removing dead trees. They were fun to be around. The joked, told dirty jokes and generally loved doing what they were assigned to do, below (and a few near the top of the post).

Hidden Valley resident Cristina Clarke is part of a crew that is clearing charred trees in danger of falling at the Middletown Trailside Nature Preserve and EcoArts Park, Friday Sept. 2, 2016. Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Quiet moments. I would sit and observe. Talk. Laugh. Commiserate. Finally, I would ask to make pictures. I trusted that residents of the fire zone would trust me to make the best picture possible of their struggle to find, in some cases, normality.

Margit Pataki meditates after taking a swim in Anderson Springs Monday Aug. 29. A resident of Rose Anderson Road in the the community of Anderson Springs, Pataki lost her home of 20 years to the the 2015 Valley fire. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

“The fence burned down in the fire,” Frank Werts says, “so my dog is back on a leash,” Friday Sept. 2, 2016, a year after the Valley fire burned his Anderson Springs home and most belongings, Werts and his dog are living in a donated motor home and will rebuild. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Cobb Elementary School kindergarten teacher Kim Ferguson leads her charges to the first day of classes, Wednesday Aug. 10, 2016 in Cobb. Hundreds of homes in Cobb were burned by the 2015 Valley fire. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

Where there was once thousands of trees off Humboldt Road in Cobb, few remain in the subdivision due to the September 2015 Valley fire, Tuesday Aug. 30, 2016. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) 2016

-Kent Porter

Summer Flames: Spring Blooms

weather — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 18:20:22 GMT

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Before: Valley fire Sept. 2015. After: Valley fire April 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat)

Patience. It’s what’s best about a journalist. Wait it out, something will take place worthy of documentation. Like all wildfires, it takes years for flora and fauna to return to normal. Decades in some cases. In my own experience, the spring after a major wildfire…with the help of a wet winter, can transform a fire scarred landscape to a palette of color. I’ve been back to Lake County so many times since those dreadful and decimating fires last summer. What I found this spring was a landscape in recovery. In the lower regions of the Valley and the Rocky scars, a multitude of wildflowers appeared, carpeting once blackened moonscapes. In the higher elevations, there is growth, but slow; spring arrives a little later in the high country.

I tried to duplicate the scenes I photographed in July, August and September of last year. In some cases, the lens selection may be different to show the regrowth, but the locations are the same. Hopefully the land and the people continue to recover over time.

The Rocky fire spread in to Colusa County at the intersection of Highway’s 16 and 20. Now, the valley is carpeted in flowers. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016.

A destroyed home in Middletown because of the Valley fire on Wardlaw Street, Sunday Sept. 13, 2015. In April 2016, the landscape begins to come alive. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The morning after the Valley fire raced across entire sections of southern Lake County, a surreal scene greeted me. Seven months later, both beauty and destruction can still be seen. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Off Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake, the first night of the Rocky fire threatened several homes in July 2015. The same view in April 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The full moon rises above the Rocky fire in July 2015. Last week, a waxing gibbus moon. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

As the sun set in July 2015, the Rocky fire roared to life as it crested one ridge after another. On April 15 2016, all is quiet. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Firefighters from Windsor, Geyserville and Cloverdale set backfires on the Rocky fire in July 2015 in the footprint of a drought stricken farm pond. On Friday April 15, 2016 winter rains have partially filed the pond. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Firefighters from Windsor, Geyserville and Cloverdale set backfires on the Rocky fire in July 2015 On Friday April 15, 2015, wildflowers dot the landscape. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The Rocky Fire on Morgan Valley Road, July, 2015 in Lake County. On April 8, 2016, lupine grows. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2015

The Rocky fire burned in to August 2015, jumping Highway 20 at one point, sending firefighters scrambling. On April 15, 2016 wildflowers and green grass dominate the same hillside. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The Rocky fire threatens a ranch in July 2015. On April 15, 2016 a barren hillside and remains. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

The Rocky fire in July 2015. Below, April 2016, wildflowers bloom. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Days after the Rocky and Jerusalem fires were nearly contained the landscape was turned black in August 2015. The heat of the fire can be seen in the lower photo, even after spring rains doused the area regions remain nearly bleached, Friday April 15, 2016 . (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

No water in Cache Creek along Highway 20 meant less of a natural firebreak in August 2015. On April 15, 2016, Winter rains at least partially hydrated the creek. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016.

-Kent Porter

Opening Day? Night? Week?

weather — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:56:51 GMT

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Gregor Blanco, Denard Span and Hunter Pence celebrate the Giants victory during their opener against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

It used to be almost all Major League Baseball games opened during daylight hours. Even if teams had lights, games were played under the sun. You know, because baseball fans are ravenous and treat the game as religion. Actress Susan Sarandon as Annie Savoy in ‘Bull Durham’ said it best:

“I believe in the Church of Baseball. I’ve tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones.” Of course I couldn’t quote the entire thing, because, well, we’re a family newspaper.

I’m not old enough to remember when most stadiums didn’t have lights (Thankyouverymuch) I want to say that the end of opening day day, was when the powers that be initiated the horrid and unthinkable act of stealing daylight and installing gargantuan light poles at Wrigley Field in Chicago, August 8, 1988.

In reality, The first night game involved the Cincinnati Reds beating the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in 1935 in what was Major League Baseball’s first-ever, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. President Roosevelt symbolically powered up the lights from Washington, D.C. to capitalize on an evening fan base. By the end of the season, their attendance was up over 117 percent. That’s it, isn’t it? More people, more money. It’s a bottom line thing.

Daytime fireworks punctuate opening day festivities between the Oakland A’s and the Chicago White Sox, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

A few personal observations from the A’s and Giants ceremonial opening day/night.

-The Giants pull out one of the largest American flags you will ever see on opening day. It takes about 10,000 people to unfurl it.

-The Athletics have one of the smallest. Maybe six people to hold it.

-The Giants always sell out. Then again they always have sell outs according to their PR people.

-The A’s have a huge mountain (Mt. Davis) that blots out most available light, even at noon. It blocks the only view in which the Coliseum ever possessed (the Oakland Hills and the BART platform) and added thousands of seats which are closed off on the fourth deck and the third deck on the west side. The covers resemble Jolly Green Giant trampolines. I’m not sure what a sellout is during baseball season, there are so many empty seats.

-Just because you have fireworks, doesn’t mean you have to use them. Daytime fireworks are like trying to find white paper in a blizzard.

-Is it still opening day if it’s your fourth game but first at home? It’s now called Opening Week. Sorta like the ‘First Four’ during the NCAA tournament.

-Climbing the stairs to the upper deck of AT&T Park is like scaling a man-made mini Mount Everest. The air is rare 100 feet above sea level, but what a view.

From the upper deck at At&T Park overlooking McCovey Cove during the Giants home opener, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

-I’m thoroughly convinced that hot dog companies stay in business thanks to baseball and the Fourth of July.

-AT&T park has it’s own version of ‘The Birds’. Just wait around ’till after the game. Stay away from the bleachers.

-The turf and infield at the Oakland Coliseum are a thing of beauty, especially when it doubles as a football field.

Danny Valencia makes a sliding catch off the bunt of Melky Cabrera of the White Sox, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

-How many humorous photos can one make of the Chevron cars at AT&T Park’s left field?

Giants right fielder Hunter Pence limbers up before the Giants home opener against the Dodgers, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

-Getting to AT&T Park takes time, bring snacks in case you get caught in downtown traffic. Getting to the game four to six hours ahead of time alleviates the problem. However, Oakland has the Nimitz which can be easy on easy off. Unless there’s an accident. Again, four to six hours cancels it out. In our biz, we factor in traffic woes.

-Fans are universally pumped up at each stadium. When the Dodgers are in SF, it’s like the World Series, even though that will never happen. Unless Hell freezes over.

An Oakland Athletics fan looks out on the Oakland Coliseum during their home opener against the Chicago White Sox, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

A San Francisco Giants fan prior to the Giants home opener, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Emma Hatcher, 12, gets an autograph from Rickey Henderson as her dad Jeff Hatcher celebrates prior to the A’s opener against the White Sox, Monday April 4, 2016. The two are from Livermore. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Ashley Brown of Concord is photographed by friend Paul Bryson of San Francisco prior to the Giants home opener against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Whatever your take on baseball, it’s kind of a fun to sit and watch a game in sunshine or under the lights. Just bring a jacket.

Meanwhile, here’s a few from last week’s openers.

Marcus Semien of the Athletics breaks his bat on a pop-up against the White Sox during the A’s home opener, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Khris Davis of the Athletics loses his helmet during the second inning against the White Sox during the A’s home opener, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Hunter Pence clobbers a grand slam to left field in the eighth inning to propel the Giants to a 12-6 victory during the Giants opening day against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Hunter Pence greets, from left, Joe Panik, Denard Span, Angel Pagan at home after smacking a grand slam in the eighth inning, during the Giants opening day against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Giants opening day against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

After Batting practice prior to the Giants home opener against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, players head to the clubhouse, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

-Kent Porter

Dungeness Crab Season Begins

weather — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 18:29:54 GMT

Justin Davis, skipper of the Night Wind, says goodbye to his wife Deserie Davis and son Ivan as his crew prepares to head out crabbing after months of delay, Tuesday March 29, 2016 at Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

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Spent a little time in Bodega Bay Monday, March 29, 2016 for the start of the long delayed Dungeness crab season. Fisherman didn’t celebrate too much, they were much to busy getting their crab pots baited and readied to be dropped. I wanted to show the frenetic pent-up energy that has been in check for more than five months, but what I saw was a finely tuned routine of making sure everything was set to go. Most boats were loaded with the pots beforehand; this, thanks to the domoic acid levels dropping, signaling an anticipated start to the season recently. After the price per pound was settled upon yesterday, several vessels were out of the harbor within a half hour and on the open sea.

Crab pots are loaded on to the Night Wind at Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay, Tuesday March 29, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Deckhand Sean Amoroso, right and skipper Matt Anello cut frozen squid and mackerel as they prepare to head out to catch crab, Tuesday March 29, 2016 in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Deckhands all around Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay, busied vessels for the beginning of Dungeness crab season, Tuesday March 29, 2016. (Kent Porter/Press Democrat) 2015

The Sea Spirit heads out for crab from Spud Point Marina, Tuesday March 29, 2016 in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 20

The Donna Mia heads out to open water to drop crab pots, Tuesday March 29, 2016 in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

-Kent Porter