DIGABLE PLANETS The jazz-informed hip-hop group will play at the Marin County Fair Sunday, July 3 at 7pm.

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Petaluma

Sunday Jazz

Summer is here and so are the dulcet tones of outdoor jazz. Every Sunday afternoon, stop by the Speakeasy Restaurant in Helen Putnam Plaza to find Live Jazz in Petaluma in full swing. Some of the best jazz musicians in the Bay Area are flocking to the plaza to play together, and there’s a new lineup every weekend. This Sunday come groove to Ken Cook on the piano, Luis Carbo on percussion, Michael Aragon on the drums and Chuck Sher on the bass. Live Jazz in Petaluma is organized by Chuck Sher of Sher Music Co., a music book publishing company with over 100 song and method books for jazz and Latin music. The next Live Jazz in Petaluma performance is Sunday, July 3 at the Putnam Plaza, 139-B Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. From 1:30pm-3:30pm. This event is free.

Rohnert Park

Teen Film Festival

The Sonoma County Library is hosting its second annual Teen Film Festival.Sonoma County teens ages 12-19 are invited to submit their own six minute film for a chance to win first, second or third place. Prizes include Best Buy and local cinema gift cards. All films must be conceived, written, shot and edited by teens from 12-19, who are residents of Sonoma County. Both individual and group projects are accepted. Adult guidance is allowed, as is adult acting, but planning and production must be completed by teens. Submissions are open through July 31. Films will be judged through Aug. 15 and winners announced Aug. 22. An in-person premiere of the winning films will be held ​​Aug. 31 at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Library, 6250 Lynne Condé Way, Rohnert Park. 7pm-8pm. This event is free. www.sonomacountylibrary.org  

San Rafael

Marin County Fair

It’s a fair season for fair season! The 2022 Marin County Fair kicks off Thursday and runs through July 4. The theme this year is “So Happy Together” and includes outdoor entertainment such as headline concerts, jugglers, unicyclists, stilt walkers and interactive art experiences for attendees of all ages. Plein air painting, Irish dancing and fun runs are just a few of the activities. Returning fair favorites will include traditional carnival rides, the Global Marketplace, the Barnyard, food and drinks, and fireworks every night over the Civic Center’s Lagoon Park. The musical lineup this year is stacked, including San Francisco’s Pablo Cruise and Grammy-winning hip-hop group Digable Planets. The 2022 Marin County Fair opens June 30 and runs through July 4 at the Marin County Fairgrounds, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Early bird General Admission tickets are $20 until June 30, then $25 adults and teens, $20 seniors 65+ and children ages 4-12. Children under 4 free. www.fair.marincounty.org 

Novato

Free Family Day

MarinMOCA is hosting another Free Family Day for those youngsters and their caretakers looking to explore the world of art. Come to the MarinMOCA art studio for crafting and art projects, led by one of MarinMOCA’s professional art instructors. The projects are different every time, and there’s always something to take home to remember the afternoon. Free Family Days accommodate four families at a time, to ensure Covid safety. Families can schedule at 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm or 3pm. Free Family Day is July 10, in MarinMOCA’s art classroom, 781 Hamilton Parkway, Novato. Classes from 11am-3pm. Free event. Registration is required. Call 415-506-0137, or email in**@*******ca.org. www.marinmoca.org.

—Jane Vick

Astrology – Week of 06/29/22

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In her poem, “Two Skins,” Bahamian writer Lynn Sweeting writes, “There is a moment in every snake’s life when she wears two skins: one you can see, about to be shed, one you cannot see, the skin under the skin, waiting.” I suspect you now have metaphorical resemblances to a snake on the verge of molting, Aries. Congratulations on your imminent rebirth! Here’s a tip: The snake’s old skin doesn’t always just fall away; she may need to take aggressive action to tear it open and strip it off, like by rubbing her head against a rock. Be ready to perform a comparable task.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Imagine a world 300 years from now,” writes Japanese novelist Minae Mizumura, “a world in which not only the best-educated people but also the brightest minds and the deepest souls express themselves only in English. Imagine the world subjected to the tyranny of a singular ‘Logos.’ What a narrow, pitiful and horrid world that would be!” Even though I am primarily an English speaker, I agree with her. I don’t want a world purged of diversity. Don’t want a monolithic culture. Don’t want everyone to think and speak the same. I hope you share my passion for multiplicity, Taurus—especially these days. In my astrological opinion, you’ll thrive if you immerse yourself in a celebratory riot of variety. I hope you will seek out influences you’re not usually exposed to.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Imagine you’re not a person, but a medley of four magical ingredients. What would they be? A Gemini baker named Jasmine says, “ripe persimmons, green hills after a rain, a sparkling new Viking Black Glass Oven and a prize-winning show horse.” A Gemini social worker named Amarantha says she would be made of “Florence and the Machine’s song, ‘Sky Full of Song,’ a grove of birch trees, a blue cashmere knee-length sweater and three black cats sleeping in the sun.” A Gemini delivery driver named Altoona says, “freshly harvested cannabis buds, a bird-loving wetlands at twilight, Rebecca Solnit’s book, Hope in the Darkness, and the Haleakalā shield volcano in Maui.” And now, Gemini, what about you? Identify your medley of four magical ingredients. The time is right to re-imagine the poetry of YOU.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard believes there’s only one way to find a sense of meaning, and that is to fill your life to the bursting point, to be in love with your experience, to celebrate the flow of events wherever it takes you. When you do that, Godard says, you have no need or urge to ask questions like “Why am I here?” or “What is my purpose?” The richness of your story is the ultimate response to every enigma. As I contemplate these ideas, I say: wow! That’s an intensely vibrant way to live. Personally, I’m not able to sustain it all the time. But I think most of us would benefit from such an approach for brief periods now and then. And I believe you have just entered one of those phases.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I asked Leo readers to provide their insights about the topic “How to Be a Leo.” Here are responses that line up with your current astrological omens. 1. People should try to understand you’re only bossing them around for their benefit.—Harlow Hunt 2. Be alert for the intense shadows you may cast with your intense brightness. Consider the possibility that even if they seem iffy or dicey, they have value and even blessings to offer.—Cannarius Kansen 3. Never break your own heart. Never apologize for showering yourself with kindness and adoration.—Amy Clear 4. At the moment of orgasm, scream out your own name.—Bethany Grace

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s your birthright as a Virgo to become a master of capitalizing on difficulties. You have great potential to detect opportunities coalescing in the midst of trouble. You can develop a knack for spotting the order that’s hiding in the chaos. Now is a time when you should wield these skills with artistry, my dear—both for your own benefit and for the betterment of everyone whose lives you touch.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): One of my heroes died in 2021: the magnificent Libran author bell hooks (who didn’t capitalize her name). She was the most imaginative and independent-minded activist I knew. Till her last day, she articulated one-of-a-kind truths about social justice; she maintained her uncompromising originality. But it wasn’t easy. She wrote, “No insurgent intellectual, no dissenting critical voice in this society escapes the pressure to conform. We are all vulnerable. We can all be had, co-opted, bought. There is no special grace that rescues any of us. There is only a constant struggle.” I bring this to your attention, Libra, because I suspect the coming weeks will require your strenuous efforts to remain true to your high standards and unique vision of reality.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You now have the power to make yourself even more beautiful than you already are. You are extraordinarily open to beautifying influences, and there will be an abundance of beautifying influences coming your way. I trust you understand I’m not referring to the kinds of beauty that are worshiped by conventional wisdom. Rather, I mean the elegance, allure, charm and grace that you behold in old trees and gorgeous architecture and enchanting music and people with soulful idiosyncrasies. P.S.: The coming weeks will also be a favorable time to redefine the meaning of beauty for yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It’s the Season for Expressing Your Love—and for expanding and deepening the ways you express your love. I invite you to speak the following quotes to the right person: 1. “Your head is a living forest full of songbirds.”—E. E. Cummings 2. “Lovers continuously reach each other’s boundaries.”—Rainer Maria Rilke 3. “You’re my favorite unfolding story.”— Ann Patchett 4. “My lifetime listens to yours.”— Muriel Rukeyser

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the coming weeks, make sure you do NOT fit this description articulated by Capricorn novelist Haruki Murakami: “You’re seeking something, but at the same time, you are running away for all you’re worth.” If there is any goal about which you feel conflicted like that, dear Capricorn, now is a good time to clear away your confusion. If you are in some sense undercutting yourself, perhaps unconsciously, now is the time to expose your inner saboteur and seek the necessary healing. July will be Self-Unification Month.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A Tweeter named Luxuryblkwomen articulates one of her ongoing goals: “bridging the gap between me and my ideal self, one day at a time.” I’d love it if you would adopt a similar aspiration in the coming months. You’re going to be exceptionally skilled at all types of bridge-building, including the kind that connects you to the hero you’ll be in the future. I mean, you are already a hero in my eyes, but I know you will ultimately become an even more fulfilled and refined version of your best self. Now is a favorable time to do the holy work of forging stronger links to that star-to-be.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A blogger named Lissar suggests that the cherry blossom is an apt symbol for you Pisceans. She describes you as “transient, lissome, blooming, lovely, fragile yet memorable and recurring, in tune with nature.” Lissar says you “mystify yet charm,” and that your “presence is a balm, yet awe-inspiring and moving.” Of course, like all of us, you also have your share of less graceful qualities. And that’s not a bad thing! We’re all here to learn the art of growing into our ripe selves. It’s part of the fun of being alive. But I suspect that in the coming weeks, you will be an extra close match for Lissar’s description. You are at the peak of your power to delight and beguile us.

Scenes of Silence – Ecuadorian artist Wolfgang Bloch

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By Jane Vick

Seager/Gray Gallery in Mill Valley is renowned for their excellent curation of contemporary artists. This summer, their exhibitions include“Paisajes del Silencio” or “Scenes of Silence,” a body of work by Ecuadorian artist Wolfgang Bloch. The show closes July 4.

Bloch, a Southern California-based artist, is known for his signature oceanic subject matter, which captures the immense tranquility of a seascape. His paintings are an immersive tribute to the powerful silence of both the ocean and the mind engaged in contemplation. There is an underwater quality to both his color palette and the visual volume he captures.

Born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Bloch came to the United States at the age of 18 to study marine biology at the University of Florida. He changed his major after realizing his propensity for art over science, and graduated with a BFA in 1987.

To stay in the United States, he then applied for another BFA program at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. In an interview with SHOUTOUT LA in June of 2021, Bloch said the move to Los Angeles was when he really began feeling at home in the United States.

“I still remember the feeling when I finally arrived in LA as I drove past downtown on my way to Pasadena. I loved it—the diversity of people, so many different cultures, the variety of foods, music, art—and I could finally speak Spanish again without getting dirty looks.” (“Meet Wolfgang Bloch: Artist” article, www.shoutoutla.com.)

After college, Bloch took a job as a designer with Gotcha Sportswear in Irvine, but left after four years to freelance. The transition back to tangible media and away from a computer screen nourished his creative spirit. Bloch’s love of the sea and graphic design skills resulted in a lot of illustrative work for surf companies, though he also produced graphics and logos for Indian Motorcycle.

Bloch’s skills are obvious, and it’s impressive to discover that this is the man behind some of the more iconic surf designs of the 1990s, including immediately recognizable Roxy and O’Neill graphics synonymous with Southern California beach style.

In 2000, Bloch was commissioned by Billabong to paint a large scale piece for the lobby of one of their buildings, and in this moment his career as an independent artist began to truly crest.

“I started painting again. It felt so good to just paint; to have the opportunity to experiment, to enjoy the process and not know where the work was going or where it would end up. It had been years since I experienced that.”

Bloch’s ocean-centric work shifted in 2013, when after 20 years of marriage he experienced a divorce that upturned his entire life. In a short documentary on Bloch’s life and work, by filmmaker Adam Warmington, Bloch said of this time, “Change comes to you, and you’re forced into something that you don’t want to go through. And it forces you to rethink everything, and that’s when you take chances. When you’re uncomfortable, that’s when really emotionally, as an artist, your real and best work comes out.” (View Wolfgang Bloch 2015 short documentary film by Adam Warmington at www.wolfgangbloch.com.)

The experience was acute for Bloch, and at first he struggled to find his way back to the canvas. Finally, he faced the art, and using whatever paint he had on hand, created something he described as a “dark piece.” He saw in it an underwater-scape. Bloch took this idea and began to experiment with it. Years later, this deep, dimensional waterscape is a defining feature in Boch’s work, capturing a sense of pressure and lightness all at once. Bloch calls this “the most honest work he’s done.”

Bloch’s “Paisajes del Silencio” convey that same honesty. Spacious and silent, they are inspired by Bloch’s quest for silence within his own mind. Each piece is expansive and gracious, inviting the viewer to resolve themselves within a vast natural tone. In each canvas, there is a sliver of light, inviting, along with that great silence, a spark of vitality.

Bloch’s work is on view now through July 4 at the Seager/Gray Gallery of Contemporary Fine Art in Mill Valley. For hours and more information, visit www.seagergray.com

Trivia – Week of 06/22/22

1 This treelike southern California plant was so named because its greatly extended branches resembled the outstretched arm of a biblical figure. What unusual tree is this?

2 This bird’s name means flame in Portuguese, because of its bright reddish-orange color. What is it?

3 What African-American writer won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993 for the “visionary force and poetic import” of her writing?

4 What were the first two edible nuts mentioned in the Bible?

5 Dolly Parton established her personal theme park in Sevierville, TN, with what clever name?

6 What two U.S. presidents were fifth cousins?

7 Reggae music evolved in the early 1960s in what capital city of what island nation?

8 Suffering from short-term memory loss, an ex-insurance investigator named Leonard uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife. The story is told backward, in what clever 2000 mystery film from Christopher Nolan?

9 Identify each of these quadrilaterals (four-sided figures) whose names begin with the same letter:

9a. Has equal angles but not equal sides. 

9b. Has equal sides but not equal angles. 

10 What U.S. state is home to Glacier National Park?

BONUS QUESTION: This active game originated in Britain in the 1880s, mostly among the upper-class as an after-dinner parlor game. They commonly called it “Wiff-Waff,” but today we call it what?

Want more trivia for your next party, fundraiser or special event? Contact ho*****@********fe.com.

ANSWERS:

1 Joshua Tree, resembles the biblical Joshua pointing with his spear (Joshua 8:18)

2 Flamingo

3 Toni Morrison

4 Almonds and pistachios

5 Dollywood

6 Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt

7 Kingston, Jamaica

8 Memento

9a. Rectangle  9b. Rhombus

10 Montana

BONUS ANSWER: Ping Pong or Table Tennis. The ball was made of cork and the paddle from parchment, and it made a wiff-waff sound.

Workplace Woes

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‘9 to 5, the Musical’ clocks in at 6th Street

By Harry Duke 

It’s been over 40 years since Dolly Parton made her film debut in 9 to 5 and the title tune topped the charts. The film and song (which garnered Parton an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song) became markers in the struggle for parity in the workplace for women. Thank goodness it was achieved decades ago.

Just kidding.

Parton herself collaborated with one of the original screenwriters to come up with 9 to 5, the Musical. The pretty straightforward musical adaptation of the film runs at Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse through June 26.

The book of the show closely follows the film script, as three disparate office workers join together to take on their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” boss. The too-frequently-overlooked-for-promotion Violet Newstead (Daniela Innocenti Beem) joins forces with the newly-employed Judy Bernly (Julianne Bradbury) and the unfairly maligned secretary-to-the-president Doralee Rhodes (Anne Warren Clark) to bring some equity to the offices of Consolidated Industries and some payback to its loathsome leader, Franklin Hart (Mark Bradbury).

There are minor differences between the film and the stage show, but the basics are all there, plus about a dozen more tunes by Parton. including “Backwoods Barbie.”

Director Carl Jordan has cast the show well. Each of the principals brings a strong voice and clear characterization to the stage. Violet is a good role for Beem, and Bradbury really impresses with her vocals as Judy. Clark has the difficult task of not being too Dolly Parton-ish and succeeds, big hair and all. Mark Bradbury is effectively sleazy as Hart, and Jen Boynton matches well with him as the office busybody.

There’s a large ensemble doing good work in multiple supporting roles, and they do the bulk of the dancing. They also spend a good deal of time moving set pieces around. This show has a lot of moving parts, and credit goes to the ensemble (and stage crew) for keeping the pace up. Credit also to set designer Eric Broadwater for the best-looking set I’ve seen at 6th Street in a while. Projections by Chris Schloemp really complement the sense of place.

9 to 5 is the type of show that delivers exactly what you expect it to deliver, and that includes a couple of appearances by Parton herself. 

‘9 to 5, the Musical’ runs through June 26 in the GK Hardt Theatre at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. Sixth St, Santa Rosa. Thurs-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat-Sun, 2pm. $26–$45. Proof of vaccination and masking are required to attend. 707.523.4185. 6thstreeetplayhouse.com

Do Nothing

The most difficult endeavor

By Christian Chensvold

Here’s a simple test to check your health that doesn’t require any medical paraphernalia or professional diagnosis. It’s the simplest thing imaginable, which means in a chaotic age such as ours, only seasoned experts can do it.

Here’s the test: can you sit and do absolutely nothing for five minutes? That is, can you leave the house without your phone, find a bench or a plot of grass, and just be? If you can’t sit alone with yourself for five minutes and not slip into a state of irritability, with a million agitated thoughts running through your mind, then your “mental health” is in serious trouble.

You’re what I call a replicant; you look like a human being from the past, except that you’re a counterfeit version. You got body-snatched, or rather, soul-snatched. Think about it: shouldn’t you be able to sit with your body and your thoughts and not have to auto-lobotomize yourself because of all the anguish and nihilism built up inside, and which only goes away if you distract yourself?

When you start listening to others who’ve awakened to metaphysical reality, you find a recurring theme. Eckhart Tolle became world famous as a spiritual guru, and recounts how after reaching peak suffering and finally awakening, he spent the next two years sitting on park benches in a state of rapt wonder at the mystery of simply being alive.

Once you’ve mastered sitting and doing nothing for five minutes, you can try doing it while imagining yourself as an ancient king or queen, and I’m not being a court jester here. Throughout Greece, Persia, India and the other great spirit-infused kingdoms, the ability to sit on the throne in a state of immutable calm was the visible expression of a sovereign’s divinity. In Egypt, the ability to sit perfectly still with an aura of supreme command was believed to be a supernatural quality of a king or queen that proved their celestial lineage.

After learning to sit in simple tranquility, then with resolve and poise, you may be ready to take up yoga in its higher dimension, and learn to sit in superior calmness to everything external, completely centered to the transcendent dimension within, the part of you that is greater than you. As the great religious historian Mircea Eliade wrote in a seminal study of yoga, body postures are capable of evoking hieratic stillness, the purpose of which is to become transformed into the image of a deity.

And so what began with sitting on a park bench doing nothing becomes the first step on the path to immortality.

Roundup at Rialto

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‘Children of the Vine’ screens

With 2.3 million pounds of pesticides and herbicides used annually in Sonoma County—97% on wine grapes, including 30 tons of Roundup, the investigative documentary Children of the Vine couldn’t be more timely. Shot primarily in the famed wine regions of Napa and Sonoma counties, the film makes its debut for a one day showing on July 12 at the Rialto Cinemas, Sebastopol.  It is an unsettling investigation into the controversial herbicide Roundup and its impact on public health.

Directed by filmmaker Brian Lilla, who after moving to Napa Valley to start a family, witnessed the nightmare unfolding around him as farm workers sprayed vineyards with thousands of gallons of Roundup each winter. Beyond the manicured beauty of Napa’s vineyards, Lilla found the wine industry is using more Roundup in vineyards than most agricultural crops. At the center of this controversy is glyphosate, the primary active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup. Glyphosate is now found in breast milk, baby food, wine and 80% of food grown in the United States.

Lilla interviewed both farmers who depend on Roundup and those paying the ultimate price for spraying it on their crops. He also digs deep into Monsanto’s misleading science and 40 year campaign that Roundup is “safe as salt.” In the end, Children Of The Vine highlights more sustainable farming practices that don’t put public health at risk and are capable of feeding the world.

With many residents still using Roundup on their properties, the information in this explosive documentary should be a game-changer for local residents and moreover, the ag and wine industry.

The screenings will be followed up with a panel of experts and director Brian Lilla, to answer questions and discuss the options of non-toxic farming practices. Proceeds benefit Neighbors to Preserve Rural Sonoma County.

—Padi Selwyn

Co-chair, Neighbors to Preserve Rural Sonoma County.

‘Children of the Vine’ plays at 3 pm and 7 pm, Tuesday, July 12 at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St, Sebastopol. More information at rialtocinemas.com.

Sausalito and the Homeless Union battle in court over firing Urban Alchemy

Almost every week, the City of Sausalito sends a cadre of attorneys into federal court to battle with the Sausalito Homeless Union lawyer and homeless individuals. Last week was no exception.

Anthony Prince, the Sausalito Homeless Union attorney, became livid when he learned of serious allegations against Urban Alchemy, the nonprofit hired by the city to manage its sanctioned homeless encampment.

The claims, printed in the Pacific Sun on June 1, were made by more than 10 current and former residents of the Sausalito homeless camp. The campers alleged that Urban Alchemy employees sexually assaulted female campers, used drugs on the job and distributed methamphetamine.

Prince demanded that Sausalito remove Urban Alchemy immediately and begin an investigation into the allegations. While those actions would be a reasonable start, Sausalito declined to give Urban Alchemy the boot early, although the contract runs out in about two weeks.

“We need to get our people out of harm’s way,” Prince said in an interview. “That’s the reason we filed for a TRO [temporary restraining order] to force Sausalito to get rid of them.”

In court documents filed by Sausalito last week, the city manager and two police officers commended Urban Alchemy, which employs 1,100 people, most of whom have spent 20-plus years in prison. It is the camp residents who can’t be left alone because the camp “deteriorates” when Urban Alchemy isn’t there, according to the city officials.

Never mind that the time frame the officials gave for the deterioration was just after the atmospheric river storm leveled the encampment last October. And even if there is a mess until a new management team is hired to replace Urban Alchemy, it seems less consequential than what the campers allege has been happening.

The Pacific Sun provided Sausalito Mayor Janelle Kellman with the campers’ allegations of sexual predation and drug use by Urban Alchemy in late May. In an emailed response, Kellman failed to mention the alleged victims–the homeless people living in the city-sanctioned and managed encampment.

“Sausalito’s contract with Urban Alchemy will end on June 30th and we appreciate their service to our city,” Kellman wrote. “The City of Sausalito hired Urban Alchemy with the understanding that the organization has a commitment to hiring previously incarcerated individuals and providing them with a second chance and a job opportunity. In a state with a recidivism rate of 46 percent, re-entry employers like these play a critical role. Providing re-entry and a second chance shows a commitment to empathy and treating others with dignity, a direct reflection of Sausalito’s core values. We are committed to having compassion for all.”

Kellman’s statement certainly raises the question of whether Sausalito considers homeless people worthy of the same compassion and a second chance.

There’s history between the City of Sausalito and the Sausalito Homeless Union. They have been embroiled in litigation for almost a year-and-a-half. The Union alleged Sausalito violated the civil rights of homeless people by enacting two laws limiting camping within the city limits. Sausalito didn’t blink, and the Union filed a lawsuit in February 2021. Since then, the encampment has been under the watchful eyes of two federal judges.

The court hearing for the TRO took place last Friday. Prince, a one-man force, represented the Homeless Union. Sausalito sent in Alex Merritt, a partner in Sheppard Mullin, one of the top ranked law firms in the world based on annual billings.

With legal fees, the recent Urban Alchemy contract for $463,602 and other miscellaneous expenses, Sausalito has spent more than $1.5 million on the encampment. As Prince pointed out, that amount of money could have housed quite a few people.

During the hearing, Merritt opined that the city can’t handle the encampment on its own. The police department is losing staff, and morale is low due to the existence of the homeless people and the camp. In addition, the two Urban Alchemy employees accused of sexual assault are no longer stationed in Sausalito, Merritt said.

Yet there’s been no investigation into whether there are other alleged victims. Many women don’t come forward after a sexual assault, especially if the alleged perpetrator is in a position of power over them.

“There’s been an intensification of hostilities since the Pacific Sun article came out,” Prince said. “Our people feel threatened. Drugs are still coming in. Methamphetamine is being brought in.”

Merritt emphasized the Urban Alchemy employees accused of sexual assault were removed from the camp, with one fired months ago and the other moved to a San Francisco encampment in April.

Prince maintained that Urban Alchemy continues to move the offending employees from camp to camp, and the City can’t ensure that another bad apple won’t turn up in Sausalito. That didn’t phase Merritt because he said the city had asked Urban Alchemy to extend the contract for a couple of months.

After 30 minutes of arguments, Chen made his ruling, which was essentially a compromise. Although Urban Alchemy can stay until June 30, Sausalito cannot extend the contract.

Chen said Sausalito must keep the two men alleged to have committed sexual assault out of the encampment. In addition, the city will allow the campers to file complaints and reports of criminal conduct with the police, and the police will promptly begin investigations.

On Sunday, Prince went to the encampment and sat with three campers as they filed reports with the police. According to the campers, the police have refused to take reports from them in the past.

The two Sausalito police officers were polite and friendly. They assured Prince there will be an investigation into the allegation that a young Urban Alchemy man punched a senior camper in the face. Two other people reported theft of their belongings.

These won’t be the last reports filed, according to Prince. While some campers aren’t comfortable speaking with the police, and others are ambivalent about holding someone accountable, Prince believes more people will come forward.

A few of the encampment residents said they believe the Urban Alchemy employees are also victims. Others say they are perpetrators.

“It’s like putting the bully in charge of the schoolyard,” Jewel Eggink, a camper, said. “That just doesn’t seem like a good idea.”


No Marin Fireworks

County urges safety over the holiday weekend

By Pacific Sun Staff

One gently floating ember from a cookout or a firecracker could ignite widespread tragedy in Marin County’s parched landscape. The Marin County Fire Department is urging all residents and visitors to remember that fireworks are illegal in the county, not just on the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, but at all times.

Revelers might be tempted to bring fireworks into Marin and commence with risky activities, often fueled by alcohol consumption. It’s a serious no-no, so locals are asked to spread the word about resisting the temptation. Many locals know that and adhere to the law, but holiday visitors from other counties and other states might not know.

The fireworks ordinance will be enforced to reduce fire risk, protect natural resources and—most importantly—to preserve personal safety. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office plans to have extra deputies on duty for enforcement over the holiday.

“It won’t take much to trigger an historic-level disaster,” said Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber. “The dry conditions are highly dangerous, especially when it’s windy. You can still have a good time without letting your guard down. Public safety and protecting property have to be high on your priority list.”

Marin County Fire, the Sheriff’s Office and rangers from Marin County Parks are joining first responders from local agencies to prepare for a summer coming-out party. All illegal activities and behavior issues witnessed by Marin County Parks rangers will be reported to law enforcement or fire agencies, and enforcement will take place whether or not an incident occurs on private property or at a County government property. A misdemeanor offense of using or possessing fireworks in Marin could cost an offender $410—that’s $100 for the base fine, plus $310 in penalty assessments and surcharges.

Even if temperatures are not high, beaches and pools are expected to be popular gathering spots during the holiday weekend. Parents need to make sure kids are water safe around all bodies of water, from the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay to wading pools. Adults need to avoid distractions as they keep an eye on youngsters, including an overindulgence in alcoholic beverages. Drowning continues to be a leading cause of injury and death for children ages 1-4. Wearing life jackets and having other floatation devices handy is a must.

Limit Look

Jenny DeYoung, new owner of Disguise the Limit

By Jane Vick

Hey loves! Happy Wednesday! How is everyone?! Surviving this heat wave? Rush, rush to the coast, gas prices be damned! Bring roasted chicken and cherries and a light heart. Go!

And straight to this week’s Look, which is lovely indeed. Jenny DeYoung, new owner of Disguise the Limit, the 40 year standing costume shop in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square, is a gem of a human, and I was thrilled to learn more about her this week. See below, and for any costume needs—especially during Pride Month!—look no further.

Jane Vick—When and why did you buy Disguise the Limit?

Jenny DeYoung—I’ve always had a dream of owning my own shop, selling all my favorite things, to include fashionable items like festival wear, vintage wear and also costumes! But I always wanted the store that had a little bit of everything, so that everyone would find a little bit of treasure when they came to the shop. The year 2016, this store became available for purchase, and my business partner at the time helped me with acquiring it. It was the beginning of everything I had ever wanted and more. I’ve been working hard to re-design it and making it the favorite store for everyone in every sense.

JV—Where does your love of costume come from?

JD—I  started off being a theater major at UCLA, primarily focused on production design for film and theater. Production design encompasses the entire art department of a film or theater play. Which means it also encompasses costume design. I love all things fashion, and I love dressing up so it all comes together. My shop is like my biggest set design I have ever created yet.

JV—Is there a message you’d like to share with the community this Pride Month?

JD—First of all, we are so grateful that there is a Pride Parade here and that we get to participate in it by vending and supporting that community! Disguise the Limit stands for unity and that we should all love and respect and appreciate each other‘s diversities and love choices! Love is love!

You heard it here, everyone. Love is LOVE!

See you next week!

Love always,

Jane

Jane Vick is an artist and writer based in Oakland. She splits her time between Europe, New York and New Mexico. View her work and contact her at janevick.com.

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Jenny DeYoung, new owner of Disguise the Limit By Jane Vick Hey loves! Happy Wednesday! How is everyone?! Surviving this heat wave? Rush, rush to the coast, gas prices be damned! Bring roasted chicken and cherries and a light heart. Go! And straight to this week’s Look, which is lovely indeed. Jenny DeYoung, new owner of Disguise the Limit, the 40 year...
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