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Windsor Fashion Designer to Showcase Gender-fluid Clothing at Santa Rosa Benefit

The Arlene Francis Center proudly presents Chrysalis Fashion Benefit, an inaugural solo project by Michael Lee Brandon Powell, 20, of Windsor, CA. This party begins with a fashion show featuring gender-fluid designs presented by local models, and produced using fabric and clothing from local thrift stores repurposed as fashion for either sex. After the fashion portion of the evening, step outside to watch Michael release hundreds of baby butterflies into the night sky. A dinner by Worth Our Weight and a silent auction of Michael’s one-of-a-kind garments will follow. The evening wraps up with a DJ dance party.

Self-expression is what the Chrysalis Fashion Benefit is all about. Michael’s gender-fluid designs are his approach to detaching a fixed gender identity from typical expectations and the accompanying “proper” gender specific clothing. Cast off your rigid chrysalis and spread your colorful wings to take advantage of this kaleidoscope of inspiration that Michael is offering you. His rich candy colors were partly inspired by Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, the family’s Windsor store.

There’s more. Because of Michael’s deep commitment to both community and environment, proceeds will benefit two nonprofits, Worth Our Weight (WOW) and the Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund. WOW is a culinary apprenticeship program based in Santa Rosa that accepts and nurtures people 16-24 years of age who have faced major challenges in their lives. Under the tutelage of Executive Director Evelyn Cheatham, WOW provides tuition-free training in culinary and foodservice skills. The Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund was established in 2015 to restore the butterfly to a robust and healthy population by increasing habitat, ensuring these important pollinating insects continue with their valuable work.

TICKETS:  http://chrysalisfashionbenefit.bpt.me $20 advance, $30 regular

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Crushers of Comedy Presents Sonoma County Comedy Fest 2016 July 15 & 16

The wine country comedy production, Crushers of Comedy is launching the inaugural Sonoma County Comedy Fest 2016 at the iconic Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, California.
The two-day world class stand up comedy festival will feature well-known comics from Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.  The festival will also welcome comedy’s most celebrated photographer, Dan Dion.  Both days, Dan will have his famous comedic photos on display and will be signing his best selling comedy satire book, Satirista.
A few of the headlining comics will be Santa Rosa native, Kevin Camia. Kevin’s comedy album was a top ten on iTunes.  The festival will also welcome Helen Hong who BuzzFeed named as a comic who could be named to take over David Letterman’s hosting gig.  Plus, don’t miss  Zahra Noorbakhsh, the comic New Yorker Magazine praised for her one women show. Zahra has also been featured in Oprah Magazine.  Plus, funny woman Jenny Yang, who just received the Champion of Change in Arts Award at the White House from the President for her work in entertainment and comedy.
Before the shows, relax in the Crushers of Comedy Poolside Lounge, Sponsored by San Francisco Magazine. Lounge by the pool on a warm wine country evening with music, friends and the best in wine, signature cocktails and local brews, plus dining specials and complimentary five minute chair massages. Then, head into the Grand Ballroom for a night of deep belly laughs!  One day festival passes are $40 and two-day passes are $75.  Plenty of parking and plenty of laughs.  After the show each night don’t miss The Get Together after party in the Flamingo Lounge where guests can meet the comics and dance the night away.  Fun door prizes too!
The Sonoma County Comedy Fest Benefits: 
The Steve McGirr Charitable Foundation a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, charitable organization that provides support to patients and their families in their fight against cancerous brain tumors.  The foundation also strives to provide information about the latest treatment centers, technologies and options; treatment and diagnostic medical specialist; and emotional support system referrals. If you or someone you know needs financial assistance for costs related to a cancerous brain tumor illness, please visit:

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Sonoma County Pride Parade a Community Celebration in Guerneville

Clad in neon pink sequins and flowers, “Diva D” boasted before hundreds of people in downtown Guerneville Sunday that Sonoma County’s Pride Parade is more successful than it’s ever been.

“We were a smashing success last year,” said “Diva D,” as David Goyes is known in drag. And turnout at this year’s festival celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community likely beat last year’s numbers, parade organizers said.

“This is such a great time because it draws out everyone — it’s not just the gay community, it’s the whole community,” said Goyes, an organizer for the popular event. “I feel like the gay community is not often recognized in Sonoma County, so this is great.”

An estimated 1,500 people were expected to take part over the celebration’s four-day run, which kicked off Thursday with an LGBTQ film festival in Monte Rio.

Sunday’s annual parade drew hundreds of people to the streets of Guerneville. Songs by Prince blared over loud speakers, rainbow flags flew in the entrances of downtown businesses and kids frolicked in the sun-drenched streets as the parade passed the river town’s historic main street.

“This is the best pride parade around,” said Ukiah resident Tony Berno, who regularly visits Guerneville during pride week. “We love coming here. It’s perfect — swimming in the river, walking in the woods and having fun. There’s not too many towns like Guerneville.”

Sonoma County has a 30-year tradition of gay pride celebrations, and the Guerneville parade has become wildly popular among pride celebrations across the Bay Area.

“It has more of a community feel compared to San Francisco’s big pride celebration,” Goyes said. “We love San Francisco — it’s the mothership for the gay community, but this is important in Guerneville to help break down some of the stereotypes out there.”

Similar pride events held around the nation during June commemorate the Stonewall riot that erupted June 28, 1969, after a police raid on a West Village gay bar in New York City. They also provide opportunities for self-affirmation and validation of sexual and gender diversity.

San Francisco was home to another rebellion in favor of LGBTQ rights prior to Stonewall, when in 1966 a group of people rioted at Compton’s Cafeteria in the Tenderloin District. The restaurant at the time was a mingling space for transgender people.

Such monumental events have paved the way for more rights for LGBTQ people, but many still experience discrimination in schools, the workplace and in receiving services such as health care, some parade attendees said.

Jody Laine, an organizer for the Monte Rio film festival called “OUTWatch,” said seeing LGBTQ people in the larger community helps further the quest for equality.

“It’s really important to let people know we’re still here and to let newcomers know that they’re welcome. And what better a place for this? Guerneville is known as a marvelous mecca for the gay community.” Laine said. “It’s important to have a center even though we’ve been integrated in the community for a long time. It wasn’t always that way.”

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Sonoma County job Market Booming

 

With an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent for April, the lowest level in Sonoma County in nine years, desperate job recruiters are turning to extreme measures.

How extreme? A group of Calistoga employers is holding a job fair in Santa Rosa on Wednesday and offering a shuttle service to attract new hires from Sonoma County.

“We’re seeing a huge need to fill this workforce,” said Jessica Taylor, Job Link manager for the Sonoma County Human Services Department.

Joanne Sanders, founder of the recruitment firm Bolt Staffing in Sonoma, said the job market is the tightest it has been since the dotcom boom, right after the turn of the millennium.

“It’s a great job market right now,” Sanders said. “Companies have to pay more to get the talent we need.”

Service workers in the hospitality sector are in constant demand in Sonoma County, Sanders added.

Some service jobs can offer up to $14 per hour at some restaurants and hotels, given the labor demand along with the push by labor groups for a national living wage at $15 per hour.

Other in-demand areas where companies are looking for applicants include accounting, health care and education, Sanders said.
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Job growth in Sonoma County sets new record

A list of the recent positions filled by Bolt Staffing showed project manager at a fitness company in Sonoma County at $20 per hour; a staff accountant at a health care firm in Santa Rosa at $25 per hour; and a customer service representative at a medical firm in Marin County at $14 per hour.

“You are seeing this across the board,” she said.

The Calistoga event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2227 Capricorn Way, will feature 13 employers, mostly in the hospitality business. They will be offering many positions from $15 to $20 per hour, some with benefits. In the arms race to attract employees, every offering helps.

“We’re hoping to get people who are excited about this extra perk,” Taylor said of the shuttle.

The shuttle will have three stops in Santa Rosa and the rides will be subsidized by employers, said Chris Canning, executive director of the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce. More than 20 percent of Calistoga workers reside in Santa Rosa. Local governments are ramping up their hiring activity, too, Sanders said, many of which have rebounded after suffering cutbacks as a result of the recession and decreased tax revenue. For example, Bolt just recently placed an applicant in an administrative assistant position with a municipality within Sonoma County at $18 per hour.

Sanders is on the board of the Sonoma County Library Commission and noted that even the library system has been hiring lately.

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Eight Week LGBT Seniors Seminar Kicks Off June 4 in Petaluma

‘Aging Together with Pride’, an 8-week series for LGBT seniors will happen Saturdays June 4 through July 30 at the Petaluma Health Center.  This is the third series for LGBT seniors to happen here in Sonoma County and organizers are planning a fourth to take place in the Russian River area.  Gary ‘Buz’ Hermes will lead the group, that will prepare participants for the challenges and explore the possibilities of their later years.  Aging Together is sponsored by a grant from the Sonoma County LGBTQI Giving Circle Fund and the Sonoma County Human Services Department.  Call 707.227.6935 to register.  A $20 fee for the series is requested and scholarships are available.

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Calendar of LGBT Events

Monday, May 16, at 7 p.m. Parents of Trans Youth Meeting will happen at Positive Images Center, 312 Chinn Street in Santa Rosa

Also Monday, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Marin AIDS Project hosts ‘Mix It Up’ their monthly mixer. At Four Points Sheraton, 1010 Northgate Drive in San Rafael.

Tuesday, May 17, 1 – 4p.m. Rapid HIV Testing will be offered at Face to Face – Sonoma County AIDS Network, 873 Second Street in Santa Rosa.

Also Tuesday, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Santa Rosa Senior Group will meet at Unitarian Universalist Congregation at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa.  For more information, call 707-583-2330.

Also Tuesday, at 6 p.m. Trans Youth Group (Male to Female, Female to Male) will take place at Positive Images Center in Santa Rosa

Wednesday, May 18, Noon. Petaluma General LGBT Support Group will happen at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma.  Young People 12 – 18 are welcome.

Thursday, May 19, 4 p.m. p.m.  Santa Rosa LGBT Support Group will convene at Positive Images in Santa Rosa.

Friday, May 20 10:30 a.m.  The Sonoma Valley Seniors Group will meet at Vintage House Senior Center, 264 First Street in Sonoma. Everyone is welcome.  For more information call Buz Hermes at 707-227-6935.

 

Sunday, May 22, at 3:30 p.m. SoCo Trans (Female to Male) Adult Trans Meeting will happen at Positive Images in Santa Rosa.

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Calendar of LGBT Events

Monday, May 9, at 7 p.m. Parents of Trans Youth Meeting will happen at Positive Images Center, 312 Chinn Street in Santa Rosa

Also Monday, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Marin AIDS Project hosts ‘Mix It Up’ their monthly mixer. At Four Points Sheraton, 1010 Northgate Drive in San Rafael.

Also Monday, 7 p.m. The Parents of Trans Youth will gather at Positive Images in Santa Rosa.

Tuesday, May 10, 1 – 4p.m. Rapid HIV Testing will be offered at Face to Face – Sonoma County AIDS Network, 873 Second Street in Santa Rosa.

Also Tuesday, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Santa Rosa Senior Group will meet at Unitarian Universalist Congregation at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa.  For more information, call 707-583-2330.

Also Tuesday, at 6 p.m. Trans Youth Group (Male to Female, Female to Male) will take place at Positive Images Center in Santa Rosa

Wednesday, May 11, Noon. Petaluma General LGBT Support Group will happen at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma.  Young People 12 – 18 are welcome.

Thursday, May 12, 4 p.m. p.m.  Santa Rosa LGBT Support Group will convene at Positive Images in Santa Rosa.

Friday, May 13, 10:30 a.m.  The Sonoma Valley Seniors Group will meet at Vintage House Senior Center, 264 First Street in Sonoma. Everyone is welcome.  For more information call Buz Hermes at 707-227-6935.

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Calendar of LGBT Events

Monday, May 2, 2 p.m. Sonoma General LGBT Support Group will happen at Sonoma Community Center, 276 Easy Napa Street in Sonoma, in Room 211.  Young people 12 – 18 years old are welcome.

Also Monday, 5 – 6 p.m. Positive Images’ LGBTQI Sonoma Support Group will convene at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 Napa Street in Sonoma.  All those 12 – 24 are welcome

Tuesday, May 3 and every Tuesday, 1 – 4p.m. Rapid HIV Testing is offered at Face to Face – Sonoma County AIDS Network, 873 Second Street in Santa Rosa.

Also Tuesday at 10 a.m. Napa Valley Older Adults Discussion Group will convene at Queen of the Valley Community Outreach Center, 3448 Villa Lane in Napa.  For more information call:  707-583-2330.

Also Tuesday at 6 p.m. Transgender North Bay (Male to Female) will meet at Positive Images, 213 Chinn Street in Santa Rosa.

Wednesday, May 4 at 5 p.m. Spectrum’s Youth Support Group will gather at Spectrum LGBT Center, 912 Irwin St. in San Rafael.  Call 415.472.1945 for more information.

Also Wednesday, 3 – 4:30 p.m.. Positive Images’ Petaluma LGBTQI Support Group will happen at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma.  Young People 12 – 24 are welcome.

Thursday, May 5, Noon – 1:30 p.m.  Men’s Brown Bag Lunch and Discussion will be held at Spectrum in San Rafael.

Also Thursday, 7 – 9 p.m. Positive Images’ Santa Rosa LGBTQI Support Group will happen at Positive Images, 312 Chinn Street in Santa Rosa.  Those 12 – 24 are welcome.

Also Thursday at 7:30 p.m. PFLAG will gather at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 240 Tiburon Blvd in Mill Valley.

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Error in Ballot Notices Affects Hundreds of Sonoma County Voters

 

Sonoma County elections officials were scrambling Friday after discovering that hundreds of notices to registered voters not affiliated with a state-recognized political party were postmarked after a deadline to request ballots for the presidential primary.

Notices received this week by about 800 voters set an April 15 cutoff to choose a mail-in ballot from one of three recognized parties allowing crossovers — the American Independent, Democratic and Libertarian parties.

However, because of a technical error, the notices hit mailboxes after the deadline, causing many people to fear they would not be able to vote June 7.

Frantic calls poured in to county election officials, who assured voters it was all a mistake and they would receive a ballot in time.

Among them were Santa Rosa residents Lynn and Leonard Riepenhoff, who received the late notices in the mail Thursday.

“I thought, ‘Something’s not right here,’” said the retired accountant.

“The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. I thought I couldn’t vote.”

County elections officials urged voters to disregard the deadline and mail the purple or green cards back as soon as possible.

Deena Thompson-Stalder, election manager for the registrar of voters, said the county will send out requested primary ballots until May 31.

She said the late mailings happened because of a switch to a statewide database that caused some voters to be overlooked.

As a result, there was a delay in sending notices to those registered in parties not recognized by the state, she said. Examples include Ross Perot’s Reform Party, which does not have enough registered members in California to be a qualified political party.

“We didn’t capture all the voters we wanted to,” Thompson-Stalder said. “As soon as we figured it out, we fixed it.”

But it was not before about 800 of the county’s 245,000 registered voters received postcards with the April 15 deadline. With the exception of the errant cutoff, the double-sided cards are the same as those sent to about 52,000 voters registered under no party preference.

If they are not returned, voters can cast ballots in all primary contests except the presidential race.

“Worse comes to worst, they can go to a polling place on the day of the election … and say I need a ballot for this party,” Thompson-Stalder said.

Kim Alexander of the California Voter Foundation, said the snafu adds stress to an already complicated system and could prevent some people from voting.

Many likely will assume they have missed the deadline, she said.

“They might think, “It’s too late for me anyway,’” Alexander said. “Especially people who are first-time voters.”

Some caught up in the error might have been attempting to register as independent voters by checking the “Other” box. The correct option is “No Party Preference.”

Meanwhile, thousands of voters statewide have mistakenly registered with the American Independent Party, a choice that could prevent them from casting votes in the June 7 presidential primary.

“It adds to voter confusion and it’s unfortunate,” Alexander said.

“There is a lot of complexity in our voting process and it makes it even more difficult to sort it out when we’re provided instructions that are out of date.”

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Food For Thought Announces 21st Annual Western Sonoma County Spring Home & Garden Tour

Food For Thought, which provides nutritional support to HIV-positive and severely ill residents of Sonoma County, is proud to announce our 21st annual Spring Home & Garden Tour, which happens May 29. This highly anticipated event gives ticket buyers exclusive access to several stunning private homes, gardens, and properties within Western Sonoma County. The 2016 locations celebrate a range of architecture, native plants, unique trees, and the permaculture lifestyle. Funds raised by the tour go toward fresh weekly groceries, nutrition education, and a congregate lunch program for FFT’s clientele.

Highlights include:

The Woodstock Estate, beloved “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles Schulz’s first Sonoma County

home. Nestled among majestic coastal redwoods, the ten-acre location features Schulz’s

original studio where he drew his iconic comic strip, stone-lined ponds, beautiful gardens

in full flower, and carved statuary of forest animals and beloved characters from “Peanuts.”

A renovated Tudor revival home and garden, originally built in 1929 by Noble Starr,

president of the Bank of Sebastopol. This one-of-a-kind location contains native trees,

beautifully landscaped succulents, a carefully curated collection of modern art, and

modernist salvage furniture.

A working fruit and vegetable permaculture garden, which utilizes natural elements to

manage pests, including gophers and invasive insects. Other noteworthy aspects include a

chicken coop with a living roof, an outdoor shower, a system of ponds that limits the need

for conventional irrigation, and a magnificent bamboo screen that provides shelter and

shade. The property owners use this site as a teaching landscape to help others learn about

permaculture practices.

There will also be an opportunity to tour the food bank, organic gardens, and edible

landscape surrounding the Food For Thought headquarters in Forestville as well as the

whimsical, wonderful Food For Thought Antiques store in Sebastopol.

Tickets for the tour are $45 and include a booklet with descriptions of the homes and

gardens and a map for the self-guided tour. Homeowners will open their private residences

to ticket holders from 10 am to 5 pm.

Order tickets online, by phone, or by visiting the Food For Thought office in downtown

Forestville. Delicious gourmet box lunches from Cottonwood Catering for $15 can be pre- ordered ahead (phone only) and will be available for pick-up on the day of the event at

Food For Thought in Forestville.

For more information on Food For Thought and the 2016 Western Sonoma County Home &

Garden Tour, please visit www.FFTfoodbank.org.

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