Southern Sonoma Country Life

Wild Thang! Top Pick — Featuring The Easy Leaves, Highway Poets, Foxes in the Henhouse, Josh Windmiller, John Courage, Ashley Allred & More — A Dance Party for Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue Helping Sick, Injured & Orphaned Wildlife —Mystic Theater,

What a fab local line up for Wild Thang! A benefit concert and dance party for Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue — The Mystic Theater in Petaluma, Sunday, November 5th, 2017, 7pm to 11pm. 

Marking my calendar for this one . . . 

Click here for tix 

Help Disabled Award Winning Journalist Stephanie Scawen Fight for Her Rights for Rehabilitation Treatment for Crippling Multiple Sclerosis

Award Winning Journalist Stephanie Scawen has spent the past three plus decades intrepidly reporting from far flung corners of the earth. For a good part of that time, she also explored the world beneath the ocean, deep sea scuba diving in all sorts of exotic locales.

I met Stephanie when we were 18 and 19 years old, fellow students enrolled in the UK National Council For the Training of Journalists course at Harlow Tertiary College, Essex. 

We became fast friends, along with a group of likeminded youngsters with inquisitive minds and a shared taste for adventure. 

Stephanie's career took her to Hong Kong after a stint on the national daily press in London. There she reported on the former crown colony of the British Empire's historic revert to Chinese rule in 1997. 

I kept in touch with my friend while she worked for several major global organizations in media, film and television fields around the world. As a senior producer for the Al Jazeera English network, Stephanie reported from almost every country in east and south east Asia. 

This warm and witty, always razor sharp woman of the world, now spends her days confined to a wheel chair, suffering from the auto immune disease Multiple Sclerosis.

Follow Stephanie on her compelling blog — Diabled.com.

After more than 20 years of managing and living with MS, the disease has now taken hold to such an extent that this inspiring woman is fighting with all her might to contain it and be able to thrive once more.

Back in 2013, Stephanie started using a cane and by the end of the year was in a chair. Even then, she forged ahead, producing a documentary about the plight of the disabled in Kenya. She also produced an excellent documentary MS & Me for the Al Jazeera Network. But in 2016, she was forced to return to her native Britain for what she thought would be affordable medical care. 

To quote a newly launched YouCaring crowdfunding page for Steph, she was, sadly wrong. Stephanie has been denied access to proper rehabilitation facilities by the National Health Service’s because MS is considered a degenerative condition and there isn’t enough money to fund cases considered to be hopeless. She can’t get insurance for private health care because she has a pre existing condition. And her condition has rapidly deteriorated. 

Today, Stephanie cannot stand on her own, nor can she transfer herself independently between her chair, her bed and her commode. She relies on caregivers for nearly every move.

She desperately needs to go to a proper rehabilitation facility to regain her strength. 

Friends have launched a campaign to share around the world in the hopes that many caring people will contribute whatever they're able to donate to help this amazing woman make it into the rehabilitation facilities she so desperately needs. 

I'm thinking back to the late 1980s and picturing us as teenagers, at the start of our careers. I'll never think of Stephanie Scawen as any one other than the bright, beautiful, spirited, bolshie broad who had and continues to have more courage than most anyone else I've met since. 

Keep fighting, dear Stephanie. 

Click here and please donate a few dollars for Stephanie's treatment if you are at all able to do so. Thank you! 

 

 

 

The National Kidney Foundation Celebrates the 29th Annual San Francisco Authors Luncheon on November 4th, 2017

The National Kidney Foundation will celebrate its 29th Annual San Francisco Authors Luncheon on Saturday, November 4 from 10:00am-3:00pm at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Authors include Dr. Christine Carter, Lee Child, Daniel Handler & Lisa Brown, Joyce Maynard, Lisa See, and State Bird Provisions’ Stuart Brioza & Nicole Krasinski. Master of Ceremonies is author Michael Krasny of KQED’s Forum. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet each author during book signing sessions which take place at the beginning and end of the event.

SAN FRANCISCO’S PREMIER LITERARY EVENT: Over nearly three decades, the Authors Luncheon has grown into the Bay Area’s premier literary event, attracting up to 1,000 guests each year. Event Chair is Bob Ceccato, Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo. Executive Leadership Chair is Chuck Columbus, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Kaiser Permanente. The Authors VIP Cocktail & Dinner Party will take place Friday, November 3 for corporate sponsors and event patrons.

WHY THIS EVENT IS IMPORTANT: The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive and longstanding organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease. For more information about NKF visit www.kidney.org.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Individual Tickets are $135; Individual Tables are $1,300; and Table Sponsorships begin at $2,500.

FEATURED AUTHORS:

• Sociologist and senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, Christine Carter
• British thrill writer Lee Child, well-known for his Jack Reacher novel series
• Dynamite children’s book duo Daniel Handler (“Lemony Snicket”) & Lisa Brown
• Prolific novelist, memoirist & journalist Joyce Maynard
• Novelist Lisa See, celebrated for her lyrical stories about Chinese characters & cultures
• Stuart Brioza & Nicole Krasinski of Michelin-rated State Bird Provisions & The Progress

WHAT:              National Kidney Foundation’s 29th Annual San Francisco Authors Luncheon

WHERE:           Hilton San Francisco Union Square, 333 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

WHEN:             Saturday, November 4, 2025 l 10:00am-3:00pm

TICKETS:         www.authorsluncheonsf.org l (415) 543-3303 l Brad.Murdock@kidney.org

INFO:              www.authorsluncheonsf.org l @kidneynca l #nkfauthorsluncheon

Inspired by the Past — Petaluma Ladies' Improvement Club (Possibly the First of its Kind in the U.S) — A Fascinating Presentation by County Historian Katherine Rinehart at the Petaluma Library, 2pm Saturday, Oct 14th, 2017

Singer/Songwriter, Rising Star Em Rossi Returns to Her Roots with a Concert at the Mystic Theatre, Petaluma on Sunday, Oct 1st, 2017

Rising star Em Rossi returns to her hometown, Petaluma for the first time, this October, since moving to Los Angeles to launch her professional music career, last year. 

Fresh from releasing her new single No Easy Way with Paul Smith and guitarist Carlos Calvo, Petaluma High School alum, Em will perform at Petaluma's Mystic Theatre at on Sunday, October 1st, 2017 7:30 pm. in a benefit to support the San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer's.

The concert is open to all ages. 

Nineteen-year-old Em graduated from Petaluma High in 2016 and moved to Los Angeles at the end of that same year, after making the decision to defer admission to the Berklee College of Music for vocals in order to kick start her early career in the industry.

Em is currently working with top music producer Ryan Hadlock from Bear Creek Studios.Ryan has produced for such notable artists as Train, The Lumineers and Vance Joy.

“I am extremely excited to be back in Petaluma to share with the community all that has happened,” said Em. “This show at The Mystic Theatre will definitely mean a lot to me. It will be my first official show in my hometown.”

Em's career is developing at a rapid pace. In 2016, she appeared on The Sessions at Willow Grove which aired nationwide on Comcast Xfinity On Demand in 25 million homes.  At that time, she opened for the multi-platinum JUNO-Award winning band, The Tenors, who sang for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday.  

Her first two singles, Earthquake and Young Hearts were released with music videos.  Both of the videos went viral on YouTube and trended in multiple countries. The young singer/songwriter followed up with an exclusive release of her next single Empty Space by the Huffington Post. Her three music videos have clocked over 4 million views.

Em's  music can be found on popular apps Smule, SongFreedom, Cameo and Pandora. Her songs have also been heard in the Kevin Pollack movie, The Late Bloomer, the WWE movie, Countdown, the Mar Vista Entertainment film It Happened One Valentines and the upcoming Mar Vista Entertainment film Bridal Boot Camp. Em's songs have also been featured on American and United Airlines inflight playlists with other top label artists.

“This last year has been an absolute blur,” she said. “I have been taking more time to hide away and write on my own as well as with friends. I'm proud of the songs that have come out of it and I can't wait to share more with everyone soon!"

This will be Em’s second appearance on behalf of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Last year she was the featured performer at the Walk in San Francisco.

Opening for Em Rossi is special guest The Hip Spanic Allstars. The band is lead by Happy Sanchez who has produced music for such hits as Sopranos, Dexter, Criminal Minds, Malcolm in the Middle and Devil Wears Prada. The 12 piece band features a unique Jazzy Latin Afro Funk sound with a distinctly San Francisco vibe. Band members grew up on the Bay Area music scene and were influenced by Tower of Power and Carlos Santana.

General admission tickets for the Sunday, October 1st concert at the Mystic Theatre are $17 dollars. Same day tickets are $25. VIP seating is available with a suggested donation of $10 or more. VIPs will also be invited to a special meet and greet with Em.  Doors  open at 7 with the concert starting at 7:30. The Mystic Theatre is located at 23 Petaluma Blvd. No.

Click here for tickets 

This benefit concert is sponsored by ABC7/KGO-TV and produced by Yippee Productions for Team Purple People Eaters to benefit the San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Em Rossi Official website: www.emrossi.com

Follow Em on Facebook: 

Em Rossi Instagram: Em Rossi (@emrossimusic) • Instagram photos and videos

Em Rossi on YouTube: Em Rossi You Tube

 

Tequila Pairing Fundraiser at Petaluma Historical Library & Museum — Thurs, Oct 19th, 2017

Tequila fans, mark your calendars for a professionally guided tasting tour of five different varieties of your favorite tipple, in the main hall of the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum amidst the annual El Dia De Los Muertos altars and artwork exhibition, on Thursday, October 19th, 2017, from 6pm to 9pm.

This fun and informative event is hosted by culinary expert Amber Balshaw of Preferred Sonoma Caterers and her chosen Distillery representative, who will be sharing notes, banter and anecdotes on the spirits, their related regions and the process of pairing with delicious food dishes. 

A fundraiser for the museum, tickets are $60 per person. Click here for the museum website for tickets or call 707 778 4398. 

 

 

 

 

 

       

California Coastal Cleanup Day — Sign up for Sonoma County — Saturday, September 16th, 2017

photo: Salmon Creek via California Coastal Trails Association

WHEN: Saturday, September 16th, 2017

TIME: 9 a.m. to noon in most locations. Click here to sign up to volunteer in Sonoma County. 

WHERE: Cleanups will take place at over 1,000 sites on California beaches, bays, rivers, creeks, parks, roadsides, and highways. The commission hosts an interactive map that provides exact locations and other site-specific information. 

WHAT: Tens of thousands of Californians will gather along beaches, shorelines, and inland waterways to pick up the trash that has accumulated over the past year. In 2016, almost 60,000 volunteers removed more than 700,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from 54 counties across the state. The event ranks as the biggest, single day volunteer event on the planet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Coastal Cleanup Day also marks the beginning of COASTWEEKS, a three-week celebration of our coastal resources across the country. The California Coastal Commission, the state agency that protects coastal resources and organizes the event, maintains a calendar of COASTWEEKS events on its website.

WHY: “Trash in our environment and in our ocean can cause enormous harm, even death, to wildlife, and plastic fragments are known to travel up the food chain and potentially end up on our dinner plates,” said cleanup Director Eben Schwartz. “Coastal Cleanup Day is our opportunity to invite everyone in California, no matter where they may live, to help protect not just our communities and our environment, but all the animals – including us – that call it home.”