Podcasts about srjc

Lisa August, quien es la superintendente interina del distrito por el siguiente año escolar, nos visito para celebrar estudiantes que se gradúan y recordarle a la comunidad que habrá muchos programas de verano. #srcs #MEChAdeSRJC #estudiantes #sonomacounty #podcast #SRJC #noticias #migrantes

Erandi Hernandez Aguilar nos visito para platicar de diferentes eventos que están accesibles para apoyar a la comunidad migrante durante estos momentos difíciles. Mechadesrjc.org para participar en la conferencia. #sonomacounty #mechadesrjc #conferencia #inmigrantes #migrantes #familias #consultasdeinmigracion #abogados #fyp #amorincondicional #daca #dacamented #dacadreamers #indocumentados #mexico #mexicanos #consuladomexicano

Espejo de Mi Alma y LFSA de Santa Rosa Junior College están organizando el evento anual de “La Carpa.” Este evento sucederá el 22 de noviembre de 6pm a 8pm. Este evento es para que estudiantes de SRJC y miembrxs de la comunidad disfruten un rato feliz. Habrá actividades para toda la familia. Encuentre más información en https://lfsa.santarosa.edu/latinxcarpa. #sonomacounty #familia #srjc #estudiantes #podcast #srjcroseland #roseland #festival --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

Dan Berger is in the studio today with Sonoma County Harvest Fair Winners on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon. Dan Berger had decades of experience as a wine judge and he was a judge in this year's Sonoma County Harvest Fair competition. He describes the new organization this year, where the judges only had 25 or 30 of one type of wine, instead of 55 or 60 of the same type. Dan likes this because the judges can get tired on too much of the same varietal. So, with a limited exposure to a single type of wine, the palette has a chance to regenerate. Also, the judging of each type is more spread out across all the judges. What is the difference between a Gold Medal and a Sweepstakes? asks Steve. The Sweepstakes is a second round, more like a final round taste-off, where different varietals are against each other. This can be more difficult to understand. Dan says take it with a grain of salt. Gold Medal is good enough as a winning designation. Visit Chigazola Merchants online to shop their unique selection of fine Italian wines. The 2023 Hanna Sauvignon Blanc is the Sweepstakes winner. Jeff Hinchliffe made it at Hanna. It is from Russian River Valley. There is not a lot of Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc available because Jeff has been contracting for all the best fruit. Not only does it smell and taste right for the variety. Instead of favoring the strong herbaceous components, he favors the tropical fruit. It is rich with a great aftertaste. It sells for about $20 but Bottle Barn has it for $13.99. Bottle Barn has all he award-winning wines in the store, with the awards listed on the wine display. Shone Farm Next is a 2022 Shone Farm wine, made by the students at SRJC. It is 13.9% ABV, so lower than average. It has fruit and spice flavors. The vineyard has been in the ground for 35 years. It's a wine of personality, it is balanced with structure and good acidity. It is remarkable that the students at SRJC have won a Gold Medal for their wine, in competition with all the other great winemakers in Sonoma County.

Dennis McCarter, owner and winemaker of McCarter Cellars, is back on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon and Dan Berger. This is his second time as a guest on CWC, the last time was this episode back in January of this year. Dan Berger is away again this week and Melissa Galliani joins us in the studio. Dennis tells about having taken a course at SRJC about pairing wine and food, which left him with the desire to start making wine. He started by making five gallons of Barbera in his garage. As he continued to make wine, he started winning awards, so he decided to go pro. That coincided with his transition out of the insurance business. The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc came from Rogers vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. The location is on the cooler side of the area. Dennis eventually finished enology studies at SRJC. His wines started winning awards right away. They continue to win recently. The inaugural Pinot Noir earned 98 points and took best of class at the North Coast Wine Challenge, sponsored by the Press Democrat and his Gewürztraminer took silver there. His Rosé, Pinkish, took a gold medal at Experience Rosé challenge. Click the logo to visit Davis Bynum Wines.   Dennis is involved in a group of American Vintners that meets quarterly. He is also on the board of the Sonoma Library Foundation, to do fund raising. With them, he helped organize Tasting Diversity, where they hosted events to raise exposure for African-American owned wineries. For more information about Tasting Diversity, visit this page at the Sonoma Library Foundation and scroll down to the middle of the page where it is listed among their other events. Discount Code There is a discount code WINERADIO for listeners to get 15% off. Dennis has accomplished a lot as a winemaker after only two years. His Gewurtztraminer is tasty and Dennis attributes its success to his method that includes he and his wife pressing the grapes with their own feet. His favorite wines to make are Pinot Noir and Zin, and aromatic whites like Gewurtztraminer. Click the logo to visit our sponsor Rodney Strong for info on the 2024 Summer Concert series. McCarter Cellars will have a tasting room by the end of the year, in a location across from where Carol Shelton Wines is located. Wait for news by the end of harvest season. That is starting to get busy now.

Kelly, Erandi y Alonso nos visitaron para proveer información de la conferencia anual en Santa Rosa Junior College. Estudiantes de MEChA de SRJC están organizando esta conferencia para estudiantes de preparatoria y sus padres. También compartieron con nosotrxs información de sus metas educacionales y porque estudiantes de preparatoria deben considerar estos eventos. #sonomacounty #MEChA #MEChAdeSRJC #estudiantes #familias --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

El director del Centro SRJC Roseland nos visitó para darnos información de las nuevas clases que esta ofreciendo Santa Rosa Junior College en Cloverdale y Healdsburg. Es tiempo de inscribirse para estas clases. #srjc #srjcroseland #cloverdale #healdsburg --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

Dr. Noelle LaVoie, professor of psychology at SRJC, visited to explain to us some of the challenges that students may be dealing with in preparation for the end of the fall semester. She also shared ways that students can minimize their stress and the fact that faculty too may be dealing with added stress at this time. Latinx students at SRJC are invited to take a mental health survey to help us determine the services SRJC can support with https://forms.gle/BDZc6iHmtLeb5T6z6 Also, Latinx students with psychology as their major at SRJC can become part of the Dr. Maria Hess mentoring program by registering at this link and will send further information about our next meeting. https://forms.gle/WnPz5Mxp96pgMQ6TA #finalsweek #SRJC #college #collegestudents #collegesuccess #collegefinals #toolsforsuccess #psychology #psychologymajors #latinx #selfcare #selflove #unconditionallove #stress #stressmanagement --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

Las señoras Lidia Lopez y Norma Pichardo nos visitaron para invitar a la comunidad en general para participar en eventos relacionados con el Dia de los Muertos en Santa Rosa Junior College. #díadelosinocentes #díadelosmuertos #diadelosmuertos --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

GUESTS: Betsy Fisher SRJC Culinary Department https://culinary.santarosa.edu/ Author: Irena Stein AREPA: Classic and Contemporary Recipes for Venezuela's Daily Bread https://www.irenasteinphotography.com/arepas

Hector Delgado, director de SRJC Roseland, invita a la comunidad a que visiten el plantel el sábado 16 de septiembre empezando a las 9:30am para aprender de los servicios a la comunidad. #SRJCRoseland #familia --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

Oscar Guajardo está organizando un evento familiar y gusta invitar a la comunidad para que participen. El evento será en SRJC el 13 de octubre en 1501 Mendocino Ave. La entrada es gratis y la comunidad son invitada a participar. Lfsa.santarosa.edu para más detalles. #carpa #srjc #familia --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

La Dra. Garcia nos visito para introducirse a la comunidad que habla español. Nos cuenta de sus decisiones que le llevaron a ser la sexta persona en la posición de presidenta y la primera Latina en esa posición. Invita a la comunidad a que se presenten y participen en su futuro. #SRJC #educacion #sonomacounty #presidenta #latina #latinx --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

Kelly y Alonso nos visitaron para explicar que Santa Rosa Junior College que frecuentemente habla de equidad y querer que estudiantes sobresalgan, no quiere pagar un pago justo a sus estudiantes trabajadorxs. Aquí esta la liga si gusta firmar la petición: https://chng.it/Ywvpt85M Toda persona puede firmar, sin importar edad u estatus migratorio. #SRJC #sonomacounty #estudiantes #sonomacountycalifornia #youth #educacion --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

Kelly and Alonso came to ask the community for support. SRJC has stated that they do not need to pay student workers in Petaluma a living wage because it is a governmental institution. Students now have a petition that they need all members of the community to sign. https://chng.it/Ywvpt85M --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rafael-vazquez7/support

Dr. Frank Chong is the outgoing president/superintendent of Santa Rosa Junior College. We had a conversation on the difficulties he faced and the successes during his tenure. We spoke about Roseland and he invited students in high schools to come visit and take classes because the college belongs to the community. #SRJC #sonomacounty #frankchong --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Jesus Nieto is the new coordinator and faculty member that is restarting the pharmacy tech program at SRJC. A new cohort of students will begin this spring semester at the college. Registration is now open for spring https://www.santarosa.edu/ #pharmacytech #pharmacytechnician #srjc --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

El distrito escolar de Santa Rosa nos educo de candidatxs que están esperando ser elegidxs a la mesa directiva del distrito durante estas elecciones. También nos dio mas información de las medidas que también están en la boleta para votar que tienen que ver con fondos para escuelas. Si gusta mas información de como votar, MEChA de SRJC a puesto una lista de algunxs candidatxs, proposiciones, y medidas. http://srjcmecha.org/ #SRCS #medidas #propuestas #candidatos #candidatas The superintendent came by to let us know that there are two measures on the ballot this time around that relate to Santa Rosa City Schools and to remind us that there are a few candidates for the school board. She reminded us that it is important to participating in the election system and that we should vote, regardless of what and who we vote for. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

GUEST... Kathy Vaillancourt The Walker House http://thewalkerhouse.org/ SRJC CULINARY ARTS Betsy Fisher...Chair Person Joni Davis Chef/Instructor...Culinary Cafe https://culinary.santarosa.edu/cafe-bakery 707-522-2796

Dr. Moises Santos is the New Latinx/Chicanx Faculty member in the Ethnic Studies department at Santa Rosa Junior College. Dr. Santos shares with us his motivation for becoming a faculty member and why he chose Santa Rosa Junior College. #SRJC #SRJCethnicstudies #Chicanx #latinx #chicanxlatinx #oaxaca #oaxaqueño #Oaxacalifornia --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

La Asociación de Facultad y Empleadxs de SRJC tendrán un evento de talento y estudiantes del colegio son invitadxs a participar. Este evento es el 29 de Septiembre a las 6pm. Otrxs estudiantes de preparatorias también son invitadxs a participar. Familias, vengan y participen en este evento. https://lfsa.santarosa.edu/latinxcarpa #latinxcarpa #herencia #SRJCherencia --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

The Latino Faculty Staff Association is hosting a Carpa event on September 29th at 6pm. This is a talent show opportunity for SRJC students and other community members. SRJC students are invited to sign up with their talent. High school students are also invited to participate in this event with their families. https://lfsa.santarosa.edu/latinxcarpa #SRJC --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

El profesor Moises Santos acaba de llegar a Santa Rosa Junior College y esta ensenando clases en el departamento de estudios étnicos. El es de padres que migraron de Oaxaca y Guerrero a California. El Tiene muchos planes para aumentar las clases que representan la comunidad Latinx. #SRJC #SRJCEthnicStudies #Oaxacalifornia --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Dr. Robert Holcomb originally grew up in Napa County until he went to college. He is the first Latinx Vicepresident of Academic Affairs in the history of SRJC. He invites students to explore SRJC offerings whether they are in middle school, high school, college or beyond. #SRJC --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Muchxs de nosotrxs venimos a este país con la intención de sobresalir, pero después de muchos años, solo estamos sobreviviendo. Nuestrxs hijxs aprenden también que no saldrán adelante porque mamá y papá no estamos demostrando el sobresalir. Las oportunidades existen, pero tenemos que tomar la decisión de ir y educarnos. #SRJC #educación #sobresalir --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

SRJC is about to begin a new school year and Hector Delgado came to speak with us about the many offerings available. From English as a Second Language to flower arrangements, students can still sign up. Classes will begin August 15th. #SRJC #ESL #SouthWestCenter --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Hector Delgado de Santa Rosa Junior College invita a la comunidad para que se inscriban a clases de otoño. Hector nos platica de las muchas oportunidades para sobresalir en este país que empiezan con aprender ingles y obtener un título equivalente a la preparatoria. #SRJC #ESL --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Araceli Vazquez and Gustavo Sanchez visited to explain the many adult education classes that are currently being offered at SRJC. This is the time to begin preparing for summer classes. https://socoadulted.org/ 707 521-7962 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

La conferencia anual de MEChA de SRJC para estudiantes del 6º grado en adelante y sus familias sucederá este 1º de abril del 2022 de 9am a 1pm virtualmente http://srjcmecha.org/. Habrá muchas presentaciones relacionadas a educación y cultura. El programa de EOPS ya esta tomando aplicaciones para estudiantes que se graduaran este año escolar. La beca Latinos Unidos todavía esta aceptando aplicaciones para estudiantes que se graduaran o graduaron de una preparatoria en el condado de Sonoma y asistirán a un colegio o universidad este otoño. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Duc Pham is building upon a legacy inspired by generosity. His story began in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and continued through his studies at Santa Rosa Junior College, eventually earning a bachelor's degree and PhD from Cornell University. Duc is now an assistant professor at Santa Monica College, passing forward the gift of education to the next generation of students. What inspired his journey from student to teacher? Well, it all started with a single spark... SUMMARY01:58 - If someone were visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, what would you want them to experience?02:45 - Duc shares his favorite vegan Vietnamese restaurant, Hoa Sen, in Orange County, California. 04:10 - Growing up, who were the most influential people in your life?05:36 - What sparked the seed for you to study in the U.S.? 09:42 - How did you end up at Santa Rosa Junior College? 11:30 - Duc speaks of an instructor at SRJC who changed his life. 17:45 - Duc speaks of a quote from supreme court justice Sonia Sotomayor that resonated with him.18:25 - Finding belonging as an international student.21:03 - The stories you'll tell at your 50th wedding anniversaryLINKSHo Chi Minh City, VietnamSanta Rosa Junior CollegeCornell University Santa Monica CollegeHoa Sen RestaurantOrange County, California1975 VietnamSonia SotomayorRedwood Adventist AcademySonoma State UniversityMayo Clinic in Rochester MinnesotaSRJC FoundationGUEST INFORMATIONLinkedinRESOURCESStudying in the USALearning English Studying at a US community college Attending US secondary and boarding schoolsCONNECT WITH USInstagramFacebook Twitter Tumblr Find our Podcasts here

Undocumented students having been dealing with many challenges during COVID. The Latinx population of Sonoma County had a decrease in life expectancy by 2.1 years. Individuals who have died while consuming drugs has increased and the number of other individuals who have died due to suicide also has increased. Undocumented students have a difficult time reaching out for mental health support at Santa Rosa Junior College. Unless changes are made to improve equity and create a welcoming space for these students, many will drop out or worse. #covid #covid19 #SRJC #undocustudents #mentalhealth --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Oscar Guajardo (oguajardo@santarosa.edu) nos habla de las carreras vocacionales que existen en el colegio. También nos educa que estudiantes de la preparatoria pueden empezar a tomar clases hacia una carrera vocacional. Para más información comuníquese con Oscar por correo electrónico. #SRJC #careereducation #vocationalprograms #communitycollege #ccc --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Oscar Guajardo (oguajardo@santarosa.edu) came to visit and talk about the over 100 vocational careers available at Santa Rosa Junior College. High school students can begin with a short-term career in 9th grade. For more info and to get assistance with getting started, email Oscar. #srjc #vocationalcareers #careereducation --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Mindful Monday The 80's Dance Heavy Music Videos Source: https://www.danceplug.com/article/janet-jackson-paula-abdul-and-the-80s-dance-heavy-music-videos Author: Elle is the Artistic Director of the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop (BJDW) and its resident company Interweave Dance Theatre (IDT). She received her Masters in Dance from the University of Colorado in Boulder where she also taught jazz dance. Since then she has taught primarily at Santa Rosa Junior College in Northern California. She has also choreographed and directed extensively through IDT and SRJC. In 2018 Lara received the prestigious Legends of Dance in Colorado award for her work with the BJDW. She has always loved to write and is excited for the opportunity to write for DancePlug. DancePlug is Dance Plug is YOUR connection to dance. It the go-to digital hub for online classes, auditions, and articles on all things dance! Check them out on Instagram @danceplug or at danceplug.com. Are you practicing your tip for the day? Share with us on social media and tag @dancetipsdaily to be shared on our platform! Don't forget to follow us on IG and Facebook @dancetipsdaily! Stay up to date with DTD & Subscribe to the once a month newsletter at www.dancetipsdaily.com Like what you heard? Give us a 5 star rating or share with a friend to help us keep bringing the best dance content to you! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dance-tips-daily/support

Aquí hablo de los beneficios de la educación y porque padres y madres de familia deben empujar a sus hijxs a continuar con su educación. SRJC tiene certificados, asociados, y estudiantes se pueden transferir a una universidad. También hablo de apoyo económico y más. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

GUEST: Shelly Kaldunski SRJC Culinary Arts Steve and John Talk Sandwiches

Shia Racial Justice Coalition began in response to the discussions regarding racism and anti-blackness in the Muslim world. We are a group of volunteers dedicated to reassessing our communities and where they stand on race. We aim to provide a variety of resources to help communities understand racial injustice and its history as well as ways to participate in movements. SRJC's goal is also to always uplift Black Shia voices and build a wholly anti-racist coalition.

Women's Spaces Radio Show of 3/15/2021 with host Elaine B Holtz commenting on the Black Suffragist Ida B. Wells and the environmentalist Rachel Carson, and our guest Abrea Tillman on the services and Spring events of the Black Student Union at SRJCOur guest Abrea Tillman is returning to college while being a mother of a young daughter at Santa Rosa Junior College and she shares the valuable services the Black Student Union provides to help orient and support Black students to the campus and provide a support network. Check out the show's web archive page to listen to the show, read the bio of Abrea, see the spring events offered by BSU and SRJC and the other links referenced on the show, this week in Herstory and the playlist. Elaine comments on Ida B. Wells, a black suffragist and courageous journalist and announces the NOW monthly meeting, free and open to the public, on this Thursday 3/18 featuring Lilith Rogers presenting her one-woman show on Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring in 1962, one of the first wake-up calls on the looming environmental disaster with indiscriminate use of pesticides. http://www.womensspaces.com/ArchiveWSA21/wsa210315.html

On Episode 38, the guys talk about horses busting loose & chicken massacres. Expanding the CFB Playoffs, NFL news & notes concerning Las Vegas/Pittsburgh/Philadelphia/New Orleans. The NFC East, the AFC South & NFL Coaching surprises. As well as the upcoming NHL season, Gregg Wiliams, NCAA turf colors & the SRJC. The guys are busy! Be sure to check out their other podcasts: -Rock'N Vino -Raiders In Paradise -Frank's Podcast (TBD) -Worthy Media Productions (January 2021)

About Elizabeth Quiroz From Trauma to Triumph Elizabeth Quiroz is a student at Sonoma State University, where she is working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and a Master's Degree in Social Work. Her goal is to become a probation officer where she can help make a positive impact on the lives of those transitioning through the justice system. As Elizabeth pursues this goal, she also serves as an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor at Athena House Residential Treatment Center for women in Santa Rosa, California, and she serves as a human trafficking victim advocate. Elizabeth's passion for helping victims of human sex trafficking has led her to start a nonprofit organization that will open a safe-house for human trafficking victims here in Sonoma County called Redemption House.  Elizabeth does all of this while working with her husband, José "Mico" Quiroz to raise their five children, and working to raise awareness about human trafficking and its long-term impact on the lives of girls and women in communities across the country. Elizabeth's passion and determination were fueled by a desire to atone for what she describes as mistakes of her past. These mistakes include past drug use, multiple arrests, and incarcerations. But, she has come to realize that these mistakes were a product of her childhood years surrounded by alcoholism, addiction, and being the victim of abuse.  Elizabeth was the victim of a broken foster-care system that focused on her negative behavior while missing signs of abuse and trauma. Elizabeth soon found herself trapped in an abusive relationship, the victim of human trafficking, moving from the foster care system to the juvenile justice system, and on to the jail and prison systems. Elizabeth dropped out of high school to run away from her problems. She developed a drug addiction, and by age fifteen, she found herself trapped in human sex trafficking and abusive relationships. By age sixteen, she committed a robbery under the control of her trafficker. She was arrested and placed in Juvenile Hall and later transferred to a group home facility in Sacramento, California. She soon became an adult and continued her life of drug addiction and crime while being controlled by her trafficker. Elizabeth was now spending time in and out of the county jail and state prison systems. In 2011, at age twenty-six, Elizabeth was arrested; this time, she promised herself it would be the last time. She had just given birth to a new baby boy and was determined to turn her life around by getting out from under her trafficker. While incarcerated, Elizabeth took classes and received her GED, and completed Starting Point, an in-custody drug treatment program. Upon her release, she attended the Women's Recovery Services, a one-year residential treatment program. It was there that she decided she wanted to save lives by helping those still sick with addiction and those in bondages of human sex trafficking. This desire to help young women at risk is what motivated Elizabeth to go to college. After completing the Women's Recovery Services program and receiving a certificate, Elizabeth enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC), where she graduated with honors,  earning three Associate of Arts degrees in Social Advocacy, Behavioral Science, and Human Services. Elizabeth's service to the community began upon her enrollment at SRJC, volunteering for the Bear Cub Scholar Program for foster youth. She soon became President of the Second Chance Club, an onsite support program for formerly incarcerated students. On Christmas Eve 2018, Elizabeth received an Unconditional Governor's Pardon from Governor Jerry Brown through the support of numerous community leaders. Motivating Others and Raising Awareness Elizabeth is a sought after speaker and presents on various topics, including Criminal Records Expungement, Addiction Recovery, and Human Trafficking. Among her audiences are; Sonoma County Jail GED graduate...

A recent study examined the potential of hemp terpene drift from hemp crops planted in close proximity to vineyards in Sonoma County, California. George Sellu, Program Coordinator and Instructor in the Agribusiness department at Santa Rosa Junior College explains the nuances of hemp production from how volatile aroma profiles vary by variety, the lack of studies to show volatiles impact grapes, wind influence on volatile organic compound movement, and smoke taint. George Sellu joined the SRJC in Fall 2013. He received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Environmental Science with an emphasis in Soil Science from the University of Sierra Leone and a MS and PhD in Agricultural Science/Education from the University of California, Davis. References: George Sellu | gsellu@santarosa.edu Growing Cannabis in Wine Country: The Shone Farm Project Hemp Being Explored as a New Farm Crop in Sonoma County Sustainable Ag Expo SIP Certified Get More Subscribe on Google Play, iHeartRADIO, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.

A conversation early in the COVID 19 pandemic in South Africa listening to stakeholders talking about sexual and reproductive justice and what it means. This includes perspectives of SRJC members including an abortion provider and health manager, sex worker, and queer health manager. This podcast took place during lockdown and tracked the heightened vulnerabilities being experienced. A central message was the common experience that there are no single issues and that there is a web of compounded and intersecting challenges facing women in particular. Yet this is heightened by how one is positioned noting issues of gender, race and class but also the complexities of accessing marginalised health services such as contraceptions of ones choice, abortion and the particular needs of sex workers or queer persons. SPEAKERS > Dudu Dlamini of Sweat > Sharon Cox of Triangle > Kgaladi Mphahele of MSF South Africa > Closing remarks of Sr Judiac Ranape from Western Cape Department of Health > Marion Stevens from Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition website

Counselor Geoff Navarro from Santa Rosa Junior College shares with us information about the steps high school seniors should take in order to get started at SRJC. The counseling department is available at 707 527-4451 to schedule an appointment. Students should take Counseling 270 and 390 this summer. EOPS is a program that allows individuals the opportunity to register for classes early and get economic assistance. eops.santarosa.edu --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

El consejero Geoff Navarro comparte con nosotrxs los pasos para estudiantes que se estan graduando de la preparatoria y quienes van a asistir el colegio de Santa Rosa (SRJC). Ahorita es el tiempo de planear y pueden hablar con consejerxs llamando 707 527-4451. Estudiantes deberian tomar las clases de Consejeria 270 y 390 este verano. Pare estudiantes que quieren apoyo en como pagar sus libros deberia ir a eops.santarosa.edu y mandar un mensaje para mas informacion. Siempre incluyan su numero de estudiante. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rafael-vazquez7/support

Women's Spaces Radio Show of 5/4/2020 with host Elaine B Holtz and guests Dorothy Battenfeld on SRJC Adapting for Student Safety and Hilary Moore of Off the Page Readers Theate - Show ID: WSA200504 Listen to the show online at its web archive page, where are also referenced links and announcements.http://www.womensspaces.com/ArchiveWSA20/WSA200504.html

Did you know that out of the approximately 1,132 community colleges in the United States, Santa Rosa Junior College was named one of the nation’s “Top 50 Community Colleges for Hispanics?” Did you know that this junior college has initiated a new student housing development to provide affordable housing on for approximately 360 students? Did you know that the man behind much of SRJC’s success once served as Special Assistant to Willie Brown, Speaker of the California Assembly, where he helped create legislation in higher education, mental health, small and minority business affairs and local government? Meet Dr. Frank Chong, and find out why he has made it his mission to make education accessible and feasible for all.

Today on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon and Dan Berger, our three guests all come from Santa Rosa Junior College Wine Program. Kevin Sea is the head of the program, Mark Stupich is the winemaker and Cassandra Howard is a student. Cassandra has done the Wine Service and Evaluation program and is now finishing in Wine Business and Marketing. Before that she lived in Asia to learn Chinese and to teach English and became a wine blogger writing about wine in Asia. Steve tells about how the SRJC wine program started in the 1970s with Rich Thomas. He was the original source of knowledge in the county. Today the program continues with an updated curriculum and a more developed wine production. Mark Stupich is the winemaker now. He succeeded Jeff MacBride. They make Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Their next project is to build a tasting room. They sell wine to support the program. Even compared to many 4-year colleges, SRJC is a very sophisticated program, says Dan Berger. Even Sonoma State does not offer winemaking, so many students start at SRJC to learn production, then transfer to Sonoma State for a first-class wine business program. There are 225 students in the winemaking program. They have a lot of new equipment, like a full commercial winery. Dan Berger explains that UC Davis and Fresno State make a lot of wine but it is not sold commercially. Since SRJC sells wine commercially, it is make to a higher standard than the other schools. This Saturday July 20 there is free public tasting open house at Shone Farm. Today Dan Berger brought a 1992 Navarro Pinot Noir. At the time it was somewhat experimental. It was slightly brownish and the flavors are amazing, even if the aromas “are a little tired.” You don’t usually hold a Pinot Noir this long. The flavors are still there on this one. Steve asks why Enology isn’t called “wineology.” Dan says, “It’s Greek to me,” and nails it with a wisecrack. Kevin says it’s the Latin root but Dan is actually right about this because it is a Greek root, present in Latin as well as English and in all the neo-Latin languages by the derivatives and adjectives like “enology” and “enological” but not as the noun. The Latin word for wine is “vinum” which is etymologically related to “oinos” the Greek word for wine. Kevin Sea holds a Master’s from UC Davis and a PhD in Biochemistry from UCLA. They are tasting a 2016 Pinot Noir, a 2017 Sauvignon Blanc and a 2017 Chardonnay, all from Shone Farm. Dan sings the praises of the wine program and Shone Farm and says all the community should support it. It is a hallmark for the community, that feels like a small town. Dan affirms that this is a University program at a junior college.  

On Sunday I met with two other amazing people who have a dream to put on an TEDx event at the Santa Rosa Junior College. This is what we discussed a bit and where we are going from there. Also I talked after that update about my own struggles with becoming a better man and how I am feeling. Stay tuned for some amazing stories to come. Thank you for taking a chance with The Nameless podcast. I would love if you took a moment and let me know what you think. It would mean the world to me. If you ever want to get a hold of me the best place to start is with my email which is mlopezkronicz@gmail.com. I always love to hear from everyone and if there is ever something that I can do to help you, let me know. Where you can find me and where most of the content that I put out there lives is on LinkedIn. www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-lopez-kronicz-1b1a0287 I also started a blog which you can check out below. https://matthewlopezkronicz.quora.com/ So if you are still with me, reach out and lets start connecting this world together. #theyneversawmecoming

On Sunday I met with two other amazing people who have a dream to put on an TEDx event at the Santa Rosa Junior College. This is what we discussed a bit and where we are going from there. Also I talked after that update about my own struggles with becoming a better man and how I am feeling. Stay tuned for some amazing stories to come. Thank you for taking a chance with The Nameless podcast. I would love if you took a moment and let me know what you think. It would mean the world to me. If you ever want to get a hold of me the best place to start is with my email which is mlopezkronicz@gmail.com. I always love to hear from everyone and if there is ever something that I can do to help you, let me know. Where you can find me and where most of the content that I put out there lives is on LinkedIn. www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-lopez-kronicz-1b1a0287 I also started a blog which you can check out below. https://matthewlopezkronicz.quora.com/ So if you are still with me, reach out and lets start connecting this world together. #theyneversawmecoming

There’s an interesting style of theatre in which a piece of dramatic prose, usually a short story or selected chapters from a longer piece, is fully staged and performed. Usually referred to as a “word-for-word” or “page-to-stage” dramatization, it takes some getting used to as literally every word on the written page -every word- is spoken. It’s the approach director John Shillington and the SRJC Theatre Arts Department take to tell the story of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. Two chapters are taken from the 1991 novel by Julia Alvarez and given the page-to-stage treatment. Alvarez’s novel is a collection of stories told from the perspectives of the four Garcia sisters about the challenges they faced as emigrants from the Dominican Republic. It covers thirty years in the family’s life, from their childhood on the Caribbean island to their adult lives as emigrants to the United States. Two of the chapters are performed. “Floor Show” tells the tale of the family’s big night out courtesy the largess of a well-to-do American friend. It’s told by Sandi (played by Jasmine Flores-Nunez), the youngest of the four sisters and features the Garcia parents. Papi (Khalid Shayota) is having difficulty getting his license to practice medicine approved while Mami (Jisaela Tenney) is trying to raise her four girls properly in a foreign land. They are preparing to go out for a fancy meal at the invitation of Dr. and Mrs. Fanning, a couple they met back in the Dominican Republic. Mami is very clear as to what she expects from her girls (she will order their modest meals, they will like everything they eat) and Papi is somewhat ashamed at what he sees as charity. Several things happen over the course of what should be a pleasant evening that reinforce the family’s feelings of displacement. “The Rudy Elmhurst Story” is told by Yolanda (played by Aaronne Louis-Charles, Annelise Hermsen, and Katerina Flores as the character at various ages), the third-oldest of the sisters. It’s the late 1960’s, the sexual revolution is well underway and she’s away at school. On her first day of English class, she draws the attention of one Rudy Brodermann Elmenhurst III (Riley Craig). They are soon an “item” but the conflict between Rudy’s liberal take on sex (“Can’t it just be fun”?) and the mix of Yolanda’s Old-World upbringing with the fragmentation of identity that comes with assimilation leads him to leave her and her to believe that she “would never find someone who would understand my particular mix of Catholicism and agnosticism, Hispanic and American styles." There’s a bittersweet, but empowering ending to the story. Shillington and his diverse cast are good storytellers. They’re housed in Newman Auditorium where the use of technical elements is limited, but designer Andrew Moore manages enough lighting to give the show a more theatrical feel to it than the lecture hall environment usually allows. The (mostly) young multi-cultural cast are the perfect vehicles to tell stories that must resonate with many of them. High school student Jasmine Flores-Nunez perfectly captures the petulant behavior of the even younger Sandi, and the actresses playing Yolanda give a real sense as to the character’s internal conflicts and maturation. There’s good work by the young ensemble throughout the piece. While the stories focus on the girls, the challenges faced by their parents are not ignored. The difficulties in having to start over after leaving a good life are well played by Shayota and Tenney. The combination of the unique presentational style of interesting stories with a diverse, vibrant cast makes the SRJC production of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents well-worth checking out during its limited run. ‘How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents’ runs Wednesday through Sunday through October 14 in Santa Rosa Junior College’s Newman Auditorium. Wednesday–Saturday, 8pm; Saturday & Sunday, 2pm. There's more at theatrearts.santarosa.edu

The Santa Rosa Junior College theatre season ends with their production of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. It’s a fairy tale mash-up with elements of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood set to a classic Sondheim score. As in the original tales - and not like most adaptations - things do not end well for the characters. A childless baker (Brett Mollard) and his wife (Katie Smith) make a bargain with a witch (Alanna Weatherby) to lift a family curse and grant their wish for a child. They are tasked with acquiring four items – a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold. Their search leads them to cross paths in the woods with the characters from the aforementioned fairy tales, all seeking fulfillment of their own wishes. The first act ends on a happy note as everyone seems to have their wishes granted but Act II gets very dark as the consequences of the characters’ actions play out. In other words, be careful what you wish for… With the JC’s Burbank Auditorium undergoing renovations, the limitations of the high school auditorium utilized for this production led director Laura Downing-Lee and her design team to get even more inventive than usual. They’ve reached back to the source material and set the show in a library. Scenic designer Peter Crompton loads the stage with oversized books that work as doors and steps. Other library materials are ingeniously worked into scenes – flapping books as birds, library carts as horses, etc. Under the vocal direction of Jody Benecke and musical direction of Justin Pyne and a nine-piece offstage orchestra, the creatively-costumed cast did well with the often-challenging Sondheim score. Mollard, Smith, and Weatherby lead the talented ensemble which includes Levi Sterling as Jack, Serena Poggi as Little Red Riding Hood, Ella Park as Cinderella, Shayla Nordby as Rapunzel and Cooper Bennet and Roberto Perez Kempton as Princes who were “raised to be charming, not sincere”. Unfortunately, the opening night performance was marred by numerous technical difficulties. Erratic microphone work and a failing projection system really distracted from the fine work being done onstage. My wish is that they get it all fixed so that audiences can fully enjoy this very entertaining production. 'Into the Woods' runs through May 6 at the Maria Carrillo High School Theatre in Santa Rosa. It’s recommended for ages 12 and above. Performances run Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30pm. For more information, go to theatrearts.santarosa.edu

While time may heal all wounds, a little human kindness along the way doesn’t hurt. That’s the basic takeaway from the Santa Rosa Junior College production of Julie Marie Myatt’s Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter. Originally produced in 2008 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, it was one of the first works to address the issues faced by returning veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts. Recently discharged Marine Jenny Sutter (Jenna Rechsteiner) has returned to California after being physically and emotionally wounded in the service of her country. Avoiding actually returning to her home for fear of her family’s reaction to her wounds, a happenstance meeting at a bus station leads her to join Lou (Maureen O’Neill) on a trip to Slab City, CA. It’s an actual location in the Sonoran Desert where squatters and campers have reclaimed an abandoned military base and turned it into a sort of off-the-grid commune. Jenny soon finds herself surrounded by people dealing with their own damaged lives. There’s Lou, who is dealing with addiction problems (gambling, smoking, sex); Buddy (Geoffrey Nixon), an abuse survivor who fancies himself a preacher (his ordainment came free with a credit check); and Donald (Dylan Kupper), an anti-social jeweler with anger issues. They are all looking for someone or something to believe in, but they – and especially Jenny - need to begin with themselves. With only six roles to fill from a school full of theatre arts students, Director Wendy Wisely has double-cast every role and has the two casts alternating performances. The opening night cast was fine with particularly warm performances from O’Neill as Jenny’s guide to recovery and Nixon as the sermon-delivering preacher. With Burbank Auditorium in the thick of renovations, the somewhat-lacking Newman Auditorium hosts this production which translates to minimal set and lighting designs. That’s a shame because the story’s locale provides interesting opportunities for both, though lighting designer Vince Mothersbaugh does manage to do something with the limited resources. The show is preceded by a slide presentation noting the military service of some of the cast, crew, and SRJC staff and the program notes that there are over 1,000 currently enrolled members of the student population who are active duty, reservists, veterans or their dependents. Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter is a nice salute to them and their families. ‘Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter' runs Wednesday through Sunday through March 18 at Santa Rosa Junior College's Newman Auditorium. Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm; Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2pm. For more information, go to theatrearts.santarosa.edu

It’s that time of year again for the usual “Best of…” lists where critics review their picks for the best (and sometimes worst) in music, movies, fashion, and the like and give people at holiday parties something to argue about. For the past three years my approach has been a little different as I prefer to offer a few “Special End of Year Awards” to Sonoma County theatres and artists. Here is Part I of my 2017 awards: The “Now You See It, Now You Don’t” Award - The Santa Rosa Junior College production of It Can’t Happen Here opened on October 6 and closed on October 8. The adaptation of the 1935 Sinclair Lewis novel about the rise of a populist blow-hard to the Presidency had a lot to say about our current political climate, but not a lot of people had a chance to see it. Its run was cut short with the closure of the SRJC campus as a result of the fires. The “Show Must Go On” Award – There were many theatre companies that understandably postponed their runs during the North Bay fires. Cinnabar Arts and Spreckels Theatre Company went on with their scheduled openings of Quartet and Monty Python’s Spamalot. While neither facility was in immediate danger, I was conflicted about the decision. I attended both productions, enjoyed them both, and was glad they decided to open. That being said, I’m still not sure they should have. The “Yes, There IS Diversity in Sonoma County, Dammit” Award – The Santa Rosa Junior College production of Lin Manuel-Miranda’s In the Heights proved the claim that there isn’t a diverse enough talent pool from which to cast many shows is suspect. Perhaps choosing shows in a season that speak and appeal to more diverse artists and audiences would widen the pool. Maybe it’s also time to check some artistic egos at the door and go and find them. The “Big Things Come in Small Packages” Award – The studio theatres of Sonoma County’s largest companies often offered superior work to that displayed on their main stages - 6th Street’s Visiting Mr. Green and A Masterpiece of Comic… Timing and Spreckels’ The Sugar Bean Sisters and Little Women, the Musical for example. The “Out of Left Field” Award – Not many people are willing to venture out to Monte Rio to catch theatre. You should give it a shot. You’re not going to get the bells and whistles other production companies may provide, but Curtain Call can do a lot with a little. They put on an excellent production of The Elephant Man with local comedian James Rowan giving an incredibly touching performance as John Merrick. Live theatre continues to struggle in Sonoma County (as it does most any place else.) Like many residents, the theatre community did not escape the fires unscathed with some companies losing their performance space and others losing equipment, props and costumes. Numerous theatre artists lost their homes. Live theatre will go on because Sonoma County supports it but, as with every other part of our community, change is inevitable. Tune in next week for Part II of my awards. Here’s to an artistically invigorating 2018. I’ll see you at the theatre.

"Movies as Teaching Tools" is the focus on November’s Word By Word: Conversations With Writers on North Bay Public Media, KRCB-FM. Today’s guest is SRJC media studies instructor and interdisciplinary scholar Tony Kashani, author of Movies Change Lives: A Pedagogy of Humanistic Transformation, and since host Gil Mansergh is a syndicated film columnist who uses film clips in his seminars, the discussion quickly becomes a knowledgeable interchange of how really good movies can be transformational. As an aid to listeners, here is a list of the movies exploring "who and what we are” that Tony and Gil discuss during the show: 1. Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944) starring Barbara Stanwick Fred McMurray, Edward G. Robinson 2. Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Darryl Hannah, Edward James Olmos 3. Andrew Niccol’s Gattaca (1997) starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law 4. Peter Wier’s The Truman Show (1998) Written by Andrew Niccol and starring Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Ed Harris 5. The Waschowski Brothers’ The Matrix (1999) starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Ann Moss, Hugo Weaving 6. Spike Jonze’s Her (2015) starring Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson 7. Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala (1991) starring Sarita Choudhury, Denzel Washington, Roshan Seth, Sharmila Tagore 8. Mira Nair’s Queen of Katwe (2016) starring Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o

The issue of high ticket-prices is rarely discussed openly within the North Bay theater community, nor do many seem eager to talk about the arguable effect of prices on the widely reported erosion of the audience for live theater. But it’s an issue the community thinks, and worries about, nonetheless. It takes money to put on a show. But it’s not unreasonable to expect that the more you pay, the better a show you get. A fully professional, Equity theater such as Marin Theater Company can charge what they do because the quality of their productions tends to be consistently excellent. Training programs like those at SRJC, Summer Repertory theater, College of Marin and SSU continue to have solid audience followings, despite uneven and understandably student-level work, because they rarely charge more than fifteen dollars a ticket. But when the average North Bay community theater show costs 28 or 29 dollars—and almost always requires the audience to overlook the acceptability of at least a few eager-but-not-always-stellar actors, singers and musicians—the cost, when weighed against the quality, invariably works to drive down overall audience attendance, sending those potential patrons to other entertainment options, ones that deliver more dependable bang for the buck. Well, for maximum theatrical bang, there is no better bargain for your buck right now than Curtain Theater’s joyously lowbrow, energetically slapstick production of William Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, running through September 11 in Mill Valley. Not only is the show good. It’s free. Yes, a hat is passed after the show, but given that the average per-patron donation for pass-the-basket shows is ten-fifteen dollars, this ludicrously over-the-top, highly energetic, crowd-pleasingly hilarious show easily offers the best all around bang-for-buck value to anyone seeking a bit of cleverly-wrought afternoon entertainment. Staged outdoors in the pleasantly redwood-shaded Old Mill Park, director Carl Jordan takes what is possibly Shakespeare’s crudest comedy, sets it in the 1920s, and adds a live band playing atmospheric tunes of the era, plus a few modern songs adapted to fit the style. Ingeniously mining the story for every possible pratfall, fart joke, rubber-chicken slap, and unexpectedly crude-gesture hibernating somewhere in the Bard’s gleefully bawdy text, Jordan’s cast—who should all be awarded prizes for most miles logged in a single onstage performance—attack this opportunity for outrageousness with an enthusiasm that astounds as often as it delights, even if Shakespeare’s ingenious language occasionally gets a bit muddied in the process. In the city of Ephesus—established as a colorfully dangerous place by Steve Coleman’s brilliant storybook set and Amanda Morando’s sexy performance of Coolio’s ‘Gangster’s Paradise’’—Antipholus of Syracuse (Adam Niemann) and his faithful servant Dromio (Heather Cherry) suddenly arrive, unaware that as children they were each separated from identical twins bearing their same names. The other Antipholus and Dromio (Skylar Collins and Nick Christenson) now live in Ephesus. Confusion quickly ensues as one set of twins is mistaken for the other, leading the resident Antipholus to accidentally alienate his wife (Melissa Claire) and make his sister-in-law (Heather Gordon) think he has fallen in love with her. Additional bits about gangsters, the twins’ father facing execution at sunset, and a frustrated goldsmith (Alexis Christenson, her hilariously snorty laugh a true thing of beauty) all bring value-added laughs to this first-rate example of how to give more while charging less. ‘Comedy of Errors runs Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day, through Sept. 11, at Old Mill Park Amphitheater in Mill Valley. All shows are at 2:00 p.m. and are Free. Further info can be found at curtaintheatre.org

Let’s talk about Jukebox Musicals. That’s a slangy term describing a stage show that is built around an assortment of pre-existing, usually well-known songs, stuff you might have heard on the radio, or on a barroom jukebox. Most traditional musicals build the songs into the stories as a unified whole. A jukebox musical lets the songs themselves suggest the storyline, the characters, and the tone. It’s basically building a musical in reverse. Nice Work if You Can Get It, built around classic 20s and 30s songs by George and Ira Gershwin, is pleasant, classy, solidly performed, and light-as-a-feather. Written by Joe DiPietro, seems to evaporate almost as soon as its over, along with the majority of its pleasing but strangely unmemorable tunes, the two or three exceptions including ‘Someone to Watch Over Me,’ ‘S’wonderful,’ and ‘Fascinating Rhythm.’ The plot, about a Prohibition era playboy, falling in love with a sweet bootlegger on the eve of his marriage to a famous dancer, is slight and silly, but crammed with old-fashioned, simplistic charm. The performances are lively, if mostly just skimming the surface, and the dancing, from swing moves to ecstatic tap numbers, is frequently breathtaking. Rock of Ages—constructed from hard-rocking, face-melting, pop-rock-and-metal tunes from the garish 1980s—is coarse, crude, exuberant, and sprinkled with sleazy Sunset Strip darkness and danger. Created by Chris D’Arienzo Rock of Ages employs songs by Journey, Van Halen, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Starship and others in telling the story of Drew, a wannabe rocker stuck cleaning the bar at an L.A. music club, and Sherrie, the aspiring actress he falls hard for. That Drew will eventually break into a rendition of Steve Perry’s ‘Oh Sherrie’ is inevitable from the moment he first hears her name. While both working at the a legendary rock venue called The Bourbon Room, their budding romance is derailed by the arrival of Stacee Jaxx, the amoral lead singer of a band called Arsenal. A subplot involves a plot by German developers to raze the Bourbon Room to make way for chain stores, galvanizing the club’s supporters into various forms of protest, including repeated group performances of Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Going to Take It.’ As written, it’s a bit of a hot mess, with a fair share of gleefully offensive moments and one potentially moving scene marred by the actors’ use of distasteful stereotypes. But overall, Rock of Ages is infectiously pleasurable, with loads of high energy, a kind of gritty youthful innocence, and tunes written to stick in your brain for days. 'Rock of Ages' runs through August 11, and ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ runs through August 13. Visit www.summerrep.com

Summer Repertory Theater Festival, Santa Rosa’s acclaimed training program, has returned for its 45th year. Over the last four-and-a-half decades, Summer Rep has earned a reputation as one of the country’s best experiences for young theater artists, who come from all over the U.S. to spend their summer rehearsing, creating and performing up to five shows, stage in repertory between June and August. Over that time, audiences have come to expect a certain degree of comfortable consistency in the shows staged each summer, usually an assortment of classics and Broadway favorites. But because this is a program designed to push and challenge its artists, sometimes something unusual, even a bit controversial, manages to sneak its way in. This year, that’s the case. In addition to the cozy-cute Gershwin musical Nice Work if You Can Get It, the rowdy heavy metal musical Rock of Ages, the Sondheim classic Merrily We Roll Along, and the musty bedroom-farce Boeing Boeing, Summer Repertory Theater is presenting one of its edgiest shows ever. Though you wouldn’t know it from the way Douglas Carter Beane’s The Little Dog Laughed has been marketed. Hardly the light-hearted romp the festival’s advertising suggests, this bold 2006 Hollywood satire brings a bit of welcome edge to a season crammed with frothy crowd-pleasers. The Little Dog Laughed – its title taken from the nursery rhyme about the dish who runs away with the spoon – is not quite an artistic triumph, due to some spotty performances by a cast otherwise game to tackle a very hard play. But for the sheer boldness of the choice, Summer Repertory Theater is to be commended. With luck, despite the show’s faults, I believe it may still find an audience in its final weeks. The story is narrated by Diane, a hyper-driven Hollywood agent played by Alexa Erbach, disappointingly off-key in a performance that is far too over-the-top. Diane’s client is a closeted second-tier movie star, Mitchell—played by Justin Genna, the best thing about the show. Mitchell yearns to balance his professional ambitions with his need to find real human connection. Early on, he drunkenly summons a scheming hustler, Alex, whose primary clientele is wealthy men—though he assumes he’s straight because he sometimes sleeps with his best friend Ellen. As Alex, David Miller, a bit weak in a tough role, though impressively committed to it, and Makenzie Morgan Gomez, as Ellen, is easily the next best thing about the production. Mitchell’s growing attachment to Alex creates a bit of a problem for Diane, who might still be able to turn Mitchell into a star—if she can only keep him in the closet. The script is clever, packed with sharp observations and inventive dialogue. The direction by Travis Kendrick is focused and well paced, but too heavy-handed to let the humor breathe. The cast is certainly to be congratulated for its professionalism in handling the script’s sexual content, its suggested nudity, and its intimately close proximity to the audience, the first row of which is seated close enough to touch them. Unfortunately, this kind of writing requires a better balance of darkness and comedy. Perhaps, with a stronger cast and direction, the frank and confrontational outrageousness of Beane’s socially biting storytelling might have been as funny as it is brutal, bleak, and unforgiving. 'The Little Dog Laughed' runs through August 7 at Newman Auditorium, on the campus of the Santa Rosa Junior College. www.summerrep.com

For several years, the lack of strong roles for women has been the talk of the theater world, lighting up blogs and theater-related websites. With the problem so prominently under discussion these days, Santa Rosa Junior College's currently running production of William Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' is eye-opening, to say the least. Marking the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death, the show employs what it's calling an "original practices” approach. Original practices? For one thing, the set by Peter Crompton resembles that of a traditional Elizabethan theater. The lighting is a clever approximation of candlelight, with massive chandeliers that are carefully "lit" by stagehands before the show, then hoisted to dangle up over the stage. Maryanne Scozzari’s sumptuous costumes are carefully authentic, beautifully representative of what actors would have been wearing in Shakespeare's day. But the boldest of all is the casting. As was the practice during Shakespeare's day, when it was illegal for women to perform on stage, all of the roles—including the characters of Viola, Olivia, and Mariah—are played by men. When they play men, they dress as men, but when they play women, it’s all about corsets and bum rolls and wigs. Okay. Alright. Such stuff might have been the norm four centuries ago, but can it work today? It can, and it does. Brilliantly. With a smart, pace-perfect style that’s both funny and ferocious, director Leslie McCauley capably transcends the usual pitfalls of "stunt casting," employing a committed and perceptive cast, all engaged in an inspired dramaturgical treasure hunt for the countless buried gags and inside jokes that Shakespeare—working under the constraints and limitations of 16th century theater—so carefully and cleverly embedded in his script. In so doing, McCauley and her SRJC team of actors and technicians have uncovered comedic gems and pleasant surprises that most other productions, in their quest for updated relevance, usually miss entirely. The story, of course, is all about artifice leading to deeper truth. Following a shipwreck that drowned most of the crew and passengers, the grieving survivor Viola, played with straightforward seriousness by Matt Heredia, disguises herself as a young man named Cesario and presents herself as a servant to the local Count Orsino (Evan Held), who’s lovesick and pining for the lovely Lady Olivia, played marvelously by Kot Takehashi, who sensitively moves Olivia from a state of mourning over the recent loss of her father and brother, into a loopy state of over-the-moon ecstasy as she finds herself falling for Cesario, who of course, is actually Viola in boy drag. Adding to the madness are subplots involving butlers, fools, drunken knights, conniving maids, and the inevitable eventual arrival of Sebastian, Viola’s presumed-drowned identical brother. The entire cast is strong, playing the ludicrousness of the story without losing the essential realness and humanity of the characters—regardless of what those characters are wearing. Sweet, inventive and a constant delight, SRJC’s ‘Twelfth Night’ might push a few buttons, but it will definitely spark some modern conversation about the need for better opportunities for female artists. This, in and of itself, makes the show worth seeing. That the show turns out to be so genuinely entertaining, is all the more reason to buy a ticket. ‘Twelfth Night’ runs through May 8 at Burbank Auditorium, on the JC campus. Visit theatrearts.santarosa.edu for tickets and information.