City Party date; July 4th limbo; Droning on; and a smokeless Sonoma
The annual Sonoma City Party – really a live concert, with yet-as-unnamed band — is set for Thursday July 28, behind City Hall on Sonoma Plaza. This is one of two events (Fourth of July being the other) that had been produced each year by the Sonoma Community Center with partial funding through an annual City donation. With that “Tier 1” grant system phasing out this fiscal year, the SCC said it couldn’t afford to mount the two events anymore. The City took on the summer party, which will be one of the jobs of a new Special Events Manager hired by the City. But, although City staff is working with the SCC to find another group to produce Fourth of July festivities, it seems disinterested in taking on the responsibility from here on out. The SCC has agreed to produce the 2016 event, and has mounted a fundraising campaign to support it, before declaring future independence. As for 2017, we’ll cross that Delaware when we get to it.
Fundraising also continues for Sonoma’s July 4 fireworks show, an all-volunteer effort mounted annually by the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters’ Association (svfra.org). In the future, according to the CEO of Intel, sky shows won’t use explosives at all. “I see a future where fireworks and all their risks of smoke and dirt are a thing of the past, and they’re replaced by shows that have unlimited creativity and potential — and powered by drones.” But not until they deliver your socks from Amazon and a pizza from Domino’s.
Will drones be buzzing above big events like July 4 or the Sonoma Music Festival (page 28)? There’s no rule against it. With no lead from the feds or state, cities around the country are passing drone laws. Austin, for example, has made the SXSW Music Festival (and any gathering of a 100 or more people) a no-fly drone zone. If only they could rake lawns.
What City Hall does want to do, in addition to crafting leaf blower regulations to put on the November ballot, is to make smoking anywhere in public virtually impossible. Banned would be smoking (e-cigs and pot included) on city streets, sidewalks, outdoor areas including parks and the Plaza, and apartments and multifamily housing. If you smoke, stay home or sit in the car. Yes, even tourists.
Author Maggie Huffman will read from her new book on Saturday, May 28, 2 p.m. at Reader’s Books. The title suggests she has made up for lost time: “Whoops! I Forgot to Achieve My Potential.” … Local writers Meta Strauss and Jean Wong were the winners of a Lucky Penny theater group’s contest that chose short stories to produce on stage. Organizer Dan Monez says, “The short story is one of the most difficult and interesting genres to master. In just a few pages, the author has to create a complete story with characters the reader can see, hear, and feel.” A performance of their work, along with the work of seven other winners, happens Sunday, June 12, 2 p.m. 2:00 pm at the Napa’s Community Arts Center. Regardless of plot, a happy ending.
-Val Robichaud
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