Out & About for March 1, 2010

Although Charles M. Schulz was no camping fanatic, his most beloved characters, Snoopy, Woodstock and a band of birds, spent years exploring the wilderness as Beagle Scouts in the Peanuts comic strip. The Charles M. Schulz Museum’s newest exhibition, Take a Hike, Snoopy, runs now through June 13. On display will be the evolution of Schulz’s portrayal of the Beagle Scout over 25 years, with 14 original Peanuts strips and Beagle Scout-themed objects from the 1970s through 2000. The Museum is located at 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. Call 284-1268 for additional details.

There will be a klezmer concert on March 2 at Sonoma State University. The school’s Holocaust & Genocide Lecture Series will feature Robin Seletzky from SUNY Oneonata and Hartwick College, who will perform with the Santa Rosa Junior Orchestra. This concert will follow a lecture on the history of klezmer music. Now in its 27th season, the series is held every Tuesday through May 18 at 4 p.m. in Ives Hall Auditorium on the SSU campus. The concert and lecture are free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.sonoma.edu/holocaust/center/htm.

March is Women’s History Month. To celebrate, Susan Blair from the National Women’s History Project, will speak at the Sonoma County Forum’s March 4 meeting, 7:30 a.m., at the Flamingo Hotel. Breakfast cost is $15. The Sonoma County Forum was founded in 1979 by a group of businesswomen to provide an association with other professional women. The Flamingo is located at 2777 4th St., Santa Rosa. For information, go to www.sonomacountyforum.org. For reservations, call Susan Sudduth, 547-4679.

The Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts Dept. presents The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare at the Burbank Auditorium, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Take two sets of identical twins, separate them in infancy, give them the same names, let them grow up far apart, have them finally end up in the same city without realizing it and what do you have? A maelstrom of marvelous madcap mayhem that only Master Shakespeare could muster. Recommended for age 12 and above. Dates are March 5-6, and 10-14. Tickets are $5-$15. Call 527-4343 or visit www.santarosa.edu/theatrearts/.

Do you enjoy learning about art and history? Are you passionate about sharing knowledge with others? Are you interested in special educational opportunities like lectures, discussion groups, and field trips to museums and artist’s studios? Become a docent at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art! Drop by March 5, 5-6:30 p.m., for an informational reception at the Museum, located at 551 Broadway, Sonoma. RSVP to truby@svma.org or by phone at 939-7862. Need more details? Feel free to contact the Museum office at 939-7862.

On March 6, the Sonoma County Conservation Council will honor three exemplary individuals and groups at the annual Environmental Awards Dinner. Held at the Sebastopol Veteran’s Auditorium from 5:30 to 9 p.m., this environmental networking and fundraising extravaganza will feature a vegetarian gourmet dinner with local food and wine, as well as a silent auction and raffle. This year’s theme is “Turning the Tide With Local Water Solutions.” Tickets are $50. Non-profit groups who purchase advance tickets can get five for the price four. For additional information call 824-9931 or visit www.envirocentersoco.org.

Maxwell Farms Regional Park is seeking volunteers to help Sonoma Regional Parks monitor the park and its trail system. On March 6, beginning at 9 a.m., a two-hour orientation will be conducted to outline the requirements of the position, which includes observing and reporting park conditions and activities to Parks personnel. Parks requires a one-hour per week commitment and fingerprinting. All volunteers receive a free parking pass. The morning will start with a meeting in the parking lot followed by a walking tour of the park. Please wear sturdy shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. To sign up contact Mallory Davenport at 343-5221 or www.maldavenport@comcast.net.

AARP’s Driver Safety Program offers an 8-hour, or a 4 _-hour Classroom Driving Course. The 4 _-hour course is for persons who have taken the 8-hour course within the last 4 years. Both courses are for drivers 50 years of age and older. By law, auto insurance discounts are available upon completion for those over age 55. Some insurance companies allow discounts for ages 50-55, as well. Cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for Non-Members To obtain the discount, bring your AARP membership card. Advance registration is required. Mar. 9 and 11, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Chop’s Teen Club, 5909 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 545-8608.

The Fishing Tackle, Duck Decoy, Sporting Collectible Show, the largest of its kind on the West Coast, will take place March 12 and 13 in Santa Rosa at the Santa Rosa Veteran’s Building. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 12th and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 13th. Buy, sell and trade your tackle and sporting collectibles, and shop for all kinds of fishing gear, duck calls and decoys, wildlife art, knives, shell boxes, prints, books, etc. Admission is $5 and parking is free. For more information call Red Johnson, 539-3662, or go to www.redsshow.com.

On Mar. 13, from 1-4 p.m., the Sonoma Ecology Center needs volunteers to help sow seeds and plant trees. All ages and skill levels are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers will be getting dirty, so please dress appropriately. Wear sturdy shoes, bring gloves, a snack and refillable water bottle. Meet at Sonoma Garden Park, 19990 7th St. East. Space is limited and RSVP is required. Contact Kady Christen at 996-0712, ext. 102, or kady@sonomaecologycenter.org.

On March 13, beginning at 6 p.m., some 250 of Sonoma County’s leading business owners, philanthropists and arts lovers will gather at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa for the Center’s annual fundraising gala, The Art of Dessert. Now in its 7th year, the event generates essential funding for arts and education programs at the non-profit Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, most specifically for the Education Through the Arts program serving 30,000 students annually and providing free and low-cost services to low-income and at-risk students. The Art of Dessert features a catered sit-down dinner, more than 25 divine desserts, plus live and silent auctions. Tickets are $200, or $1500 for a table of eight. For additional information and tickets visit www.wellsfargocenterarts.org. The venue is located at 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa.

The Spreckels Performing Arts Center presents Epics of the Cinema featuring Lawrence of Arabia on Mar. 14, at 2 p.m. The film stars Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn. What better way to see such a huge film than on Spreckel’s 22x16 foot screen. Combined with a new high definition projector and player, and a state-of-the-art theatrical sound system, this epic motion picture can once again be appreciated in the way it was first meant to be seen. All seats just $6. The venue is located at 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. For more information please call 588-3400 or visit www.spreckelsonline.com.

Coming on the heels of the extraordinarily strong reception for Earth, Wind and Fire – tickets are going fast, so don’t wait to buy – Sonoma Jazz+’s sixth year has now picked up incredible steam with the announcement of its second headliner, the legendary Crosby, Stills and Nash, performing on May 21. Their music ranges from acoustic folk to thundering rock and roll, and they created the soundtrack of an era. Proceeds from Sonoma Jazz+ enhance, promote and support local music programs in the Sonoma Valley schools, with over $460,000 raised to date. Tickets are available by calling 866-527-8499, or through www.sonomajazz.org or Sonoma Valley Music, 521 Broadway, Sonoma.