Page 37 - Sonoma County Gazette - August 2017

“The Cotati Accordion Festival has raised over a half million dollars for local youth.” ~ Linda L. Conner
Cotati Accordion Festival Saturday & Sunday, August 19 & 20
In five years of writing this column I still find it a pleasure to introduce readers to our Cotati Accordion Festival. Fan line up before the gates open with low-backed beach chairs, blankets, and sunhats. Always a family friendly event and crowd pleaser due to the variety of musical styles, costumes, and performers age range. Fine performances from ten years young up to renowned masters and mentors, this festival defies brief description. Everything from classical music, with vocals of professional quality, to punkish versions of popular songs, low growling jazz tunes, jubilant polkas, and party zydeco.
Not every tune includes lyrics, yet in the cheery atmosphere of the fest drifts a welcome sing-a-long. A huge number of visitors have become ardent fans, and never miss a year. If you see me on Sunday, please say hello. I’ll be wearing a pink straw-hat. At noon in Friar Tucks Pub, I might remove it for the two-step dance class. Sunday afternoon, Singer/Accordionist Lizeth Olivo, will rock the park with her stellar reviewed Norteno Classic and original songs. Olivo is thought to be one of the best musicians in the world of the genre.
Congratulations to Vanessa Nava for receiving the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Nava is one of only 55 community college students from across the nation to receive a Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship this year.
It’s the Year of the Woman so meet Linda L. Conner, Producer
on Air BnB in less than 18 months. According to the American Community Survey short term rentals make up approximately 44% of the total unoccupied units in the county.
For the past two years, Linda L. Conner, Producer and Scott
Goree, Executive Director have planned, organized, and run the festival. They are the only paid staff and do CAF business year round. Of course, they rely on hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
According to the sta report, part of the conditions of the Rohnert Park Administrative Use Permit process delineates the following:
1. Only single room rentals would be permitted.
2. The short-term rental could be rented for 14 or less, consecutive days.
3. A business license is required.
4. TOT (transit occupancy tax) regulations would apply.
“Scott owns night clubs and books musical acts
so he invites, contacts
and schedules all the talent,” Conner said in our interview. Then she added, “I’m a graphic designer.
Per the sta report “the limitation on consecutive days is also intended to clearly distinguish between a short-term rental and long-term rentals (30 days or longer) which are regulated quite di erently”.
Nava grew up in Rohnert Park, attending our local schools and graduating from Technology High. She received a certi cate of recognition from the city council due her outstanding award of the Cooke Foundation Scholarship. Speaking with her at out meeting it is easy to tell Vanessa is a bright, motivated humble person who will go quite far in her endeavors. Her desire is to work
in the medical eld. The scholarship is worth up to $40,000 a year and goes toward her bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university of her choice.
Rohnert Park City Council recently voted on short term rental regulations. The council approved rentals of single rooms only, not whole house or accessory dwelling units. Part of the reason has to do with keeping much needed housing stock available. As more whole homes are used as vacation rentals this can put a strain on available housing stock and increased housing costs. Rohnert Park has seen a 100% increase in the number of homes listed
I designed and built the website, and create all the programs, ads and flyers.”
The Planning Commission recently met regarding the following projects: 1. 100-Room Fair eld Inn & Suites located at 405 Martin Ave.
2. 135-unit apartment complex Rohnert Park Park Vista located at Labath Ave
The 2017 fest will have
six stages, two dance
floors, 35+ acts, and forty
craft vendors. Conner
comes from a musical family. She sang and played organ at their church. At one point she won eight accordion lessons. After she completely those lessons she did not take up the instrument again. So you don’t have to be an accordion player to love the festival.
and Dowell Ave.
Unfortunately, the nal report was not available at this time.
Due to her friendships with Rebecca Browne, and Clifton Buck-Kauffman, Conner has been involved for the entire twenty-seven years. This year she will be on stage for one of her favorite traditions. While the Lady of Spain takes
the main stage with other ladies in national costume, Conner gets to free white doves as accordion enthusiasts and professionals, in a circle, play Lady of Spain.
Patrons will be delighted by the main stage featuring legendary local living bluesman Charlie Musselwhite, vocalist, guitarist, composer, producer and Santa Rosa High School Alumnus Doyle Bramhall II, Award Winning Bay area Blues vocalist Ms. Taylor P Collins and Vallejo-based gospel sensations The Sons of The Soul Revivers.
Where to get tickets: Tickets available at all Oliver’s Markets and at www. cotatifest.com/index.php/tickets. Tickets are $19 for one day, $29 for two. Save $2 when purchased in advance $17 for a day and $27 for both. Get Senior Tickets $17 at Oliver’s Market or at the gate. Kids 15 and under FREE when accompanied by a paying adult.
Cannot do the weekend? Friday’s kickoff has four musical, fun, and fundraising venues All four of Oliver’s Markets will be hosting musical acts. They are free. If you feel generous, give them a donation for youth musical scholarships. The Redwood Café in Cotati will host a live accordion concert starting at 6pm. All proceeds go to student accordion scholarships from your $5 donation at the door. This year, Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma will host the Mad Maggies, a “syncopated Tex-Mex rhythm exploding into a rollicking Eastern European dance groove before settling back into that laid-back South- of-the-border sound. For your listening and dancing pleasure from 4:20pm to 7pm. Plus an After Hours Party at Volpi’s in Petaluma all weekend. Do bring your accordion.
Deborah Taylor-French is an information omnivore, feeding on fiction, business news, and poetry.
In the Redwood Grove, our second stage welcomes “Electric Chicago Blues from Muddy to Buddy” with Sonoma County’s stalwart The Blues Defenders and Special Guest veteran guitarists Levi Lloyd and Volker Strifler.
ENTERTAINMENT!
On Saturday, August 19th, SOMO Concerts invites you to a day-long pop-up festival lled with nationally acclaimed Sonoma grown blues and a beautifully curated ne art gallery.
Kathleen McCallum, a long-time North Bay artist, arts advocate and event producer has joined the Sonoma County Blues Festival as the Director of this year’s new Juried Art Show. “I’m thrilled to help incorporate the visual arts into this great Blues Festival. There is a special synergy that happens between visual arts and music that creates a happening magical environment.”
This is Art and Wine Country and this year’s Sonoma County Blues Festival will splash a fresh twist into the Sonoma County Art scene.” says McCallum. Doors open at 2pm with a 3pm show start. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at ticket y.com/event/1489276-sonoma-county-blues-festival-rohnert-park/ with a month long $10 o early bird discount.
Enjoy Disney’s Sleeping Beauty at Spreckles Performing Arts Center, located o RP Expressway. The Youth in Arts Summer Workshop runs August 11-20. tickets are on sale now!!
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