Movin’ On: A Musical Tribute to Mel Graves

On Sun., Nov. 9, gifted and talented musicians will take the stage in Warren Auditorium to pay tribute to one of their own, Professor Mel Graves. “Mel has been an inspiration, a mentor and sometimes a taskmaster, to so many students here,” says longtime colleague Will Johnson. Director of Jazz Studies at SSU since 1982, Graves is a composer, educator and beloved colleague, who is currently battling pancreatic cancer. The concert is titled, “Movin’ On,” which Graves came up with himself.

The musical line-up is expected to include artists Mel Martin, Randy Vincent, George Marsh, Peter Barshay and the SSU All-Star Alumni Jazz Ensemble. Special guests include Art Lande and Denny Zeitlin. All proceeds from this event go toward establishing a jazz scholarship fund to assist talented young jazz students with their education. A reception is planned for after the concert. “It promises to be an inspiring evening filled with fabulous music honoring a terrific guy. You won’t want to miss this,” says Alan Kleinschmidt of the Center for Performing Arts.

The 200-seat Warren Auditorium is expected to sell out, so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. There is a suggested donation of $15. For ticket information, contact the Center for Performing Arts Box Office, open Mon.-Fri. from noon-5 p.m., at 4-2353.

SSUProWriMo

Join other writers at SSU who, in the spirit of National Novel Writing Month, are participating in SSUProWriMo - trying to crank out 25,000 words in the month of November. “We have only one rule: don’t (necessarily) get it right, just get it written,” says Loriann Negri of the Writing Center. Novel writers, academic project writers, poets, dramatists, memoirists and all other writers are invited to participate. An inspirational kickoff party will be Mon., Nov. 3 from noon-1 p.m. in Schulz 3001. For more information or to sign up, visit the Writing Center in Schulz 1103, or contact Loriann Negri at loriann.negri@sonoma.edu or Michelle Jolly at michelle.jolly@sonoma.edu.

Saturday Field Workshops at Fairfield Osborn Preserve

Two field workshops will be held at the Fairfield Osborn Preserve in November. The first workshop is Sat., Nov. 15 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and is titled, “Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Fall Season,” featuring Autumn Summer, a renowned expert on traditional uses of native California plants. The second workshop is Sat., Nov. 22 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and is titled, “Biology of Fairfield Osborn Preserve Woodlands.” Steven Barnhart, well-known plant ecologist and Education Director of the Pepperwood Foundation will lead a hike through signature oak woodlands, and discuss symptoms and impacts of Sudden Oak Death. Workshops cost $35 and advanced registration is required. Bring a bag lunch and water, and dress appropriately—rain will not lead to cancellation. For registration information, call 795-5069 or email at fairfield.osborn@sonoma.edu.

Film Explores Sonoma County’s Filipino History

A documentary film that explores the history of Filipino immigrants in Sonoma County during the first half of the last century will be shown at various venues in November. Project Director Leny Strobel of the American Multicultural Studies Department says, "Filipino American immigrant history is vastly underrepresented in our educational curriculum and historical archives. It’s essential that recent Filipino immigrants recognize the important path that was cleared for them by their predecessors. It is also important for the community at-large to get to know this history." The videodocumentary is a project of the Filipino American National Historical Society, Sonoma County Chapter and is a recipient of a California Council for the Humanities grant.

The first of three public events is on Nov. 1, from 1-4 p.m. at the Rohnert Park Community Center at 5401 Snyder Lane. Following the film screening there is a discussion, “Creating Visibility—the Filipino American Experience,” featuring the following panelists:

Senator Leland Yee, Assistant Pro Tem California Senate; Marissa Aroy, Emmy Award winning producer, “Sikhs in America and Little Manila”; Greg Sarris, award winning author; Chairman, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria; Endowed Chair, SSU; James Sobredo, associate professor, Ethnic Studies; Asian American Studies Program, CSU Sacramento; Linda Revilla, associate producer, "An Untold Triumph"; Michael Viloria, president, Filipino American Community of Sonoma County; Leny Strobel, moderator, associate professor, American Multicultural Studies, SSU.

The second public event is on held Nov. 8. Watch NewsBytes for more information. All events are free and open to the public.