NORTH COAST, Calif. – Local writers take note: there’s never been a better opportunity to try your hand at play writing. Mendocino College is currently seeking short plays by local authors to be produced on campus this spring.

The new semester is under way at the college, and one of the most exciting events of the college’s spring theatre season is the annual Festival of New Plays.

Once again, theatre professor Reid Edelman will use short plays written by local authors to teach directing and acting students about the joys and challenges of working with new scripts. These plays will be produced in the college’s annual festival at the end of the semester.

This production of student-written scripts is now in its 15th year, and the event has become a highlight of the college’s annual theatre season.

For the past 14 years, Edelman has worked with Mendocino College Communications Instructor and playwright Jody Gehrman to find and develop student-written plays. Anyone residing in Lake, Sonoma or Mendocino counties is eligible to submit an original play.

“We clearly have an abundance of talented writers in this area,” says Gehrman, “but only a small percentage of them even think about writing a play. Playwrights aren’t born, they’re coerced by people like us to try it once. After seeing their work produced, most become addicted; it’s a tremendous high to sit in a theater and watch your ideas come to life.”

The deadline for submissions is Valentine’s Day, Thursday Feb. 14.

There are no limitations in terms of theme or content, but small casts (two to five characters) and minimal technical requirements are recommended for optimal chances at production.

Scripts should have a running time of no longer than ten minutes. Electronic submissions should be saved as PDF files.

For more information or to submit your play, contact Jody Gehrman, 707-468-3150 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also mail your play to Mendocino College, Attn: Jody Gehrman, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah, CA 95482.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center’s Restore project features “Sculpting the Human Figure in Clay” with Emily Scheibal this Sunday, Jan. 27, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Adults and children age 12 and up of all levels of art making experience, from newbies to professionals are invited to attend this class for $10.

“We’ll cover techniques for sculpting the reclining figure from a live model in clay,” explained Scheibal. “Ideally participants, and the work they created in this class, will return to MAC for a follow up session in beginning waste mold techniques for a plaster casting in February or March.”

Join Scheibal, build your skills and experience sculpting the nude human form. After warm ups, work will focus on a single pose. Please bring drawing and clay tools if you have them. Those wishing to draw only are welcome to join, but priority seating will be given to sculptors following warm ups.

Preregistration is mandatory as space is limited. Visit www.middletownartcenter.org/restore, or call 707-809-8118 to register.

The Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Upper Lake Senior Center invites community members to a free art workshop on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What has been your emotional experience of recovery from the fire that affected us all 6 months ago?

Chloe Karl, MSW, will facilitate this workshop. Use art and words to express your emotions as you experienced this fire.

All are warmly welcomed. Art supplies will be supplied. Bring a neighbor or friend.

For more information call Linda Kelly of the Lake County Arts Council at 707-263-6658.

The Upper Lake Senior Center is located at 9470 Mendenhall Road.

Claudine Pedroncelli is a volunteer at the Upper Lake Senior Center.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Wine Studio is presenting monthly art classes with wine, co-hosted with artist Anna Sabalone.

This month's wine and art session with Sabalone is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 27, and will feature an a sea turtle created with chalk pastels.

The session time is 1:30 to 4 p.m.

The class fee of $40 covers all of the provided art supplies needed along with step-by-step guidance and a glass of Lake County wine.

Reservations are required for each month's class as participation is limited to 12 people.

Sabalone was born and raised in Lake County. She has been involved in the Lake County arts Council since her teen years.

She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the University of Leeds, England for her undergraduate degree in English, history and anthropology. She earned her teaching credential and Master’s of Education from UCSB and has been teaching art, English, history and academic decathlon at Upper Lake High School since 2008.

The Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

The gallery is located at 9505 Main St., Upper Lake. It is open Thursday through Monday, 1 to 7 p.m., and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m..

For a class schedule, reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.

The Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

The gallery is located at 9505 Main St., Upper Lake. It is open Thursday through Monday, 1 to 7 p.m., and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m..

For a class schedule, reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The annual winter concert series at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake opens its 2019 season on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. in Riffe’s Meeting House next to the hotel.

The program features saxophonist and musicologist Francis Vanek, backed by the Dorian May Trio, playing selections from the various genres and eras in the evolution of jazz in America.

“We really enjoy these concerts,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “It’s a relaxing Sunday afternoon with some of the finest musicians in the area. This one with Francis Vanek and the Dorian May Trio should be particularly educational as well as entertaining.”

Along with the musical selections, Francis Vanek will chronicle the development and evolution of the major styles of America’s unique musical form, including blues, jazz standards and collective improvisation.

Francis Vanek was brought up in Pittsburgh and attended Duquesne University. He has a master’s degree in music from University of Nevada, Reno, where he later joined the jazz faculty, teaching jazz improvisation and classes in music history.

Backing Vanek will be the acclaimed Dorian May Trio with Dorian May on piano, Dorothea May on bass and Gabe Yanez on drums.

The group is led by Dorian May whose degree in classical piano performance has laid the groundwork for an exceptional career as a master of the jazz piano.

Tickets at $25 + tax are available by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.

Coffee and cookies are served to guests. The hotel is also offering a 10-percent discount on hotel bookings that weekend for people purchasing tickets to the concert.

I've had my eye on Americans' obsessions for more than 70 years and I can't remember a time when public lying got as much attention as it does today. Attention yes, but consequences, no.

I recently happened upon this clever poem about lying by Judith Askew. It's from her book On the Loose, from Bass River Press, South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and she, too, is from Massachusetts.

Bakery of Lies

My favorite is the cream puff lie,
the kind inflated with hot air,
expanded to make an heroic-sized story.

Another is the cannoli, a long lie,
well-packed with nutty details,
lightly wrapped in flakey truth.

A macaroon isn't a little white lie,
but it's covered
with self-serving coconut.

The apple tart carries slices
of sour gossip, only
slightly sweetened with truth.

Then there's the napoleon,
an Iago lie of pernicious intent,
layer upon layer of dark deceit.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2016 by Judith Askew, "Bakery of Lies" from On the Loose, (Bass River Press, 2016). Poem reprinted by permission of Judith Askew and the publisher. Introduction copyright ©2019 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.