This is a running analysis of the San Francisco 49ers’ moves and key departures during the initial wave of free agency. The legal tampering window began Monday at 9 a.m. PT and the NFL’s new league year, when teams can formally sign free agents who played elsewhere in 2023, began Wednesday at 1 p.m. PT.

Live updates: Free-agent news from across the NFL
FA tracker: New teams and contract details for the top 150 free agents
Best available players: Who’s still on the market?
Grades: Best and worst of free-agent deals

March 15: The 49ers signed the 28-year-old cornerback, as confirmed by his agent. Before the 2023 season, Yiadom had been a journeyman who’d managed unspectacular results with the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans. But he registered a productive 2023 season for the New Orleans Saints. He started the final seven games of the season and delivered a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 80.4, which ranks No. 16 of qualifying cornerbacks. The 6-foot-1 Yiadom has the potential to be, at the very least, quality DB depth for a 49ers defense hungry for more capable bodies on the outside.

March 15: The 49ers signed the former Green Bay Packers linebacker, who was an All-Pro in 2021, according to the NFL Network. Campbell, 30, has seen his tackling and coverage performance erode since then. He allowed a passer rating of 129.5 into his coverage in 2023. His missed tackle rate was 9.9 percent, up from just 2.8 percent in 2021. Campbell has also missed eight games over the past two seasons. But it’s important to note the 49ers aren’t bringing in Campbell to be a featured piece of their linebacker room. They signed him to augment it, since Dre Greenlaw is recovering from an Achilles tear. The 49ers had initially thought they’d be signing Eric Kendricks, another former All-Pro, for this role. But he backed out and went to the Dallas Cowboys instead, so Campbell became the 49ers’ choice.

March 15: The 49ers agreed to a one-year contract with Lucas, 27, who has spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Lions. Lucas plays nickel cornerback, but he’s mostly been known as a special teams ace, especially a punt-coverage gunner. He was teammates with Brandon Aiyuk at Arizona State.

March 15: The 49ers are expected to re-sign guard Jon Feliciano to a one-year deal, a team source confirmed. The 49ers have wanted to bring back Feliciano, who overtook Spencer Burford for the starting spot at right guard. He proved to be a good fit in the 49ers’ scheme, posting the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade of any guard. He also registered above-average marks in pass protection. Feliciano suffered an elbow injury that knocked him out of the Super Bowl and seemed to hurt the team’s pass protection down the stretch of that game. The 49ers now have all five starting offensive linemen from last season under contract for 2024, setting a floor for the position. With many offensive linemen commanding big contracts in free agency, the 49ers might turn to the NFL Draft to raise the room’s ceiling.

On IG, Jon Feliciano confirmed that he’s returning to the 49ers and appeared to hint that he might retire after this, his 10th season. “Last ride” pic.twitter.com/5VCFofg6Bq

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 15, 2024

March 15: The 49ers are expected to re-sign linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who’s been with the team since 2019. A team source confirmed the news. Flannigan-Fowles played 173 snaps on defense last season, but his primary contributions come on special teams. He delivered 351 snaps there for the 49ers. This move won’t stop the 49ers from searching for veteran linebacker depth. Dre Greenlaw’s Achilles injury encouraged the 49ers to pursue Eric Kendricks at the position, but the veteran ultimately signed with the Dallas Cowboys instead.

March 14: Armstead is reuniting with general manager Trent Baalke after the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to a deal with the big defensive lineman, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported. Baalke drafted Armstead in the first round in 2015, and he was the 49ers’ last remaining player drafted by Baalke. At age 30, Armstead is still an excellent player when healthy. But he’s dealt with knee and foot issues the last two seasons, which have either put him on the bench or diminished his play. Because of that the 49ers asked him to take a significant pay cut. Armstead refused and asked for his release, which occurred Wednesday.

GO DEEPER

Jaguars signing former 49ers’ Arik Armstead: Sources

March 14: The 49ers need a new return man after McCloud agreed to a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, the NFL Network reported. McCloud was an improvement over Richie James and the team’s previous return situation. But he didn’t break the 49ers’ longest punt-return-touchdown drought that dates to 2011. And his gaffe in the Super Bowl was one of the game’s defining plays. After a punt struck the back of teammate Darrell Luter Jr.’s foot, McCloud tried to pick up and run with the bouncing ball and lost it to the Kansas City Chiefs in the process. They scored a touchdown on the next play.

LB Eric Kendricks

March 13: A little more than 12 hours after agreeing to sign with the 49ers (see below), Kendricks changed his mind and decided to go to Dallas instead. There he’ll reunite with Mike Zimmer, who once was Kendricks’ head coach with the Minnesota Vikings and who now runs the Dallas Cowboys’ defense. The 49ers will resume their search for a veteran linebacker who can possibly fill in if Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) is not ready at the start of the season.

GO DEEPER

Kendricks switches from 49ers deal to Cowboys

March 13: The 49ers agreed to re-sign Givens, who played 398 defensive snaps for them last season, to a one-year deal. Givens is the third defensive tackle the team has landed in the last two days — the 49ers agreed to terms with Jordan Elliott and traded for Maliek Collins. He’ll have to fend off third-year player Kalia Davis for a spot in the rotation, but Givens’ experience in the defense gives him the edge.

DT Arik Armstead

March 13: The 49ers did, in fact, release Armstead shortly after the start of the NFL’s new league year at 1 p.m. PT. Armstead will be designated as a post-June 1 cut, according to a team source, which will ultimately open up about $18 million — but this money (his 2024 salary and assorted bonuses) won’t come off the books until after June 1. Armstead needed to remain on the 49ers roster until after the start of the league year in order to designate him as a post-June 1 cut and the team also made attempts to recoup compensation via trade, but could not work out a deal.

GO DEEPER

49ers release DT Arik Armstead

March 13: The Chicago Bears plan to sign Pryor to a one-year deal, according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain. Pryor was a right tackle only for the 49ers in 2023. He was active for 15 games but played only 42 offensive snaps. Still, his departure leaves the 49ers light at tackle where Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz are the starters and Jaylon Moore is the top backup.

March 13: The fullback agreed to a restructured contract that will save the 49ers $1.75 million in 2024 salary-cap space. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe confirmed the news. Details of this maneuver aren’t yet available, but Juszczyk will remain the highest-paid fullback in the NFL. His original deal included a non-guaranteed base salary of $5.75 million for this season, so a simple reduction to $4 million would open up $1.75 million in cap space. But the 49ers could’ve also used other maneuvers, such as a signing bonus conversion paired with void years, to lower Juszczyk’s number. Either way, the 49ers cleared up important space. They’re right against the limit and must be cap compliant when the new league year begins at 1 p.m. PT.

DT Maliek Collins

March 13: In a move that likely signals the end of Arik Armstead’s 49ers tenure, the team dealt a seventh-round pick Wednesday to the Houston Texans for the veteran Collins, league sources confirmed to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. In eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders and Texans, Collins — who will turn 29 next month — has 25 1/2 sacks. He matched his career highs last season for Houston with five sacks and 48 pressures. Over the bulk of his career, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound Collins has been one of the league’s better interior pass rushers — with his one season with the Raiders in 2020 serving as an exception. He had a career-low pressure rate of 4.6 percent that season, according to TruMedia. He was at 10.7 percent last season with Houston.

GO DEEPER

49ers trading for Texans’ Collins: Sources

Eric Kendricks will help fill the void as Dre Greenlaw recovers from his torn Achilles suffered in the Super Bowl. (Ryan Kang / Getty Images)

LB Eric Kendricks

March 13: The 49ers found their linebacker to help fill the void while Dre Greenlaw recovers from the torn Achilles he suffered in the Super Bowl, as they agreed to a one-year deal with Kendricks, a league source confirmed. ESPN was the first to report the agreement. Kendricks played last season with the Los Angeles Chargers — under new 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley — after spending his first eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He was a first-team All-Pro at linebacker in 2019. Kendricks, 32, has eight straight seasons with 100-plus tackles. He finished with 117 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks last season. The Chargers released him last week, which means his signing will not count against the 49ers in the compensatory pick formula.

UPDATE: Kendricks changed his mind and instead agreed to a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

DT Jordan Elliott

March 12: The 49ers are adding the former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle to a two-year deal worth up to $10 million. Elliott’s agent confirmed the news. The 49ers need to replace hundreds of lost snaps on the interior of the defensive line, and Elliott marks the first step in that replenishment process. Elliott has managed only modest numbers — five sacks so far in his career — but he’s a space eater who developed into a starter on a good Browns’ front over the past two seasons. Cleveland ran a Wide 9 front, the same alignment the 49ers use, under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Elliott also hasn’t missed a game due to injury in his NFL career. The 49ers’ focus on durable players continues.

The 49ers and Odum agreed to a two-year extension that keeps Odum under contract through the 2026 season, according to Odum’s agent, Matt Glose. The deal is worth as much as $10.8 million. With Charlie Woerner heading to Atlanta, Odum is the team’s top special teams player and he provides veteran depth at safety behind youngsters Talanoa Hufanga and Ji’Ayir Brown. Odum tore his biceps on Nov. 23 but returned late in the season and played 66 special teams snaps in the postseason.

March 12: Ferrell, who signed a one-year deal with the 49ers last offseason, is expected to sign with the Washington Commanders, league sources told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Ferrell, the No. 4 pick in the 2019 draft by the Raiders, started all 17 games of the regular season for the 49ers in 2023. His numbers weren’t flashy — he finished with 28 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks — but he was a sturdy presence at defensive end opposite Nick Bosa. He suffered a torn meniscus in the team’s Week 18 game that required surgery and forced him to miss the postseason.

March 11: Late on the first night of the legal tampering period, the Minnesota Vikings were expected to sign Darnold to a one-year deal worth $10 million, according to the NFL Network. Team sources confirmed the agreement to The Athletic on Tuesday morning.  Darnold joined the 49ers last season on a one-year deal and won the backup job in training camp over Trey Lance. He saw action in 10 games last season for San Francisco, mostly mop-up duty late in lopsided contests. His lone start came in Week 18 after the 49ers had clinched the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. In that game, he completed 16 of 26 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers had long expected him to be too expensive to retain as a backup for a second season. Early on Monday, they agreed to terms with Brandon Allen — the team’s No. 3 quarterback last season — on a one-year deal.

GO DEEPER

Vikings expected to sign QB Sam Darnold: Sources

March 11: New York Jets coach Robert Saleh was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator back when they drafted Kinlaw in 2020’s first round. Four years later, Saleh will get to coach Kinlaw again after he agreed to a one-year deal with New York, a league source confirmed. The defensive tackle overcame a tumultuous, injury-laden start to his career by delivering a solid 2023 season. His best football came late to earn this opportunity with the Jets. It’ll be interesting to see where the 49ers turn to supplement Javon Hargrave at defensive tackle.

The 49ers added Yetur Gross-Matos to be part of their edge rusher rotation. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

March 11: The 49ers plan to sign the defensive lineman to a two-year contract worth up to $18 million, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. A significant chunk of Gross-Matos’ contract might be incentive-based, as he was mainly a rotational lineman over four seasons with the Carolina Panthers. But Gross-Matos has showcased the same versatility in the pros that the 49ers liked about him coming out of college in 2020. He’s been versatile enough to line up inside for a chunk of snaps, even with his long frame. And that flexibility can prove valuable for a 49ers team that’s looking for quality depth at the margins of its defensive line. Position coach Kris Kocurek wants his unit to attack in waves.

March 11: The 49ers tendered a one-year contract to Jauan Jennings, who’s set to be a restricted free agent. The 49ers tendered Jennings at the second-round level, which means their offer is worth $4.89 million. Jennings can negotiate with other teams, but the 49ers own a right of first refusal. If Jennings departs for more money elsewhere, the 49ers will receive a second-round pick. At the recent NFL Scouting Combine, 49ers general manager John Lynch said the team was interested in bypassing the tender process and signing Jennings to a long-term extension. The 49ers can still do that. The official extension of this tender might offer a handy parameter for a potential deal.

March 11: The 49ers found a bookend to Nick Bosa in Floyd, who’s coming off a career-high 10 1/2-sack season with the Bills. Floyd is 31 and will be one of the 49ers’ oldest defenders in 2024. But he hasn’t missed a game in six seasons and has had at least nine sacks in each of the last four seasons. He’s familiar to Kyle Shanahan and offensive line coach Chris Foerster, who coached against Floyd for three seasons when he was with the Los Angeles Rams, and he also spent time under new assistant Brandon Staley with the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers agreed to a two-year deal with Floyd.

GO DEEPER

49ers, Leonard Floyd agree to 2-year deal: Source

TE Charlie Woerner

March 11: The Atlanta Falcons signed the tight end to a three-year deal worth up to $12 million. His agent, Alex Essex, confirmed the news. He said that six teams offered Woerner, who grew up about two hours outside of Atlanta, a contract. The 49ers picked Woerner in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. He developed into a solid run blocker and good special teams player but caught only 11 passes for 120 yards over the past four seasons. The 49ers have long been looking for a tight end who’s a bigger receiving threat to pair with George Kittle. Woerner’s departure might factor into the compensatory formula to help the 49ers gain a later-round pick in the 2025 draft.

QB Brandon Allen

March 11: The 49ers re-signed Allen, who was their 31-year-old third-string quarterback in 2023. A league source confirmed the news. The team is presumably still interested in fortifying the backup QB spot behind Brock Purdy, though it’s unclear if Sam Darnold — who held that role in 2023 — will remain in their price range. Allen does fit into that cost structure, and the 49ers are happy to have a strong veteran presence back in the room to continue supporting Purdy. Allen previously backed up Joe Burrow in Cincinnati.

GO DEEPER

49ers welcome back QB Brandon Allen with 1-year deal to back up Brock Purdy

Arik Armstead is set to be released after he and the 49ers couldn’t come to an agreement on a reduced salary. (Ryan Kang / Getty Images)

DL Arik Armstead

March 10: The 49ers are poised to move on from their longest-tenured player after the two sides could not agree to a deal to reduce Armstead’s salary, the third-highest on the team in 2024. Armstead, 30, has missed 13 games in the last two seasons and played on an injured knee in the 2023 postseason. However, the 49ers’ roster is wafer thin at defensive tackle and a reunion with Armstead is possible if he doesn’t get a better offer on the open market.

GO DEEPER

49ers release DT Arik Armstead

March 10: The 49ers agreed to a one-year deal with Bartch, who was set to become a free agent on Wednesday. The team signed Bartch, 25, off the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad at midseason and he appeared in five game (28 offensive snaps). Offensive line coach Chris Foerster said he liked Bartch’s quickness and his potential at guard and center, which is where he’ll compete with Nick Zakelj and others this offseason. Bartch suffered a serious knee injury in 2022 and Foerster said the offensive lineman still was rounding into form last season.

March 10: The New York Jets agreed to terms with Oliver on a one-year deal. The 49ers had signed Oliver last year to be their nickel cornerback, but he began to lose his grip on that role by the end of training camp. At season’s end, he was practicing a lot at safety, which is where the Jets envision him playing. The 49ers cut Oliver last month, freeing up $2.4 million in salary cap space.

Colton McKivitz, a 17-game starter at right tackle last season, is now locked up through the 2025 campaign. (Ryan Kang / Getty Images)

OT Colton McKivitz

March 8: The 49ers signed McKivitz, a 17-game starter at right tackle in 2023, to a one-year deal worth as much as $7 million, his agent said. That means that McKivitz, 27, is now signed through the 2025 season. This doesn’t necessarily preclude the team from making a move on a tackle in free agency or especially the draft but his extension gives San Francisco some cushion at the position.

(Top photo of Maliek Collins: Troy Taormina / USA Today)

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A chimney sweep’s tongue-in-cheek sign offering apprenticeships for under six’s with the chance to meet Dick van Dyke has become an online hit.

In the mock job advert, painted on the side of a van, free gruel is available for successful applicatants.

The amusing offer, the handiwork of Chimney Sweep Surrey , reads: “Six years or under?

“Join us as an apprentice in the exciting world of chimney sweeping.

“Free gruel whilst on duty and a great chance to meet Dick Van Dyke.”

A picture of the van appeared on Facebook , where it has provoked much hilarity.

It was posted under with the legend: “Looks pretty ordinary until you read the small print.”

One person commented: “I have an eight year old that needs to start earning his keep.

“Wonder if they’ll have him…”

Another added: “There used to be a chimney sweep in London whose business vehicle registration was 500T.”

Business boss David Mulligan, who painted the sign more than a year ago, says he has been “overwhelmed by the interest” since the pic appeared online .

It comes after a little boy’s humorous tampon comment in Waitrose caused a Facebook storm .

The post Chimney sweep’s hilarious van signal providing free gruel to apprentices beneath six is a Fb hit appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Yesterday at A/D/O, a MINI-sponsored creative space in Brooklyn, New York, seven start-ups pitched their companies to an audience of investors and public sector agencies as part of URBAN-X’s Demo Day. URBAN-X is an accelerator for urban tech companies that was launched in 2016 by BMW-owned car brand MINI, one of its many forays into rethinking shelter, fashion, and design. The seven start-ups are members of URBAN-X’s fifth cohort, bringing the total number of companies that URBAN-X has fostered to 39. URBAN-X selects up to 10 start-ups twice a year for its program, which includes a $150,000 investment and five months of support in engineering, design, and business development.

Urban mobility and access to electric vehicles featured prominently in this cohort, not a surprising theme for an incubator with roots in the automotive sector. But other strong trends, like construction site productivity and emissions efficiency, pointed to a focus on the built environment and its relationship with ecological concerns.

If this cohort is any indication of the trends in urban mobility, then the two startups dedicated to transit hinted at a very electric future. Borrow offers short-term, flexible leasing of electric vehicles, making them more available to those who can’t purchase the pricey cars, while Circuit, formerly The Free Ride, offers free electric shuttle transportation in five-passenger vehicles for short distances. The latter is already rolled out in 17 cities around the United States, with more than 20 cars on the streets of San Diego. With funding from advertisers, private developers, and transit agencies, the free shuttle is specially designed for first- and last-mile conditions to supplement other forms of transit, and also offers hail and on-demand services. Brooklyn residents and visitors can experience Circuit for themselves, with the company extending its Williamsburg run this summer.

Buildstream cofounder David Polanski talks about his company, which digitizes heavy construction equipment and processes to make construction sites safer and more efficient. (Courtesy MINI)

Buildstream and Toggle both address construction site safety and other challenges. Buildstream (formerly GearBuddy) utilizes IoT-based software and machine learning to digitize data collection on heavy construction equipment like bulldozers and trucks to monitor and assess construction sites in real time, allowing someone at an office desk and not just the construction manager on site to monitor what is happening. The technology is currently in use in the U.K. on one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, according to David Polanski, co-founder and COO of the company. Toggle, on the other hand, combines software and industrial robotics to help automate the construction site and reduce costs in the building process.

Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions are also a central concern of this year’s cohort. Treau develops technology to improve energy efficiency in cooling and heating systems, essentially bringing HVAC and refrigerants into the modern age with lighter, more inexpensive polymers and other material innovations. The overarching promise of Treau is to reduce energy consumption in the U.S. by 10 percent.

Another vital but less glamorous aspect of city life is waste management infrastructure. Israel-based GreenQ‘s technology attaches to existing truck-based garbage collection systems to collect data and offer analytics to help meet demand and cut costs where needed. For example, in its applications across Israel cities, towns, and villages, GreenQ has identified areas that need one less collection day a week, or data on what homes or users need larger trash receptacles. The data from the garbage also delivers demographic data for those companies it partners with. Consumption and waste were also addressed by Thrilling, the first e-commerce platform for second-hand and vintage stores, with a goal of reducing carbon, waste, and water footprints in garment production.

From transit to garbage, the technology-driven platforms of these start-ups hints an increasingly wired, mobile urban future to come.

The post URBAN-X startups pitch free electrical shuttles, fashionable HVAC, and digitized building gear appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Ron Lem, who owns a plumbing company that often sends him to jobs in San Francisco, stopped into the Safeway near Pier 39 the other day. He picked up an energy drink and was flabbergasted to see a guy pick up a 12-pack of beer, put it under his coat and start out the door.

“I went to the security guard,” Lem wrote in an e-mail, “only to be told there was nothing they could do.”

And that wasn’t the end of it. In the next 20 minutes, Lem says he saw three cases of blatant shoplifting with no response from security. The capper was: After he left the store and walked over to the waterfront, there was one of the shoplifters, enjoying his stolen snack.

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“He was like, ‘What? Me worry?’” Lem said, recounting the incident on the phone. “He had everything he needed. It is bizarre. If they are not going to enforce it, why make us pay?”

Lem was so disturbed by what he saw that he followed up with a Safeway loss prevention manager.

“He told me they do have a policy in place of not apprehending shoplifters,” Lem said.

Contacted Friday, Safeway spokesman Keith Turner said Lem “apparently misunderstood his conversation with Safeway’s loss prevention investigator.”

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Turner said, “We do have procedures in place to prevent theft and to apprehend shoplifters without chasing, getting into altercations or other dangerous situations. The details of those policies are kept confidential.”

That sounded pretty vague, so I went to that Bay Street Safeway Friday morning. It didn’t take long to see what Lem was talking about.

Although at least two security officials patrolled the entrance to the supermarket, a kid in dreadlocks and a bucket hat strolled in, walked over to the produce aisle and casually put a bottle of orange juice and a sandwich in his backpack. He didn’t seem bothered in the slightest that I was watching, looking me straight in the eye as he walked past me and out the door.

I went to the nearest security officer and told him what I’d seen. He looked at the kid, who was half a block away and shrugged.

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“If it is under $1,000 (actually the amount is $950) it is just a misdemeanor,” he said. “We don’t usually do anything.”

The surprising part of this is that this is not an isolated situation. Many large corporations have established policies of looking the other way when shoplifters strike. Concerned about legal liability and the potential for injury, in many cases they actually forbid employees to confront thieves.

Walmart, which was famous for its “zero tolerance” policy on theft, made an almost complete about-face in 2006. In an in-house document obtained by the New York Times, Walmart told employees it would not prosecute shoplifters who steal items worth less than $25.

Apparently, it doesn’t want its employees chasing thieves, even if the items are valuable. In January, an Alabama Walmart manager spotted a habitual shoplifter leaving the store with what turned out to be $1,118 worth of goods.

The manager chased the man across the street and, with the help of nearby security guards, apprehended and held the man until police arrived.

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Walmart’s response? The manager was fired for failing to follow company policy. Walmart said, “For the safety of our associates as well as our customers . . . (we) rely on law enforcement.”

The problem with calling the cops is that by the time they arrive the shoplifter is already gone — or relaxing by the bay, in Lem’s example. The chances of arriving in time to catch them are almost zero.

So, although Safeway’s Turner says, “Theft is a serious problem in the retail industry and we do our best to control it,” shoplifting seems to be just part of the cost of doing business.

It’s not just Safeway or Walmart. Other large retail companies have the same nonconfrontational policies, but, like Safeway, they don’t want them to become public.

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It’s only when someone like Lem sees blatant theft taking place that this is mentioned. It may be company policy but Lem was still shocked.

“I mean,” Lem said. “if you are not going to enforce it, why not just put a sign up that says, ‘If you really want it, take it. We won’t stop you.’”

No need for a sign. It’s clear petty thieves have already figured that out.

The post There’s such a factor as a free lunch appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Photo by Checubus on Shutterstock

The de Young Museum will host two free workshops over Labor Day weekend. The workshops are held in celebration of two exhibitions– Lhola Amira: Facing The Future and Crafting Radicality: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift.

Lhola Amira: Facing The Future is a solo exhibition that opened in December 2022 and will run until December 3, 2023. Crafting Radicality: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift features 12 Bay Area artists who approach art as resistance. The exhibition will run until December 31, 2023.

The exhibitions will be free this Saturday for all Bay Area Residents, and the workshops provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about the artists and exhibitions.

A healing Song Bath with Brittany Tanner

Image courtesy of Brittany Tanner via Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Brittany Tanner will be guiding a group in an immersive sound bath that will provide an opportunity to embark on a healing journey. The event comes to the de Young from The Song Remedy, a collective of black and brown women who cultivate environments for communities to heal and communicate. The collective’s sound baths are designed to help communities and individuals resist oppressive systems and create an environment for healing.

The song bath will take place in the Kimball Education Gallery from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2.

A Bead Embroidery Workshop with Demitri Broxton

Demetri Broxton, Joe Louis, 2020. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, a gift from The Svane Family Foundation, 2022.26.29

This insightful and educational workshop offers participants the opportunity to learn about the sacred art of the Yoruba people of Nigeria and the beading traditions of New Orleans Black maskers. The workshop is hosted by Dimitri Broxton, whose artwork is included in the exhibition Crafting Radicality: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift.

The workshop will take place from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2, in the Piazzoni Murals Room.

The de Young is located at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive in Golden Gate Park and is open between 9:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.

The post Get pleasure from Labor Day Weekend With Free Workshops At The de Younger appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

A homeless man and convicted child molester who camped near a San Francisco school with signs saying “free fentanyl 4 new users” was booked into jail Thursday, records show.

“We believe that he presented a public safety risk that necessitated him being in custody while this case is open,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told ABC7 Bay Area.

Jenkins announced on Oct. 26 that Moore would face multiple criminal charges.

San Francisco Superior Court judge Vedica Puri granted the DA’s request.

“While this city is extraordinarily empathetic to its unhoused, we offer untold amounts of services; there is a limit. So, when there’s a public nuisance issue, this court has to take it seriously,” Puri said, according to ABC7 Bay Area reported.

READ MORE: San Francisco Homelessness Battle Heats Up as Star Wars Theme Deployed From Speakers

Joseph Adam Moore was arrested by police around on Oct. 20 after he refused to remove his belongings and leave the area by 12:15 p.m. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

Jail records show Moore was booked into jail on Thursday around 11 a.m. on a $35,000 bond and is due in court next on Nov. 8.

Moore was booked on one misdemeanor charge of contempt of a court order, battery, and “obstructing free and comfortable use of liberty and property,” jail records show.

Moore’s attorney, Erica Franklin, said in an email that Moore is being charged with misdemeanor battery and maintaining a public nuisance through the use and/or placement of his tent. Franklin said her client is not being charged with contempt of a court order but is on misdemeanor probation for violating a restraining order to prevent him from straying on the property of the San Francisco Fire Department.

San Francisco police had previously said Moore was subject to a stay away order from the fire department after he created a nuisance by camping behind a San Francisco firehouse.

Franklin said she is moving to dismiss the public nuisance charge against Moore.

“The [public nuisance charge] is an unconstitutional attempt to get him to leave the neighborhood, as they were complaints about him, and it is not a valid charge. I will be filing a motion to dismiss it,” Franklin said.

Franklin told ABC7 the signs Moore posted outside his encampment is why Moore came to the attention of authorities.

“It’s not like anybody actually saw him giving meth or fentanyl to anybody,” Franklin told the news outlet. “He doesn’t; he didn’t have any meth or fentanyl on him.”

Police confirmed Moore was arrested for battery after throwing liquid on someone before getting into an altercation with them on Oct. 19. A day later, Moore told The Standard he had been punched in the face by a parent from the Stella Maris Academy. Police then arrested him.

ABC7’s Dan Noyes reports Moore poured a gallon jug of apple juice over a parent before the parent hit him.

Franklin said Moore’s battery charge is from a battery committed by a man against Mr. Moore, who was punched in the face.

“Mr. Moore was minding his own business and this man came over and tried to remove his signs and threatened to burn his property. The police refused to arrest this other man and arrested Mr Moore instead,” Franklin said.

Stella Maris is a K-8 Catholic school directly across the street from where Moore camped at Ninth Avenue and Geary Boulevard.

Signs reading “meth for stolen items” and “free fentanyl 4 new users” are displayed at Joseph Adam Moore’s encampment in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond neighborhood on Oct. 17. | Source: George Kelly/The Standard

San Francisco Archdiocese spokesperson Peter Marlow said the religious organization is following Moore’s case closely.

“We want to make sure children and families are safe, reach out to the homeless, and support a solution from the city that will achieve both of those goals,” Marlow said.

Convicted Pedophile

California’s Megan’s Law website lists Moore as a San Francisco transient convicted of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age in 1997 and released from prison in 2002. San Francisco Superior Court documents show Moore has been arrested five times in the city since 2007 for allegedly failing to re-register his address as a sex offender every 30 days. 

A Santa Cruz Sentinel article from 1997 reports Moore was convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl in Santa Clara County before being released from custody and then having sex with a 15-year-old in Santa Cruz behind a set of bathrooms on Seabright Beach.

The post San Francisco Homeless Pedophile Jailed After ‘Free Fentanyl’ Signal Saga appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Photo via SF Opera

San Francisco Opera’s popular Opera in the Park series is back with an exciting show on Sept. 10, 2023 at 1:30pm in Golden Gate Park’s Robin Williams Meadow. Enjoy masterful duets, solos, arias, and more led by music director Eun Sun Kim and starring some of SF Opera’s biggest players from the fall 2023 season. Bring a picnic and arrive early to snag a good spot in front of the stage, as the event is expected to draw up to 15,000 people.

Due to reserved parking for crew and staff, the usual street parking will be limited. It’s worth taking advantage of the complimentary bike valet on the east side of the meadow, free Golden Gate Park shuttle, and other modes of transportation. More on that here.

Photo via SF Opera

Opera in the Park performers

Get ready for an impressive roster of powerhouse vocalists from all over the world. If you’re already an SF Opera fan you may recognize some familiar faces including Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak who played Gilda in SF Opera’s Rigoletto; soprano Julie Adams of Burbank, who performs in Lohengrin this season; Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack from Argentina, who plays Rosmira in Partenope this season; and Korean mezzo-soprano Hyona Kim, who played Suzuki in SF Opera’s Madame Butterfly.

Male vocalists at Opera in the Park include Arturo Chacón-Cruz from Mexico who performed in SF Opera’s Rigoletto and Il Trovatore; tenor Roberto Alagna of France, who has performed with opera houses in Paris, London, Monte Carlo, Vienna, and Verona; and baritone Brian Mulligan from New York, who’s appeared in many SF Opera productions including Madame Butterfly and Lohengrin.

Several first-year Adler Fellows will also make an appearance: They include Canadian soprano Olivia Smith, tenor vocalist Moisés Salazar from Santa Ana, and bass-baritone Jongwon Han from Korea. The Adler Fellowship selects talented young musicians to train in an intensive residency with SF Opera in order to help launch their careers.

About SF Opera

San Francisco Opera dates back to 1923, making this year its Centennial Season. It’s housed in the historic War Memorial Opera House, which was built during the Great Depression as a memorial for San Franciscans who served in WWI. SF Opera continues to spread the joy of musical storytelling through seasonal performances, opera training programs, K-12 education programs, and community outreach. As a local nonprofit, SF Opera is sustained largely thanks to the contributions of donors and subscribers.

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Berkshire Agricultural Ventures celebrates a new food safety hotline

Great Barrington—  Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) is excited to announce two significant milestones in its mission to bolster the regional food supply chain: the opening of the BAV/AgriForaging Food Safety Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Hotline and a successful visit by the USDA to BAV’s headquarters in Great Barrington.

BAV has partnered with AgriForaging Food Safety to introduce the AgriForaging Food Safety HACCP Hotline. This initiative is part of the Local Meat Processing Support Program, which strives to provide guidance and support for meat and poultry processors across the region. 

This dedicated hotline is open every Thursday from noon to 4 p.m., offering industry experts’ insights into state and federal meat and poultry compliance regulations, as well as HACCP principles. The hotline is committed to providing personalized solutions for a wide range of compliance questions, ensuring peace of mind for local processors as they navigate the complexities of food safety regulations. For more information or to schedule a call, visit https://www.berkshireagventures.org/haccp-hotline.

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Pittsfield Community Television hosts 36th annual meeting and celebration 

Pittsfield — Pittsfield Community Cable Broadcasting, Inc., which operates Pittsfield Community Television and WTBR-FM, held its 36th Annual Meeting and Celebration on Thursday, September 21st at the Polish Falcons Club on Belair Avenue in Pittsfield. New board members were elected, and recognitions of achievement in programming and community service were awarded.

The annual meeting began with PCTV’s Executive Director Shawn Serre championing a successful year. Serre advocated for modernizing the funding models for community media and highlighted a bill currently in committee in the state legislature which would help support organizations like PCTV. “It’s a fair and equitable method of providing support for the critical local news and programming that PCTV and similar organizations around the state provide. We need to act together, right now, to preserve and promote the services that PCTV has been providing our community for almost 40 years,” Serre said.

PCTV President Susetta Doucette gave a report to the members of the organization and emphasized the work that the board and staff have accomplished in the past year. Treasurer Cindy Shogry-Raimer delivered the treasurer’s report to the members and informed them that the financial position of the organization is strong. Two incumbent board directors were re-elected during the annual meeting. Returning for new three-year terms are board Vice-President Jonah Sykes and Assistant Vice-President Brian Andrews; newly elected to the board at this year’s meeting are Joshua Cutler and Charles Walker.

Jonah Sykes, re-elected incumbent board member of PCTV.

Jonah Sykes is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Berkshire Community College. He has served on the PCTV Board since 2017 and has contributed to the Advancement Committee as a co-chair. Sykes previously worked at Berkshire United Way in fundraising and marketing and has served on the board of 1Berkshire, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, and Berkshire Young Professionals, as well as several community initiatives across the Berkshires. He is a graduate of Taconic High School, earned his bachelor’s at MCLA and his master’s degree from St. Rose College in Albany.

Brian Andrews, re-elected incumbent board member of PCTV.

Brian Andrews is a nationally certified Paramedic and President/CEO of County Ambulance, Inc. in Pittsfield, which provides paramedic-level ambulance and intercept service to the Berkshire County area. Brian is also President of EMSCO of Berkshire County, past President of Western Massachusetts EMS, and a member of its executive committee. He is a member of many local task forces. Andrews was first elected to the PCTV board in 2018 and chairs the equipment and facilities committee.

Joshua Cutler, newly elected board member to PCTV.

Joshua Cutler is a fourth-generation Pittsfield native who is deeply invested in the local business and nonprofit communities. A veteran of the banking industry of a decade, he is now the Manufacturing Project Lead/Program Performance Analyst at General Dynamics in Pittsfield. He has served on the Pittsfield Public School Committee, has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Anshe Amunim for the last 11 years, serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Eagles Band Inc., and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.

Charles Walker, newly elected board member to PCTV.

Charles Walker is a broadcast television and digital media content producer with more than 45 years’ experience. After more than 35 years at Disney/ABC News he recently retired. At ABC News he contributed significantly to the development of ABC News Digital, the company’s media streaming service for news content acquisition and distribution. His experience includes production at television stations in Oklahoma City, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles as well as nationally and internationally for ABC News, Tribune Broadcasting and other communication and entertainment industry leaders. He lives in Pittsfield, where he continues to produce television programs, independent films and live streaming media content. 

The Celebration portion of the event was lively, as the organization handed out several awards for excellence in programming and community service. Finally, PCTV awarded Community Programming Accomplishment certificates to several member producers. The certificates recognize five, ten, and fifteen-year milestones in producing community programming.

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MCLA Alumni Association to hold awards ceremony for distinguished alumni and friends of the college

North Adams — On Saturday, October 21st, the MCLA Alumni Association will hold its annual Alumni Awards Brunch to recognize distinguished alumni and friends of the College for their accomplishments.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Photo courtesy of coplac.org.

The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on campus in Murdock Hall Room 218, with a special time set aside for photos of awardees from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The following recipients will be recognized:

• Kevin Pink ’09, 2023 Vanguard Award
• Benjamin Lamb ’07, 2023 Service to the College Award
• James Chapman ’15, 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award
• Lindsay St. Pierre-McGinnis, M.Ed. ’08, 2023 Outstanding Educator Award
• Laurie Dias-Mitchell ’81, 2023 Community Service & Citizenship Award
• Arlene Wynn ’63, 2023 Outstanding Educator Emeritus Award (posthumous)

To purchase tickets and view descriptions of each award, please visit https://lnk.mcla.edu/snjc2.

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Frost Stone House Museum receives two grants totaling more than $24,000

Bennington — The Robert Frost Stone House Museum at Bennington College has received a total of $24,250 in grants from the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s Historic Preservation Barn Grant program. Both grants will help restore the property’s distinctive New England barns and make greater use of these spaces for programs and events.

“The barns on this property are part of the landscape that inspired Robert Frost’s poetry and supported his life as a farmer,” said Erin McKenny, the director of the Robert Frost Stone House Museum at Bennington College. “These funds are tremendously useful in our efforts to restore  these beautiful and historic agricultural spaces and to welcome the public to experience their continued significance and enduring charm.”

Robert Frost Stone House Museum. Photo by Phil Holland.

The Historic Preservation Barn Grant of $5,500, which must be matched by the College, will be used to replace the metal roof on the largest of the property’s outbuildings. With the roof repaired, the museum will expand the use of the barn for readings, concerts, art installations, workshops, and their annual Holiday Makers’ Market.

The Vermont Arts Council’s grant of $18,750 will support the installation of electricity and plumbing to the historic barn. The grant was a part of more than $300,000 in Cultural Facilities Grants to nineteen Vermont arts and community organizations. The funds provide organizations with resources to enhance, create, or expand the capacity of existing buildings that offer cultural activities for the public.

For more information, visit https://www.bennington.edu/robert-frost-stone-house-donation-page.

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Berkshire Community College sees significant increase in enrolled students

 Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College (BCC) reports an increase in students from 1,367 in 2022 to 1,601 in 2023, representing an increase of 17.1%, the largest percent increase in students since the institution started tracking this metric in 1991. The last time BCC experienced an increase of this magnitude was 2009, when the number of students increased by 14.3%.

For matriculated students, BCC reported an increase from 1,079 in 2022 to 1,173 in 2023, an 8.7% increase. A matriculated student is any student who is enrolled in a program to pursue a degree or a certificate. For overall credits taken by students, the institution reported a 12.0% increase.

The largest share of these gains comes from dual enrollment students (high school students) and Pre-Nursing students, followed by Liberal Arts and Business Administration students.

Berkshire Community College. Photo courtesy Berkshire Community College.

Adam Klepetar, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said that while the increase in enrollment cannot be definitively linked to any particular source, positive indicators include the Commonwealth’s new MassReconnect program, the recent funding supporting scholarships for community college nursing programs, and BCC’s increased online offerings.

MassReconnect provides Massachusetts residents ages 25 and older with access to free associate degrees and certificates at community colleges. This fall, 47.5% of matriculated BCC students are in the age group eligible for the program.

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Learn how anyone over age 25 without a degree can attend BCC for free

Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College (BCC) continues its series of special community college information sessions on Wednesday, November 1st at 5 p.m. and Thursday, November 30th at 5 p.m. The November 1st session will be held in Room G-12 on BCC’s main campus, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. The November 30th session will be held online. Both sessions are free.

To register for either session, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/massreconnect. Financial aid, admissions, and advising staff will be on hand.

The event is part of MassReconnect, a program that pays the full costs of community college for adults 25 and older who do not already have a college degree. MassReconnect covers tuition and fees for eligible students, who also receive an allowance to pay for books and supplies.

Students are eligible for the MassReconnect program if they:

• Are 25 or older on the first day of classes
• Are enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education at a public community college
• Have not previously earned a college degree
• Are enrolled in at least six credits per semester
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Are a Massachusetts resident

For questions regarding the MassReconnect program, contact the BCC Admissions Office at admissions@berkshirecc.edu or 413-499-4660. Further information, including full program guidelines, is also available at www.mass.edu/osfa/programs/massreconnect.asp.

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Nominations open for Berkshire Community College ‘40 Under Forty’ awards

Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces nominations are now open for the annual “40 Under Forty” awards, which will be held Thursday, March 21st.

“40 Under Forty” is an annual celebration of talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who have a deep dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community. 40 Under Forty awards honor people from all walks of life who are making a difference in the Berkshires.

Nominees are eligible for this award through:

• Their professional work and how it makes a difference; or
• Their personal commitment to their community; or
• Other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working the Berkshires.

1Berkshire, BCC’s strategic partner, has identified recruiting and retaining young people as an economic imperative for Berkshire County. By celebrating this younger generation of people in the Berkshires, we underscore the importance of their contributions to our community and to its future prosperity. To make a nomination, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/40-under-forty. Nominations close Wednesday, November 29th. For more information, email 40under40@berkshirecc.edu or call 413-236-2185.

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ONE tiny home community is allowing residents to find permanent housing by living in an unusual piece of equipment.

As Americans look to lower their monthly spending, tiny homes have surged in popularity.

The tiny home village serves the homeless population in Santa BarbaraCredit: DignityMoves

Many tiny home fans have formed groups and created their own communities as well, where rent is cheap and the sky’s the limit on their custom built tiny home designs.

However, one community, DignityMoves, opened as a zero-rent prefab tiny home village in Santa Barbara, California last year.

It was designed to house homeless residents in the city, and just a year out, more than half of its residents have been able to find a permanent home.

The community originally housed 66 people, but 36 are in their own living spaces today.

Read more about tiny homes

However, the space’s building blocks are a bit unorthodox – all units were completely built from shipping containers.

The village rests in a former parking lot surrounded by palm trees and a mountain view.

The entire group of homes cost $1.7million to build last year after Santa Barbara County provided $700,000 to finance it.

SIMPLE LIFE

The project’s tiny homes were constructed by Boss Tiny House for simple but aesthetic living.

Each home includes a bed, window and desk alongside an air conditioner and heater.

Across the tiny home community, residents have access to case workers, a dining hall, computer lab and gardens.

This is in addition to Dignity Moves’ laundry, bathroom and shower units.

Each private space has a lock too, ensuring that residents will get privacy in the comfort of their own home.

“We take for granted what it feels like to be able to be alone,” Elizabeth Funk, the founder and CEO of Dignity Moves, told Insider.

All in all, there are roughly 3,500 homeless people living in Santa Barbara county, but last year, 66 got to live in the new village.

Funk said over the past year, she’s seen “shocking transformations” in the residents.

There are other Dignity Moves communities set up in Sonoma County and San Francisco, but there could soon be plenty more to come.

Regarding the Santa Barbara location, Funk hopes to add in an additional 400 beds, but it’s unclear when this could be possible.

MORE TINY HOME COMMUNITIES

Other tiny home communities are increasingly popping up across the United States.

In Kennewick, Washington, a village called Lilac Homes is open to people in need.

The 16 houses shelter those who are most at risk in the community.

“We are going to be able to house individuals who we have targeted,” Lona Hammer, a representative of the housing authority, said.

“That includes homeless veterans, homeless people with disabilities, and homeless families with children.”

Meanwhile, in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, Raven Village has 22 units on the market.

Residents have access to a community kitchen, bathrooms, showers, and a laundry facility on set, as well as staff offices and a garden.

TINY HOME ADVICE

If you would like to live in a tiny home on your own, you’ll need to be in charge of finding and building your unit.

The most common type of unit tends to be either a shed or an RV, and both have pros and cons.

While RVs give you the flexibility of traveling wherever you’d like, some town ordinances require you to only be parked in certain spaces for a short period of time.

Sheds also require you to know your state and county’s zoning laws, as you typically can’t just live in a shed on someone else’s home property.

Keep in mind, you’ll also be responsible for adding all the required plumbing and electrical services.

You also need to ensure you have a space to put your tiny home.

This means you’ll likely need to search for land to rent.

Spaces are routinely put up for auction on sites like Facebook Marketplace, or you can apply for land in an established tiny home community.

One tiny home guru purchased a mini house for $20,000, and their space saving techniques allow them to have an extra room.

Meanwhile, a family of four is able to live in a neighborhood full of $800,000 homes due to their tiny house priced at just $100,000.

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On Saturday, August 19, from 12 to 2 pm, bring the whole family to a free “Family Day” event and come see what Sarasota Youth Opera is all about! The Sarasota Opera House will be abuzz with activities – you can hear the Youth Opera sing, attend a “Find Your Own Opera Voice” singing session, join in fun acting games, and stand on the opera stage when you take a tour of the opera house. You can even get creative and make some props, have fun at the wig and makeup demonstration, explore the beautiful costumes, and more!

This fall Sarasota Youth Opera will present Benjamin Britten’s The Little Sweep on the Sarasota Opera House stage, complete with professional sets, costumes, and orchestra. The opera tells the charming story about a group of children who join together to free a young chimney sweep apprentice from his cruel master and send him back to his family. 

The fall program starts up on August 15th, and auditions for the lead roles will be held on August 22 and 24.  No prior experience is necessary, all skill levels are welcome! To learn more about Youth Opera visit https://www.sarasotaopera.org/youth-opera-program.
 

What: Sarasota Youth Opera Family Day
When: Saturday, August 19, 2022, from 12 to 2 pm
Where: Sarasota Opera House: 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236
Tickets: This is a FREE event and no tickets are necessary. 

Details for the event can be found at Click Here

ABOUT SARASOTA YOUTH OPERA 

Since 1984, Sarasota Youth Opera has given thousands of young people ages 8 to 18 an opportunity to experience the joy of opera firsthand through participation in fully staged Youth Opera productions, Sarasota Opera main stage productions, summer camps, and concerts throughout the community.

Sarasota Youth Opera is the only program in the United States committed to both presenting an annual full-scale opera production for young voices, as well as accepting all who wish to participate regardless of skill level or ability to pay.
 

Youth Opera Choruses: Beginning at age 8, singers are placed in one of two chorus levels. Each chorus provides a setting for everyone to participate and progress at their own level as they gain greater skills and experience. Selections performed are made up of classical music, which includes opera and choral pieces in different languages. The choruses perform throughout the community in formal concerts and outreach events.
 

Opera Mainstage Season: Members of the Youth Opera are selected to join Sarasota Opera’s Winter Festival season, appearing in the mainstage children’s chorus, as supernumeraries (extras who perform non-singing roles) and for special roles written by the composer for children’s voices. In recent seasons these have included roles in La bohème, Tosca, and Carmen. Singers are involved in the complete production process – from early music and dramatic rehearsals to performing alongside opera professionals. 

Youth Opera Productions: Part of Sarasota Opera’s commitment to young people includes the commissioning of new operatic works written for children and young adults. Six new works have been presented as part of this mission: Deadline (1989), Polly Pen’s Her Lightness (1993), Tom Suta’s Eye of Ra (1998), John Kennedy’s The Language of Birds (2004), Daron Hagen’s Little Nemo in Slumberland (2012) and Rachel J. Peters’ Rootabaga Country (2017). Members take part in the making of each opera, complete with professional staging, costumes, lighting, sound, and orchestral accompaniment.

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