The Sonoma Community Center Podcast

It’s here Scream the Movie fans! Celebrating our 70th birthday with ongoing history segments, it’s the scoop from Dan Casabonne, who was the Asst. Executive Director in 1996 when Scream was filmed at the Sonoma Community Center. He talks about how he wheeled and dealed a contract with the Scream production company, the real deal with filming and downtime on the set, what didn’t happen with a “friend” at the wrap up cast party as well as a parting gift Dan received, commemorating Woodsboro High School.  Plus he reiterates the importance of supporting non profits especially - you guessed it - Sonoma Community Center!  Keeping up with current going ons at the Center, we interview the Director of Ceramics, Meg Billingham. She schools us in clay, shares her idyllic small town roots and the wonder and connection of ceramics, art and nature. Newsflash on upcoming Chili Bowl Ceramics Fundraiser as well as Gerardo shares where caesar salad was really  invented! 

History storytellers unite! A Sonoma Community Center 70th Birthday special filled with stories of a cheap bid for the historic building, time capsule, shooting ranges and a love story. We kick off our 70th birthday and upcoming gallery exhibit “That 70th Show” with an interview of  the SCC historian and artist;  Mike Acker, founder of our Sonoma Ceramics program, Tom Collins and godson, Gordon Lindberg of the Center’s founder Carrol Andrews.  More segments  of Green Day shows and Scream the movie to follow in  upcoming episodes. Please subscribe, friends! 

We capture the holiday nuttiness and love by hosting a "stop by" podcast party with some of our SCC staff here at the Community Center! We share some laughs, insight and get the scoop from the programming team on 2023 classes, projects, and events! There's a surprise visit from our nosy SCC mascot puppet, Oscar, and his interview with Jill Valivanis, Visual Arts Program Director, and her guest artist, Nikki Wildeflower from the ArtSurround project of Creative Sonoma. Reniel Del Rosario (episode 2 guest )visits, What's For Lunch segment guest,Josh Cutler catches up with Gerardo, and Molly shares why and how to support your fave non-profit, Sonoma Community Center. Happy Holiday folks and see you in the new  Program Team: Meg Billingham (Ceramics), Elisa Gonzales (Culinary)  & Lexi Bakkar (Youth.)

In this episode, we interview Margaret Hatcher (not Thatcher, The Iron Lady!) but the mind-blowing Costume Designer and Artist. Be it an outfit made of a thousand Christmas lights, a dress of recycled ticket stubs, larger-than-life puppets, or a wearable hat replica of our Sonoma Community Center (complete with the exact amount of windows) - Margaret takes it to the next level! Founder of our beloved event Trashion Fashion Sonoma event, SCC Special Projects, and Fiber Arts Manager Manager from 2007 - 2017 as well as talented uke player and singer - we hear all about her upbringing, adventures in South America, and stories about the Community Center and of course what's next in her creative journey. 

It's all about food in episode 3! First up, we interview the Sonoma Community Center Culinary Arts Director,  Elise Sahota - Gonzales. Spearheading the Community Kitchen program, Elise shares the food clubs, the partnerships, and classes taking place at the Center. She also talks about  being a 6th generation Sonoman, living in India, and her vision for a delicious future. 

 In the "what's for lunch segment" - we talk to Josh Cutler, Director of Operations about best places to eat in Sonoma Valley and talk a little turkey about the free Thanksgiving that we host every year for the community. 

In episode two, we deep dive into the thriving world of Sonoma Ceramics and interview emerging Artist in Residence, Reniel del Rosario!  He shares his upbringing,  upcoming Gallery 212 exhibit;  MOFO ( Museum of Found Objects), "bootleg" work, and his penchant for creating fake establishments that question acquisitions, appropriation, art, and antiquity. We also got ya covered on the upcoming holiday workshops and events at The Center!

 First up we share the story of Scream, the Wes Craven horror movie that was filmed here in 1996, an interview with our Executive Director, Charlotte Hajer and an entertaining segment on what’s for lunch.  November update of classes, workshops and our annual Dia de Muertos/Day of the Dead event.