Anniversary Gives Rialto Cinemas Founder Chance to Reflect

Rialto logo Ky Boyd opened his first Rialto movie theater 20 years ago in Sonoma County. Today, there are three Bay Area Rialtos, including one in Sebastopol.

At those theaters, live and taped opera, ballet, and drama mix with Hollywood blockbusters and art house flicks.

Boyd came by the station recently to talk with news director Steve Mencher about his lifelong love of movies, and the future of the business.

Rialto Cinemas home page.

Arts News

February 20, 2020

'The Full Monty.' You Know How it Ends. Enjoy the Ride

The Full Monty, playing at San Francisco's Victoria Theater, will, in the end, win you over. But it's a bit of a slog to get there. Your mileage may vary, but you'll be fighting off the endless machismo, the jokey take on suicide, the backgrounding of women and their stories and the pastiche of a…
February 07, 2020

Local Activist Speaks Out on Missed Opportunity in Cancelled "American Dirt" Talk

Author Jeanine Cummins’ planned book talk at the Petaluma Copperfield’s Bookstore evaporated with the rest of her scheduled appearances last week when the publisher of her novel “American Dirt” canceled her book tour out of concern for her safety. Flatiron Books president Bob Miller said they shut…
January 31, 2020

Simone Porter Thrills Audience in Sibelius Violin Concerto - Sunday at 3pm

On the program recorded the weekend of January 11 through 13, we’ll be hearing a work written in 2013 by Missy Mazzoli called Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres). Missy Mazzoli is in her second season as composer in residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. We’ll also hear the Symphony Number Two by…
January 01, 2020

Educators Release Plan for Expanding the Arts in Schools

Nearly 80 percent of Sonoma County high schools do not offer comprehensive, arts education. That’s according to an analysis by the Sonoma County Arts Alliance. The alliance is a partnership between the non-profit Creative Sonoma, the Sonoma County Office of Education, and several other arts…
December 30, 2019

Santa Rosa Symphony, SSU Chorus Shine in Mozart Requiem

On Sunday, January 5 at 3 pm join KRCB and host Steve Mencher for a broadcast of the Santa Rosa Symphony performing Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K.626. This is Mozart's final work; it was unfinished at his death. In the past, orchestras have used a version of the piece completed by Mozart's pupil…
December 24, 2019

Author Ibram X. Kendi Says "Not Racist" is Not Enough

Ibram X. Kendi, won the National Book Award in 2016 for Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. He spoke at the Sonoma County Library earlier this month about his latest book How to Be an Antiracist. It goes beyond the first book to offer prescriptions for…
Dec 02, 2019

Béla Fleck Wows Santa Rosa in Fire-Shortened Concert

Banjo master Béla Fleck came to town as hundreds of thousands in Sonoma County returned to their homes on the heels of the Kincade fire. Due to…
Nov 15, 2019

Journalist Lowell Bergman Shares Tales of a Storied Career

In the film The Insider, Al Pacino plays crusading journalist Lowell Bergman, as he takes on the tobacco industry and his bosses at the CBS…
Nov 14, 2019

This 'Gypsy' May Change Your View of Who The Show Is About

I don't have a lot of notes from my experience sitting in the dark on Gypsy's opening night. One says simply "Bernadette Peters." I had been trying…
Oct 25, 2019

Beethoven and Strauss Featured in Opening Concert

(Editor's Note: We are pleased to announce that the broadcast of the first classical concert from the Santa Rosa Symphony, which few people were able…
Oct 15, 2019

Alcatraz Takeover - 50 Year Anniversary

This fall, members of tribes from up and down the West Coast and as far away as Hawaii paddled out to Alcatraz in canoes to commemorate the takeover…
Sep 18, 2019

Roseland Mural Welcomed into the Community

Martín Zúñiga created a vibrant mural this summer with about a dozen young women from the Santa Rosa community. It's at Roseland Elementary: A…
Sep 03, 2019

Local Jewish Leader Questions Trump's 'Disloyalty' Claim

In late August, President Donald Trump said this to American Jews: “If you want to vote Democrat, you are being very disloyal to Jewish people and…
Aug 16, 2019

Portraits of Unhoused Neighbors Emphasize Humanity

The Second Annual Festival of Belonging returns to Santa Rosa on September 13th and 14th. With artful image and thought-provoking conversation, this…
Aug 15, 2019

Schulz Museum Celebrates Woodstock Festival on its 50th Anniversary

After their disastrous performance at Woodstock, the Grateful Dead almost dropped out of the music business entirely. Fifty years later, Drummer…
Aug 12, 2019

Gravenstein Apple Fair

The Gravenstein Apple Fair is held under the shade of majestic oaks every August in Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol. Join NorCal Public Media for a…
Aug 08, 2019

Bohemian Club Provides Talent for Monte Rio Variety Show

The Monte Rio Variety show is an annual event put on by volunteers in the community. But the talent, most of which is kept under wraps until show…
Aug 07, 2019

Residents Celebrate Agricultural Roots at Sonoma County Fair

The theme of this year’s 83rd annual Sonoma County Fair is “Back to Our Roots in Cowboy Boots.” It's meant to celebrate the region's long history in…

NorCal News

February 24, 2020

Proposition 13 Seeks $15 billion for California's Schools

Proposition 13 is the only statewide initiative on the ballot March 3rd. The proposed bond would funnel 9 billion dollars into the state's k-12 schools, and a total of six billion for community colleges, the 23 campuses of the State University system, and the 10 branches of the University of…
February 24, 2020

New Coronavirus Affects Tourism in San Francisco's Chinatown

Travel restrictions prompted by fear over the spread of the New Coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, have caused some tech companies in the Bay Area to cancel upcoming events. Tourism is down, too. The significant loss of visitors to the area will result in a negative economic impact. However, for…
February 20, 2020

David Cook Challenges Gorin For First District Seat

City of Sonoma Councilmember David Cook is challenging Susan Gorin for the first district seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. He spoke with KRCB’s Steve Mencher about his previous experience and how his priorities would differ from his opponent’s. Listen to the full-length interview:…
February 20, 2020

Gorin Runs for a Third Term on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

Chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Susan Gorin, is running for a third term on the board. Her opponent for the district one seat is City of Sonoma Councilmember, David Cook. KRCB’s Steve Mencher spoke with Gorin about whether the County has done enough to address homelessness during…
February 18, 2020

Former Mayor Chris Coursey Challenges Zane for District 3 Seat

Former Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey is challenging incumbent Shirlee Zane for her seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. KRCB’s Steve Mencher spoke with Coursey about his priorities and how his approach to homelessness would differ from his opponent’s. Listen to the full interview below:…
February 14, 2020

Shirlee Zane Defends Her Seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

Shirlee Zane is squaring off with former Santa Rosa mayor Chris Coursey in the district 3 Sonoma County Board of Supervisors race. Zane is hoping to win a fourth term as supervisor. She spoke with KRCB’s Steve Mencher about her record and how the board handled the encampment along the Joe Rodota…
Feb 12, 2020

Lynda Hopkins Makes Her Case for a Second Term as Supervisor

Lynda Hopkins is defending her District 5 seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Hopkins holds a master's degree in land-use policy from…
Feb 11, 2020

Mike Hilber Challenges Lynda Hopkins for District 5 Seat

Mike Hilber is challenging incumbent Lynda Hopkins for the District 5 seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Hilber has a master's in…
Feb 10, 2020

Campaign Donations For and Against SMART Tax Measure Exceed $2 Million

Marin and Sonoma County voters will soon decide whether to extend a sales tax supporting the SMART train until 2059. Campaigns on both sides of the…
Feb 07, 2020

Local Activist Speaks Out on Missed Opportunity in Cancelled "American Dirt" Talk

Author Jeanine Cummins’ planned book talk at the Petaluma Copperfield’s Bookstore evaporated with the rest of her scheduled appearances last week…
Feb 07, 2020

California Lawmakers Have Refused to Restrict Flavored Vaping —Is That About to Change?

By Elizabeth Aguilera, CalMatters Milk and waters in kids’ meals. Smaller “Big Gulps.” No teens on tanning beds. Officials here pride themselves as…
Feb 06, 2020

Lisa See, Author of "The Island of Sea Women," Speaks at Sonoma Valley Regional Library

Lise See launched her literary career with the non-fiction book “On Gold Mountain." The story chronicles her great-great grandfather’s journey from…
Feb 04, 2020

In California, Not Every Kid Has a Fair Chance at Success

By Erica Hellerstein, Mercury News San Jose area scores near the top for giving children the best chance of achieving economic success and good…
Feb 03, 2020

California Students Missing School Due to Wildfires and Other Disasters

At the beginning of the school year, over 360 schools in California had to close for at least a week due to power outages, wildfires, or other…
Jan 30, 2020

Sonoma County Plans to Clear Joe Rodota Trail By Friday

Sonoma County set a goal of clearing the Joe Rodota trail by Friday. County officials switched their policy to enforcement mid-week and began issuing…
Jan 30, 2020

Podcast: Activist homeless moms score an Oakland win

By Jakob Lazzaro and Matt Levin, CalMatters Last November, a group of homeless and housing insecure moms took over a vacant home in West Oakland. It…

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