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BRIDGET JONES’S BABY (Rated R)
A dozen years have passed since the forgettable sequel to “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” and a fair question might be why there is a need for a third installment titled “Bridget Jones’s Baby” if not for a payday?
There’s not a whole lot more to this latest chapter than a romantic guessing-game as to where the lovelorn Bridget, who has an unplanned pregnancy, will cast her future life plans.
Hugh Grant apparently opted out of a return engagement as the caddish Daniel Cleaver, and as a result he no longer has to compete with Colin Firth’s uptight barrister Mark Darcy for the affection of Bridget Jones.
His absence could be to the good, considering that his playboy character would more likely be drawn to exotic European models looking like partially-clothed centerfold candidates for the newly revamped Playboy magazine.
In fact, the filmmakers have some fun with Hugh Grant’s disappearing act, staging a funeral service for him after a plane crash in which no body was found. But many of the bodies attending the funeral could be members of the Swedish Bikini Team.
Fun fact: Emma Thompson, doing double duty as co-author of the screenplay and the role of Dr. Rawlings, is the sole artist thus far to have received an Academy Award for both acting and screenwriting.
Another fun fact: At age 47 and slipping comfortably, it may appear, into middle age, American actress Renee Zellweger, reprising her role as Bridget Jones, is no longer an ingénue by any measure, but still has a lot of spunk for a character celebrating a 43rd birthday.
Writing herself a good part as a snarky obstetrician, Emma Thompson is such an amusing delight for her limited screen time that one wishes she had more to do than lob some nicely timed barbs during prenatal exams with the expectant mother.
It’s left to Colin Firth’s bewigged lawyer to apply some dry wit to the proceedings, which may be the only thing he has going for himself in a competition with American tycoon Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey) for the renewed attention of the lovely Miss Jones.
Befitting any romantic comedy, there are some complications to the emerging love triangle. For one, Mark is now married but a divorce from a wife barely seen at all is in the offing.
Meanwhile, as the film opens, Bridget, a top producer of a TV news show, may be a lonely spinster who celebrates her birthday alone with a single candle on a cupcake, but at least she’s not reduced to the cliché of having a cat for a companion.
Bridget’s close friend at the studio is Miranda (Sarah Solemani), who encourages a weekend trip to a music festival with outdoor camping (a British Woodstock without the big name rock bands).
Getting stuck in a mud hole, Bridget is rescued by the gallant Jack Qwant, a billionaire developer of a dating Web site that applies an algorithm to determine the probability of a successful match.
Keep in mind that Jack is dashing, charming, funny and handsome, because after all he is Patrick Dempsey. Contrast him to the haughtiness of Mark, a brainy, clever person who comes across as prickly, and you get a sense there is no real competition between the two men.
In fact, Jack’s algorithm for love arrives at a likely conclusion that, at least from surface appearances, he and Bridget match up 97 percent, so they should be together, whereas Bridget and Mark match up only 8 percent.
Of course, love is not so easily reduced to mathematical equations, and the absence of empirical certainty of a match-up based on science goes a long way to explain how Bridget could have relations with both men during a short window of time.
As it turns out, if the film’s title is not enough of a clue, Bridget ends up pregnant after a tryst with the fun-loving Jack in a one-night stand at the music festival and then shortly thereafter a night of drunken revelry with Bridget winding up in bed with Mark.
You’d think the confusion would be cleared up quickly with a DNA test to determine the father, but this is a romantic comedy in which Bridget is not exactly forthcoming about her predicament, particularly to the two men and her doting parents (Gemma Jones and Jim Broadbent).
We’re treated instead to funny moments at the workplace where Bridget is coping with the annoying hipsters now running the network who insist on vapid news coverage reducing foreign affairs to an Instagram or something equally inane.
But again, some of the best moments belong to the deadpan delivery of Emma Thompson’s obstetrician who insists that Bridget is a “geriatric” mother who should pay more attention to resolving the paternity issue.
Without a doubt, “Bridget Jones’s Baby” is a chick-flick but it is not overbearing and annoying like some of the female-centric shows found on cable television. It actually turned out better and funnier than I initially thought possible.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
SACRAMENTO – A new law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown will help California meet the growing demand for water supply reliability and healthy ecosystems.
The law, known as the Open and Transparent Water Data Act, was authored by Assemblyman Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and creates a transparent and universal platform for sharing water data across the state.
In the midst of the most devastating drought in California history, this law will help move California towards a more effective water management system.
"The drought has exposed the need for a modern water information system to address the state’s water supply,” said Dodd. “California does not suffer from a lack of water data, but from a lack of usable water data needed to make smart decisions. This bill will create instant and accessible water information that will better enable water managers to cope with future drought conditions.”
“As California rapidly approaches a population of 40 million, with the world’s sixth largest economy, and in an era of climate change, we need to do a better job of measuring and managing the water we use,” said Lester Snow, senior advisor with the Water Foundation. “Only with long-term policy changes like the Open and Transparent Water Data Act of 2016 can we guarantee enough water for California’s farms, cities and environment.”
California has a number of databases containing information on hydrology, biology, water quality, the physical environment, and water use.
Unfortunately, this information is not uniformly collected, easily accessible, or publicly shared. This has largely prevented water managers from making timely and science-based decisions to lead California into a more sustainable water future.
“This landmark legislation will be a game changer for managing California’s most precious resource for decades to come,” said Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “California's current water transfer market is inefficient and Assemblymember Bill Dodd’s legislation will create a fair, efficient and functional water marketplace with the power to ease the impact of drought and reduce water waste.”
"I would like to acknowledge Assemblymember Dodd's leadership on this important aspect of water data collection and management. I also appreciate his willingness to continue working with the water community to refine and improve upon the proposal,” said Grant Davis, general manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency. “The value of creating a statewide clearinghouse is that it allows us to make informed decisions based on data that already exist but are currently out of reach.”
The act passed the legislature last month on a bipartisan vote, and was supported by leading environmental, business and water management groups.
The new law also requires the development of open-data protocols for data sharing, transparency, documentation, and quality control that will avoid misunderstandings, reduce disputes, and increase the effectiveness of management decisions.
Dodd represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Lake, Solano and Colusa counties. You can learn more about Dodd and the district at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd .
NOTICE OF PROPOSED MINOR USE PERMIT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Lake County Zoning Administrator will consider approving MINOR USE PERMIT 12-02 of Mark Tanti in accordance with Lake County Code to allow a Collector’s Permit for a 3,600 square foot storage building with an unfinished storage room above and to allow the garage to exceed the accessory height limitation of 20 feet, for a total structure height of 30 feet on property located at 5190 Lakeshore Blvd., Lakeport, APN 029-281-40 and 029-291-15.
The Planner processing this application is Mireya G. Turner, (707) 263-2221 or
The Zoning Administrator will approve this MINOR USE PERMIT with no public hearing if no written request for a public hearing is submitted by 5:00 P.M., October 5, 2016 to the Community Development Department, Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, California.
Should a timely request for hearing be filed, a public hearing will be held on October 12, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room C, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Robert Massarelli, Director
By: ______________________________________
Danae Bowen, Office Assistant III
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Oct. 2 Fiddlers’ Jam at the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcomes the return of the Ely Stage Stop Marketplace.
This free, family friendly, fun-packed day can be enjoyed by all, young and old alike. The marketplace, just outside the Ely barn, will feature local handcrafted goods and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. As usual, musicians will jam from noon to 2 p.m. inside the barn.
Admission is free and there will be fun for all ages. Enjoy music, refreshments, and the opportunity to browse and purchase the wares of local craftsmen and artists. Food will be available for purchase on site from the Cactus Grill in Clearlake.
Items available at the marketplace will include jewelry, beauty products, wood and metal products, local honey, books, and more.
The Lake County Model A Club plans to display several Ford Model A vehicles during the Marketplace. Approximately 5,000,000 were made and approximately 1,000,000 are still on the road today according to club member Dick Munger.
Beverages and tasty treats will be provided by the docents in the barn. Take a ride up to the house on the hay wagon where you can enjoy the newest displays of Mason and Ball canning jars and antique kitchen gadgets.
Donations made during the fiddling benefit both the Ely Stage Stop, helping to fund the blacksmith shop, and the Old Time Fiddlers Association, District 10, who uses it to partially fund their scholarship programs.
Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Hwy 29-Kit's Corner.
Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Fiddlers’ Jams occur the first Sunday of every month from noon until 2 p.m.
Come join the Lake County Historical Society and become a volunteer at Ely or our sister museum, the Gibson Museum & Cultural Center in Middletown. Applications will be available during the day. Join the fun!
Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Wine Auction's winning combination of wonderful wines, locally produced food and an exciting atmosphere once again inspired people from all over the region to help support worthy local causes.
The auction was held on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Cache Creek Vineyard and Winery in Clearlake Oaks.
“It was a beautiful night under the moon,” said Wine Alliance director Marie Beery, “and people were very generous under its influence.”
The bidding was fast and furious as auctioneer Shaun Hornby racked up some impressive totals during the live auction part of the program.
John Clarke's 2016 painting, which featured a quartet of musicians playing in a vineyard, earned a top bid of $5,000. Eleven other items went for $2,000 or more making for some impressive numbers.
A preliminary tabulation indicates that the evening's activities brought in more than $67,000, which includes both the live and silent auctions.
“Thank you to all of our ticket holders and bidders,” said Wine Alliance director Sharron Zollar.
Over the next few weeks, the auction figures will be combined with numbers from ticket sales, sponsorships and expenses, to provide a final accounting.
Last year, despite the cancellation of the auction because of the Valley fire, the Lake County Wine Alliance raised enough money to give $87,800 to local charities and community organizations.
Based on preliminary figures,the Wine Auction board expects to meet or beat last year's figures, organizers said.
During the auction, attendees were treated to tasty treats from 10 of Lake County's finest food purveyors, and a three-course meal produced under the supervision of chefs Rob Cabreros, Ann-Marie Pleskaczewski and Gordon Upfold.
The meal was complemented by a pair of Cuvee wines blended by Jed Steele of Steele Wines and Mark Burch of Chacewater.
The Lake County Wine Alliance, producer of this event, wished to thank the more than 450 volunteers, sponsors and participants who made the evening possible.
Announcing this year's beneficiaries, Wine Alliance President Kaj Ahlmann said: “To build a strong community, we need to help the next generation respect Lake County’s agricultural tradition and improve their educational skills. With our grants, the Wine Alliance is working towards those goals.”
This year's beneficiaries are the five comprehensive high schools of Lake County for their arts programs, People Services, Any Positive Change, The Lake County Hunger Task Force, Catholic Charities, the Lake County Symphony Association, the Lake County Arts Council, Friends of the Lake County Museum, the Lake Community Pride Foundation, the Children's Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Lake County Literacy Coalition, the Lake County Sheriff's Activity League, Woodland Community College (Lake Campus) Culinary Club, the Clearlake Gleaners, Operation Tango Mike, Sponsoring Survivorship and Meals on Wheels at the five Lake County senior centers.
Sponsors of the 2016 Lake County Wine Auction were Calpine, PG&E, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Beckstoffer Vineyards, the Lake County Winegrape Commission, Six Sigma Vineyard & Winery, Cache Creek Vineyard & Winery, Sysco Foods, Tribal Health Consortium, John Clarke, Mendo-Lake Credit Union, Umpqua Bank, Bella Vista Farming, Boatique Winery, Saw Shop Bistro, Servpro, Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery, TricorBraun WinePak, Congressman Mike Thompson, Kelseyville Pharmacy, Brassfield Estate Winery, C-Line Express Trucking and Savings Bank of Mendocino County.
Members of the all-volunteer Wine Alliance Board are Kaj Ahlmann, president; Dr. Judy Luchsinger, vice president; Sharron Zoller, secretary; Rob Roumiguiere, treasurer; and Marie Beery and Bill Groody, directors.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Just a year ago the Falling Leaves Quilt Show almost didn’t have a venue, when the Lake County Fairgrounds became a fire camp.
This year the fires are out and the Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild is in final preparation mode for the show’s opening day on Oct. 1.
The Falling Leaves Quilt Show, which draws hundreds of quilt-loving guests from all over northern California, will take place at the Lake County Fairgrounds at 401 Martin St., in Lakeport.
Show hours are Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information contact show Linda Morrison at 707-263-4504 or visit the Web site, www.LLQG.org .
The show will feature nearly 200 quilts, some only a few inches across and others made to fit a king-size bed, executed in a variety of techniques and in all colors of the spectrum.
Guests will find an array of styles from traditional to modern to innovative. Imagine strolling through aisles and aisles teeming with works of art that can fill a wall – that’s what a quilt show is. Quilts have come a long way from being just bedcovers and are now recognized as art.
Each year the quilt show committee selects one noted quilter for special recognition. This year’s featured quilter is Tami Benevedes-Graeber, a “local girl who made good” showing off her work in her old hometown.
Benevedes-Graeber is a fourth generation quilter who grew up in Lakeport and still has family ties here. In 2005, after retiring from a career in nursing, she discovered free-motion machine quilting and unleashed her imagination, producing fifteen quilts in her first year alone.
Her work has won numerous national and two international awards. Guests who wish to talk with can visit her in the featured quilter location and she will be speaking about how she went from entering the Lake County Fair to entering prominent national shows.
Quilt guild members wearing hostess ribbons or white gloves will circulate through the show to answer questions and help guests. Please feel free to ask them for help.
“Cross and Crown” the 2016 opportunity quilt will be on display and tickets will be on sale. Seven members of the LLQG made from Civil War-era reproduction fabrics in using a pattern by Jill Shaul of Yellow Creek Designs.
The Falling Leaves Quilt Show has more ways to entertain its guests.
The Country Store Boutique is a great place to find recycled quilting, sewing and craft items and one-of-a-kind country collectibles. Other attractions are gift baskets featuring themes like yarns and crafts, Christmas, birds, games, babies, gardening, sewing, coffee and tea, quilting, and Lake County treasures.
In the silent auction corner guests can bid on a variety of tempting items including fabric kits, quilt kits, several sewing machines and a quilting frame. Guests can enter their names for a door prize drawing and can vote for their favorite quilt.
For those eager to improve their quilting skills, the demonstration booth will offer presentations on prairie points, mitered corners and strip paper piecing.
In the vendor mall, 12 vendors will show off fabric, sewing machines, patterns, notions and all manner of things that interest quilters. La Penquita Mexican restaurant will cater lunch Saturday and Sunday in Barty’s Café in the fairgrounds.
The winners of the opportunity quilt, the door prize, the theme baskets, the silent auction items and the Viewers’ Choice award will be announced on Sunday afternoon.
Guests will note ribbons on many quilts in the show. Quilters who enter the Falling Leaves show can choose to have their quilts judged by professional quilt judges so they can get helpful criticism. Those judges award ribbons based on standard judging criteria.
The show also has five non-professional judges, local VIPs who have no expertise in quilting, they just know what they like and they award ribbons to the quilts that they would like to take home.
This year’s VIP judges are Brock Falkenberg, Lake County’s superintendent of schools; Rick Davis of Davis Tire, Marci McDaniel-Davis of Chatoff Properties and Davis Tire; Dave Faries of the Lake County Record-Bee; and Clinton Karp of Pet Country.
This diverse group will have an advance look at the show as they make their selections. Watch for the VIP ribbons on their favorites.
Shelley Aldrich founded the Falling Leaves Quilt Show in 2002, and beginning this year, Aldrich will present the Founder’s Award to the quilt of her choice.
Membership in the Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild is open to anyone interested in quilting, regardless of skill level.
The purpose of the guild is to promote and encourage quilting and to perform community service through quilt making. Each year quilt guild members make and donate baby quilts to the birth center at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and doll quilts to Toys for Tots.
