The gradual loss of her vision changed Susan Kreiger’s way of being in the world. So, she discovered, did the guide dog who is now her constant companion.

Susan Kreiger’s degenerating vision has forced her to gradually adjust to the absence of abilities she once took for granted, a profound self-redefinition that forms the foundation of her memoir, Traveling Blind, Adventures in Vision with a Guide Dog by My Side.

Blindness is not an all-or-nothing condition, Kreiger explains, and in her case, the vision losses have been especially irregular.

Having lived and worked with her dog for some time now, Kreiger says they have formed a bond unlike any she has had with other dogs in her life.

Susan Kreiger  will read from her book, Traveling Blind, at Book Passage  in Corte Madera on Sunday afternoon at 4 pm. You can read excerpts here. Further information about guide dog schools can be found by visiting Guide Dogs for the Blind and the guide dog schools page of the American Council of the Blind.

The last days of the Rialto Cinemas Lakeside in Santa Rosa are ticking away, but owner Ky Boyd is looking ahead to creating a new venue to take its place.

It’s now looking likely that there will be no active Rialto venue in Santa Rosa for a year or more, but owner Ky Boyd says he’s confident that the film distributors who are critical to his business, will be ready to work with him again as soon as he is able to resume bookings.

One unexpected aspect in the current Rialto situation has been the outpouring of public support the theaters and their owner have received, including, Boyd notes, a heavily trafficked Facebook page.

For an extensive account of the back story and the history of movie theater ownership in Santa Rosa, read this.

Climbing up a sheer rock wall just your feet, fingers, and a pouch of chalk may not be your idea of a good time, but that’s what Kevin Jorgeson (above) lives to do.

Bouldering doesn’t require much in the way of equipment. The two essentials, Kevin Jorgeson explains, are the “crash pads” that are laid out at the base of the boulder, and some specialized shoes.

This sort of extreme rock climbing isn’t just about steep, near vertical ascents. Sometimes, as in the picture at the top of this page, the routes become almost horizontal. Kevin explains how that’s done.

In addition to his own exploits, Jorgeson is committed to sharing his interest in the sport, and to that end he has formed a new nonprofit and is working toward creating a climbing center based in Sonoma.

You can find photographs and videos of some of Kevin's more dramatic climbs on his website. You can also see him in the new documentary film, Core, which will have special preview screenings, with Kevin in attendance, Monday evening April 26 at the Sebastiani Theater in Sonoma, and Tuesday night, April 27 at the Rialto in Santa Rosa. See the trailer for Core below.

Keeping kids safe when they’re online isn’t about technology so much as trust and communication.

It’s a well-worn cliché that kids are often—maybe usually—more tech savvy than their parents. Petaluma-based tech guru Leo Laporte says the first step in open communication with teens about their adventures online is often helping Mom and Dad catch up.

But, he adds, getting a grip on the online landscape today is usually a short-lived accomplishment.

Leo Laporte and his family will present “Wired Families, Safe Kids—One Family’s Journey,” at Sonoma Academy at 6:30 pm on Thursday, March 4th.