Rabia Chaudry, attorney and author behind ‘Serial’ podcast, to visit Petaluma’s Copperfield’s Books

If you didn’t get hooked on “Serial,” the podcast spawned by the case of a teenager convicted of killing his former high school girlfriend in Baltimore in 1999, you could probably swing an arm and touch someone who did.

The historically successful podcast, a spinoff of radio’s “This American Life,” introduced the world to the imprisoned Adnan Syed, who was 17 at the time of his arrest for allegedly strangling and burying Hae Min Lee, who was 18.

“Serial” came about because a friend of Syed, attorney Rabia Chaudry, is convinced that he is innocent and she’s made it her mission to get his conviction overturned and his life prison sentence vacated.

Chaudry has just released a book, “Adnan’s Story,” and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 14, she’ll talk about it at the Copperfield’s Books in Petaluma. We’re all invited, and I get to join her in a conversation.

Maryland currently is appealing a judge’s decision to grant a new trial to Syed, who’s been in prison 16 years and is now 34. He’s also a Muslim, which author Chaudry contends is relevant to his conviction.

That a judge has ordered a retrial is promising to Chaudry, who promoted the “Serial” podcast but contends that it missed opportunities to expose what she asserts was the injustice of convicting and imprisoning Syed.

See you at Copperfield’s?

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BUTTERFLY RESCUE: A good-news/bad-news thing was going on days ago at the enchanting Butterfly Adventures attraction at the Sonoma County Fair.

The Monarch butterflies were being so prolific that the caterpillars emerging from eggs were devouring the touring exhibit’s milkweed, the only thing Monarch larvae eat. Butterfly Adventures owner Peter Noah was running low on milkweed.

He mentioned that, and the risk that caterpillars might starve, to the absolutely perfect fair visitor: Merle Reuser, who’d come to see and talk to Peter about the butterflies.

Merle, as it happens, has planted milkweed at the Safari West wildlife preserve - just for the benefit of the struggling Monarchs. He told Peter he’d gladly cut and bring in enough milkweed to sustain the Butterfly Adventures caterpillars.

He did, so the future Monarchs now have plenty to eat. As the fair wraps up, Peter is allowing Merle to take all of the caterpillars to the milkweed patch at Safari West.

Merle estimates there could be 1,000 of the caterpillars. Peter said there’s a boatload.

However many there are, Safari West invites us to be there to welcome them today at 1 p.m.

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DEAR MR. TRUMP: So starts an email sent to the presidential candidate by Julie Nation, founder of the landmark Sonoma County modeling, talent and personal refinement academy that bears her name.

It is with enormous pleasure I offer you a full scholarship to our Self-Improvement Program for Etiquette and Finishing.

We will design an Advanced Program just for you, taught by our highly acclaimed communication instructors. We do this for your own good, and for the good of our country, in the proven belief that a little charm goes a long ways in bringing out the best in human beings, and therefore advances peace on earth.

I seriously hope you accept my offer.

Julie Nation

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.