Chris Smith: National Geographic shares a short film on a lucky, lonely Santa Rosa homeowner

Journalist Austin Meyer, a Santa Rosa native and graduate of Mario Carrillo High and Stanford, learned from Zambia that a video he made from our fire zone has made National Geographic’s online Short Film Showcase.

Austin’s five-minute film, “Island in the Storm,” shares Fountaingrove resident Jerry Buhrz’s story of terror and survival - and bittersweet astonishment.

Buhrz fled the October firestorm, then returned to find his home standing amid a wastefield. The homes of all of his neighbors were destroyed.

“It’s like living in a desert right now,” he told Austin.

The short film is at: nationalgeographic.com/video/shorts/.

Austin will surely return to check up on his hometown’s recovery from the fires. At present he’s in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, and working at National Geographic Explorer on a documentary on infant and maternal health.

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MODEL T CARS will be hard to miss the next several days, so do give ’em some room.

Local lovers of the first affordable, mass-produced automobile are hosting a national tour of the Model T Ford Club of America. There should be more than 100 of the cars at Rohnert Park’s DoubleTree Hotel, where hobbyists will stay through Thursday.

Every day, Model Ts built from 1908 to 1927 will set out for a scenic cruise. Give them some space and time should you encounter them on their drives to Drakes Bay and Point Reyes Station, the Russian River and Armstrong Woods, Alexander and Sonoma valleys, Bohemian Highway and the coast.

Each evening through Thursday, Tin Lizzies will be shown off at the DoubleTree.

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THE ROOF’S WORN OUT at one of our most essential eating places: Santa Rosa’s St. Vincent de Paul dining room.

Every day, hungry people are fed, no questions asked.

But it’ll be bad news for the mission if the Wilson Street building that houses the dining room doesn’t soon get a new roof. You can help the roof campaign if you golf, or eat.

There’s a benefit golf tournament June 15 at the Windsor Golf Club. And afterward: cocktails and oysters and dinner at the Agatha Furth Center.

We’re invited to join in for the golf, just the good times that follow, or both. Learn more by emailing s2angus@aol.com or visiting eventbrite.com.

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WORK IS NEEDED, TOO, on the tucked-away Rincon Valley Grange. Today, members and supporters are holding a pancake breakfast and flea market to raise money for upgrades to the grange building

The breakfast is this morning from 7 to 11 at the R.V. Grange, 5055 Rincon Ave. The flea market continues until about 3.

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ART STUDIOS A GO-GO: Just when we thought all the good ideas were taken, the creative sorts behind west Sonoma County’s June 9 and 10 Art at the Source open studio weekend dreamed this up:

As an alternative to driving from one art studio to the next, organizers are offering patrons of Art at the Source guided tours in comfy vans.

Tour guests can choose among several routes, and along with a seat on a van comes a Hip Chick Farms lunch and wine tasting. Check out artatthesource.org.

You can reach Staff Writer Chris Smith at 707-521-5211 or chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.