Every musician has a song that changed their life. NPR’s Bob Boilen now has a book of those stories.

From established stars to promising newcomers, there always seems to be one key song from their early years that was a turning point in their musical life. But the connection between that song and their later creative output is not always clear, as Bob Boilen has discovered, and documented.

Bob Boilen will be in Sonoma County tomorrow night, hosting a tiny Desk concert at Lagunitas Brewery in Petaluma. He also talks more about his book on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

A new proposed ballot measure to add limits on vineyards in Napa County is renewing some past battle lines.

A group of Napa County environmentalists are pushing for new limits on hillside vineyards, through ballot measure they hope to qualify for the November election. But the Valley’s wine industry is pushing back.

You can hear more about this issue, and read the text of the proposed initiative on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Sonoma and Mendocino counties share some important economic interests, which they are now working together to promote.

For the first time in 20 years, a new Economic development District has been formed in California. It’s a partnership between two North Coast counties that has quietly gathering momentum over the past couple of years.

You can find the link to that survey posted on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The newest public trail along the Laguna de Santa Rosa offers a close-up look at habitat restoration in action.

Just in time for Earth Day, a new public trail near Rohnert Park shows visitors how ecological restoration unfolds over time, as pasture and grasslands are gradually converted back to a stretch of riparian forest.

The Laguna Foundation is hosting two public walks on the new trail. Find a link to the few remaining reservation slots, along with a map, photographs and more about the new trail on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Writers abound in Sonoma County, and local librarian David Dodd is trying to collect them all through his Sonoma County Authors’ Project.

From Jack London to a present day London biographer, Sonoma County has a rich literary tradition, one that a local librarian is busily compiling.

Find out more about the Sonoma County Authors’ Project on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

If you could capture Jack London’s life and philosophy in a song, what would it say… or sound like?

The Valley of the Moon will observe a Jack London centennial this summer, in many ways—even a new musical anthem.

Q Smith will sing McKee’s “Live” in the Transcendence Theater Company’s show, This Magic Moment, which will open their season with three weekends of performances, beginning in a mere six weeks from this coming Friday. Find details on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Student research and creativity is alive and well at Sonoma State, where it was on display yesterday.

Sonoma State is primarily a teaching campus, but many students also engage in research projects, including some innovative inventions, that were on display yesterday at the newly combined “Symposium of Research and Creativity.”

You can see pictures of these projects and hear more about them on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

The Rev. Billy started out preaching against consumerism. Now he’s out to save the planet.

The Rev. Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir have intensified their act from anti-consumerist street theater to impassioned activism in defense of the earth. Their faux evangelism carries a real and urgent message.

Capping a whirlwind week of Earth Day events around northern California, the Rev. Billy brings his message to Sebastopol tonight at many Rivers Books and Tea, at 7:30 pm. on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Santa Rosa could soon be the next Bay Area city to impose a form of rent control.

After nearly a year of numerous reports and public meetings, Santa Rosa is making another move towards imposing rent control. The Santa Rosa city council voted four to three to begin drafting a rent stabilization program.

There's more online at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Around the world, creative local solutions to both poverty and climate change are emerging. A new e-book documents them.

Is it possible to fight poverty and climate change at the same time? The answer is emphatically yes, and Rocky Rohwedder has examples to prove it.

You can find the link to Ecological Footprints and hear more about the book on the North Bay Report webpage at krcb.org/news. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. You can comment, share and like us there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.