Internationally celebrated musician Dave Nachmanoff, a Davis resident, is accompanied by "The Usual Culprits" who present "Spinoza's Dream," a benefit concert for Meals on Wheels Yolo County. Photo courtesy of Meals on Wheels Yolo County

YOLO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Offering an evening of live folk-rock music, “Spinoza’s Dream,” a benefit concert for Meals on Wheels Yolo County (MOW Yolo), will feature Davis-based musician and recording artist Dave Nachmanoff and The Usual Culprits at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Winters Opera House, 13 Main St., Winters. 

The event is sponsored by Davis residents Sarah and Tom Pattison.

A $30 advance donation to Meals on Wheels Yolo at www.mowyolo.org/dream-concert/ ($35 at the door, if seats remain) includes admission for one and both savory and sweet refreshments crafted in MOW Yolo’s kitchens.  Wine, beer, and soft drinks will be available for purchase, benefiting Winters Opera House. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy food, beverages, and socializing prior to the concert.

“Healthy meals are music to seniors’ ears,” states Joy Cohan, Meals on Wheels Yolo executive director. “So, there couldn’t be a more fitting way to support our mission to nourish and engage them than with a social evening of music and delicious bites. We are grateful to the Pattisons, to Dave and to the Winters Opera House for this opportunity.”

That the event will take place in Winters compliments the organization’s addition of a second institutional meal production facility in the city about a year ago, joining the original kitchen in Woodland. Developed in the Main Street location previously occupied by the Buckhorn’s catering operation, the 5,300 square foot Meals on Wheels-Sutter Health Senior Nutrition Center serves as a hub for cooking and packaging thousands of frozen meals weekly.  Frozen meals are at the heart of Meals on Wheels Yolo’s expansion to reach seniors in rural areas of Yolo County, connect with more aging adults in underserved neighborhoods in the cities, and an increasing social enterprise approach to ensuring that 250% programmatic growth over the past three years doesn’t retract due to the end of one-time, public pandemic-era funding sources.

“A silver tsunami is headed our way, as the Baby Boom generation ages and seniors are projected to outnumber children in Yolo County within five years,” Cohan explained. “We’re working diligently amidst limited resources now to nourish 1,000 seniors each weekday, knowing that more than 8,000 seniors live in poverty countywide as of the 2020 Census.  That number will grow dramatically as each year passes, and the community’s support, especially with funds, but with time and talent, too, will determine MOW Yolo’s ability to be prepared to assist them to age in place.”

Winters City Councilwoman Carol Scianna (left) also serves as a volunteer delivery driver for Meals on Wheels Yolo County, ensuring that local seniors receive nutrition and social engagement to age in place safely. Photo courtesy of Meals on Wheels Yolo County

Nachmanoff performs both locally and tours worldwide as a folk singer-songwriter and has served as sideman to the legendary Al Stewart in addition to teaching master classes. His 2016 "Spinoza's Dream," a philosophical-themed concept album, illuminates Nachmanoff’s dual passions as both an accomplished musician and a Ph.D. in Philosophy, serving as the inspiration for this benefit concert. The Usual Culprits complement Nachmanoff’s style with a mix of rock and Americana influences that provide a dynamic backdrop to his songwriting. The group features Martin Lewis on guitar, Nick Carvajal on bass and vocals, and Ryan Davis on drums. More information is available at https://davenach.com/the-usual-culprits.

“What Meals on Wheels does in Yolo County to care for seniors means a lot to me, because my family and I are well-acquainted with the challenges of keeping aging adults in the community safe, well-nourished, and engaged,” Nachmanoff shared. “This is not the first time that I’ve performed to support food security in our community, and Joy and her team not only are dedicated to MOW Yolo’s mission, but they are solid partners with whom to collaborate to put the fun in fundraising by putting it to music.”

Built in 1876 and having served as a live music venue for nearly two decades during the Palms Playhouse’s residency, Winters Opera House now is home to the Winters Theatre Company (WTC) and performances of their full season of plays.  The musical performance tradition continues, however, featuring a variety of genres to complement the frequent stage productions. Winters Theatre Company and the Winters Opera House provide an eclectic, yet homey, setting for the “Spinoza’s Dream” material and the concert’s aim to raise funds to nourish local seniors.   

“Winters Theatre Company exists to connect the community to the performing arts, and to do so featuring local talent and supporting local causes,” noted Linda Glick, a former Winters Citizen of the Year and a WTC founder.  “When my friend Sarah Pattison shared her vision to sponsor a concert with Dave to benefit Meals on Wheels, I knew immediately that the event would be a fit with WTC’s commitment to contribute to the wellbeing of the community around us.  We are honored to host this performance for an important cause that cares for local seniors.”

Pattison is delighted that she and her husband, Tom, have been able to leverage a donation to Meals on Wheels Yolo that would have been meaningful in and of itself, into an entertaining evening and a reason to amplify the community’s awareness of Meals on Wheels Yolo, its mission and its impact.

“Bringing together people, causes, and talents in Yolo County that are special to me through this sponsorship, and having the excuse to brainstorm and coordinate with all of them, is so very rewarding,” Pattison stated.  “That local seniors will eat more nutritiously and suffer less loneliness simultaneously makes it all the more inspiring.”

For more concert details, or to learn further about donating, volunteering or connecting with Meals on Wheels Yolo’s nutrition services, visit www.mowyolo.org or call 530-662-7035.