Burning Home Movies

• Theresa Levitt is the author of A Short Bright Flash, a history of Augustin Fresnel (1788-1827), who made a breakthrough in the physics of light that enhanced lighthouse beams, saving untold lives from shipwreck. Lecture and book signing at Museum of Monterey, 5 Custom House Plaza, 1pm Saturday ($8 admission, 372-2608).

• Pinnacles National Park is telling us that their summer speaker series is ending in August. As always, it starts at the Soledad Library (401 Gabilan Dr.) 2pm Aug. 3 with “Climate Change in the National Parks.” Then the next three Saturdays it takes place 2pm at the west side of the park’s Visitor Contact Station. Aug. 10, 8:30-10:30pm is “A Night Under the Stars” with telescopes provided; Aug. 17 “A Changing Ocean”; and Aug. 24 “A Green Pinnacles” (How does one green up nature?). 389-4486 x265.

• San Carlos Cathedral in Monterey (500 Church St.) comprises a trinity, 5-7pm this Saturday, of food, shelter and art when it hosts the Inherent Dignity and Worth photography show by Bob Sadler, who took portraits of men who are helped by the I-Help homeless program. This exhibition is in conjunction with the Pasta with the Pastors event ($12/general, $5/child 10 and under, 384-3362).

• Sol Treasures celebrates 5 years of fostering art, music, theater and creativity in King City with a party Saturday at Stravaganza Grill off Highway 1 in King City. Live music comes courtesy of One Night Stand with Jim Vanderzwaan (yes, the weatherman), After Hours and Little Creek Band. Tix $75, call 386-9809.

• CSUMB’s OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) is a series of classes aimed at those 50 and older, because “learning and exploration have no age limits.” Among the classes they offer to that aim are a look at documentaries from four continents with Prof. Karen Davis; African-American history in four lectures with Prof. Umi Vaughn; California politics and economics with former California Assembly member Fred Keeley; King Lear and The Tempest with playwright Allston James; 20th century painting with Tory Raggett; and more. 582-5500, csumb.edu/olli for info and to register.

• Asilomar Conference Grounds’ Seascape Dining Room sounds like the right place for an optional lunch (noon, $18) and a compelling lecture (12:30pm, free) by California State Parks Environmental Specialist Cyndi Dawson on efforts to restore native sand dunes and coastal Monterey pine forests. RSVP to 372-8016.

• You can find it online if you search Leaked North Korean documentary exposes Western propaganda (and it’s scary how true it is). For 95 minutes this film blasts our own media machine for “a specific type of warfare designed to distract, misinform and anesthetize the brain.” Once you watch this, there’s no going back. Well, there is, but at least you’ll be entertained.