Mark Hertsgaard Journalist and author Mark Hertsgaard, who specializes in climate change and other environmental issues, is in town. He was the keynote speaker last night at the annual dinner of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Sacramento. Hertsgaard reports on climate change for some of the world's top publications, and he's working on his sixth book, "Living through the Storm: Our Future Under Global Warming."

'Bat Boy: The Musical' A new production of "Bat Boy: The Musical" opens this week. The show is inspired by the strange and fictional tabloid story about a creature that's half-bat and half-boy. He's found living in a cave and captured. In the original Weekly World News stories, Bat Boy always escaptes. But in the musical, he's forced to adapt to life in a small-town family home.

"Bat Boy: The Musical" runs through Sunday, Nov.1st at the University Theatre, Sacramento State, 6000 J St. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22nd through Saturday, Oct. 24th and Oct. 30th; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25th and Nov. 1st; and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29th and 29th. Two performances will be held at 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31st. Information: (916) 278-3569.

'The Prohibition Hangover' How did America's drinking habits change after Prohibition? It's the subject of a new book called "The Prohibition Hangover." The author is a journalist, originally from Sacramento, who covers the alcohol industry, and who leads "temperence tours" of Prohibition-related sites Washington D.C. Garrett Peck is visiting his hometown this week and we'll talk with him about his work.

Garrett Peck will read from and discuss "The Prohibition Hangover" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20th at The Avid Reader, 617 Second St., Davis. Information: (530) 758-4084. He'll also be at The Avid Reader, 1600 Broadway, Sacramento at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21st. Information: (916) 441-4400.