Living in Cornucopia

Here at The Sun we spend a fair amount of time watching government, commenting on public issues, evaluating changes and, frankly, criticizing. The role of a serious newspaper includes asking difficult questions and holding the powerful and public officials accountable. Freedom of the press means little in our republic if the press “plays dead.”

That said, we use this editorial occasion to talk about what’s good about Sonoma and Sonoma Valley, and there’s plenty. Some of it is a result of the efforts of those who came before us, some a result of things happening now, and some is simply Nature’s good fortune. We’ll start with that.

Sonoma Valley enjoys some of the Bay Area’s finest natural beauty and climate. Nestled between the ocean and the inner California Valley, it has some of the most fertile agricultural land in the world. The combination of beauty, climate and soil inclined the native people of this valley to revere their home, and we understand why. Even in this time of drought, the expanses of green forest and healthy agriculture are striking. Our air is clear, our evenings cool. How could it be better?

Those who came before appreciated the charm and beauty of Sonoma Valley, and began an agricultural tradition which continues today. It’s often difficult to judge the past according to today’s standards; cultural, moral and social habits change over time and what we consider proper today may well have been condemned yesterday, and vice versa. What is obvious, however, is the love and dedication early residents felt about life in this valley, and the contributions they made formed the historical framework for much of what has followed.

From General Vallejo’s design of the City of Sonoma and its eight-acre Plaza to Samuele Sebastiani’s inspiration to build a movie theatre, we live amid the creative generosity of town founders. So much of what we enjoy about the Valley today did not happen by accident, but by good intention.

Sonoma and Sonoma Valley remain human scale communities; buildings are not huge, there is no freeway running through the valley, there is plenty of open space and riding a bicycle is a pleasure if one does it away from the busiest areas. We have bike paths, and more are coming. Our cultural life thrives; music, art, theatre and dance are all present and accounted for. Traffic is more congested than 20 years ago, but is still modest when compared to most other Sonoma County cities. In short, our valley is still livable.

And there continues to be no shortage of truly exceptional people. Many volunteer to help others through our non-profits and religious communities, or simply of their own volition. They mentor, deliver meals, volunteer at the homeless shelter or at the hospital, maintain trails, or clean up the Plaza after big events. Still others step up for the thankless civic jobs — sitting on commissions, running for office, or simply attending meetings as interested members of the public.

We could go on. The fact is we love this valley and this town and just wanted to take a moment to remind ourselves, and perhaps you, why we live here.