Council, hospital board swearing-ins
Both the Sonoma Valley Health Care District Board, which oversees the Sonoma Valley Hospital, and the Sonoma City Council were set Wednesday to swear in newly elected members and then get right down to work.
The hospital board was going to swear in incumbent Dick Kirk and newcomer Arnie Riebli and then vote on whether to ask the health district’s voters in March to approve a $195 per parcel tax for five years, which would generate $3 million per year. The current parcel tax expires in June.
Steve Barbose, Ken Brown and August Sebastiani were to take their seats on city council. Discussion of a proposed new community swimming pool was one of the items on council’s agenda.
SVVGA gives over a half million to local charities
The Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance announced a donation of $525,580 to 13 Sonoma Valley charities. The money came from the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction. It is a 30 percent increase over last year’s donation. In 14 years, the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction has raised close to $5 million for Sonoma Valley charities.
Local real estate industry donates for the needy
“The Warm Coat Drive was an outstanding success,” said Laura Fitchie of Fidelity National Title Company. The effort by realtors, title companies and mortgage brokers to help needy Sonoma Valley residents stay warm this holiday season netted more than 200 coats and sweaters. The clothing was given to F.I.S.H. (Friends in Sonoma Helping) for distribution to low-income people. Fitchie hopes to continue the drive next year.
