Hospital lines up Broadway property
The Sonoma Valley Hospital has gotten approval from several property owners to build a new hospital – provided voters approve a multi-million dollar construction bond – on 17.55 acres at Broadway and Napa Road. “It’s all sewed up… We have a nice piece of land right now,” hospital CEO Robert Kowal told the Sun Tuesday. He said the deal was finally lined up last week when hospital officials signed a letter of intent to purchase 5 acres owned by the Serafini/Zepponi family. “They’re the last ones,” said Kowal, explaining that hospital officials have also signed a letter of intent from the Moose Lodge 2048 to buy its 2-acre clubhouse site on Broadway. Kowal said that 7.55 acres of the 17.55-acre site are inside Sonoma’s urban growth boundary, and 10 acres are outside of it. Kowal said he couldn’t give a price for the 17.55-acre site because hospital officials are still in negotiations with the Serafini/Zepponi family.
Planners reject private imaging center
A private medical-imaging center that got shot down by Sonoma City officials in 2005 because of its perceived financial threat to the Sonoma Valley Hospital is back – and is catching flak again.
By a 4-to-1 vote at its Jan. 11 meeting, the Sonoma City Planning Commission rejected a request by Kevin Root of Northbay Imaging to build a medical-imaging center on a half-acre vacant lot at Second Street East and Perkins Street, right across from the London House Care Center. After hearing from supporters of the hospital, the commission voted against the center, with commissioner Michael George casting the sole vote in favor. Root plans to appeal the commission’s vote to city council at an upcoming council meeting.
Castle Vineyards plans 60,000-case Carneros winery
Castle Vineyards is going to present its plans for a new, 60,000-case winery on 18 acres at 60 Bonneau Road on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission meeting. The winery will include public tasting, tours, retail sales and overnight guest accommodations. The commission’s meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Sonoma Fire Station at 630 Second St. W.
Homeless count scheduled
Hundreds of volunteers are preparing a weeklong effort to count the homeless in Sonoma County from Jan. 25 through Jan. 30. Volunteers will interview people living in Sonoma County’s hills and under bridges, in vehicles, abandoned buildings, shelters, transitional housing, moving from place to place among friends or relatives, said a statement from the Sonoma County Task Force for the Homeless. The first 120 of an expected 300-400 volunteers were trained Jan. 11 for the survey. The count preserves the eligibility of local agencies to apply for $2 million per year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for housing and services for homeless residents.
Adult ed classes start soon
New classes are scheduled to start this month at Sonoma Valley Adult School. Tuesday, Jan. 23 features two classes: “Investing Online for Financial Security” with instructor Bob Herrschaft for a four-session class, and “Fabric Painting,” a bilingual Spanish/English class, with local artist Bertha Paredes that will run for six sessions.
On Wednesday, Jan. 24 two more new classes are offered: “Seeing the World Through the i’s of Apple” with computer consultant Edward Bell for six sessions, and – just in time for New Year’s resolution’s – “Self Hypnosis” with hypnotherapist Bonnie Pierce, scheduled for two sessions. To register, go online at www.sonomavalleyadultschool.org or call the office at 933-4033 for more information on these and other upcoming classes for the spring semester.
