A Year in Pets

Dear Readers: For my final column of the year, I am sharing some photos of a few of the wonderful animals that have touched my life this past year in a special way. Of course there are many more that are not included herein, all... Continue

Support for our local newspapers

Editor: I have recently become aware that the huge, faceless corporate monolith known as AOL has embarked on a national 500 city rollout of “hyper-local” news/blog websites. Sonoma’s newspapers, like many other North Bay cities and towns, find themselves under attack from this effort. AOL’s... Continue

Sonoma dreams and New Year's wishes

As has become tradition at The Sun, we’ve asked a few Sonoma notables to share their hopes, dreams and predictions for the new year. Here, while every day holds promise and all things are possible, are some of the replies: “My default is always set... Continue

Goodbye 2010

Welcome to The Sun’s final edition of 2010. With this issue, we wrap up the year by taking a look back at the stories and events that have defined the past 364 days. A lot has changed in a year and we hope that, with... Continue

Best of 2010

Go with the grain. Brown rice, the earnest mascot for the all too fibrous health food movement, has somehow ingrained itself in my brain. Pun intended. Alas, not just any brown rice, but the certified organic, heirloom Kokuho Rose medium grain brown rice from Koda... Continue

Teaching by example

The work “All Around,” by instructor Teddy Elston, is among those featured in a faculty exhibition at the Sonoma Community Center’s Gallery 212. The show of original paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture by SCC faculty members opens with a 5 p.m. reception on Friday, Jan.... Continue

The gifts of hospice

Many of the most moving moments during the last weeks of my father’s life were experiences of hospice. In this age of modern medicine where every effort is used to successfully prolong life, hospice instead focuses patient comfort and dignity. Prolonging life, even when it... Continue

‘Banco’ signs off

While the name of the bank branch has officially changed, a grassroots effort to keep Westamerica’s Fiesta Plaza location open continues. The Banco de Sonoma sign was replaced Monday. Westamerica has promised to keep the location, given its Spanish nickname by former owner Sonoma Valley... Continue

Help keep Sonoma State Historical Park open

Editor: With the failure of voters to approve Prop 21, our state parks will be facing another round of budget cuts from Sacramento. Earlier this year our Sonoma State Historical Park was closed on Thursdays and the Petaluma Adobe SHP was closed three days a... Continue

Gov. Brown should stop cancer-causing strawberry pesticide

Editor: Earlier this month California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) registered a controversial, carcinogenic new pesticide (methyl iodide) for use in the state’s strawberry fields. Never in DPR’s history has there been more public outcry against a new pesticide — or such a compelling scientific... Continue