Agents of change

Lea Ronald, representing Kiwanis of Sonoma Plaza, takes on Marck Zuehlsdorff of Rotary of Sonoma Valley in the annual “Great Sonoma Bell Ringing Competition” to benefit Friends in Sonoma Helping (F.I.S.H). Kiwanis jumped in the lead on the first weekend as volunteers from both groups... Continue

Propane companies raked over coals

Were your burgers-per-gallon lower than usual on the gas barbecue? No wonder -- California’s two largest propane cylinder exchange companies illegally underfilled their tanks, according to a statewide lawsuit. In 2008, facing rising fuel costs, the companies reduced the volume of propane in their tanks... Continue

Regarding all appearances as divine

Human existence can be organized within two orders of experience. A first order experience is felt: unmediated sensory awareness responding moment to moment to the space around us. A second order experience includes image and thought, which arise due to the first order experience, and... Continue

The election is over: time for a reboot

“When the dust settles, we’ll all still be here.” And so here we are, in the aftermath of the Measure B election, and we now have a great opportunity for a deeper community discussion on land use and development issues. It was a hard-fought election,... Continue

County DA joins call to ban fake guns

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch has joined other City and District Attorneys across California calling for a federal ban on undetectable and replica firearms, including the type carried by a Santa Rosa teenager when he was shot by a sheriff's deputy in October. “Our... Continue

Sonoma’s new mayor

Tom Rouse, elected to the Sonoma City Council in 2010, is the new mayor of Sonoma. In the annual rotation of councilmembers, Rouse, the vice mayor, was unanimously voted mayor by his peers. David Cook is the new vice mayor, also by a 5-0 vote.... Continue

Cutting switchbacks on the SOT

Editor: The Sonoma Overlook Trail Stewards will soon be doing some trail maintenance to minimize switchback cut-offs and social trails. Six Hanna boys will volunteer to help. Over the years it has been a struggle to manage switchback cutting and keep people on the trail.... Continue

Child molester found guilty

Kenneth Donald Hutchins, 65, of Sonoma, has been convicted of four counts of sexual molestation involving his eight-year-old grandniece. The Sonoma Valley man faces the possibility of more than 25-years-to-life in prison when sentenced in January. Hutchins was arrested on January 16, 2013, after the... Continue

Impact100 holiday reception

Impact100 Sonoma hosts its annual holiday reception on Thursday, December 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Vintage House, 264 First St. E. Current members and women interested in joining Impact100 Sonoma are invited to attend to learn more about the organization and to interact... Continue

The All-American game

I grew up with All-American images of clean-cut baseball heroes -- Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and the like. Despite later revelations of alcohol problems, their images as wholesome, talented sportsmen resonated across the 1950s and contributed to the backdrop of conformist cultural forms against which a... Continue