Shop as I say, not as I do

City Hall had a fine chance to put your money where its ‘Shop Local’ mouth is, but when it came time to buy a work truck, it went regional. To replace an oft-broken 1997 Ford flatbed (scheduled for placement in 2006), the $46k purchase went... Continue

Professional trustees

When a client comes into my office, one of the first things we discuss is whether or not they have a trusted friend or family member to act as their successor. This may be a successor trustee in the case of a living trust, or... Continue

Archaeology Camp

My children remind me daily that summer will soon be here. They are so excited, however, it will take but a few hours, once the last bell has rung, for them to scream out those dreadful words, “I’m bored.” For parents looking for an educational... Continue

Use an annual report to tell your nonprofit’s story

A lthough nonprofit organizations are not required by law to publish an annual report, it can be an effective tool for the leadership of a nonprofit to share major accomplishments, recognize key supporters, and forge new partnerships. Plus, many philanthropic foundations and corporate giving programs are... Continue

Cause and blame

We conventionally view causality moving from “Point A” to “Point B,” a straight line through which we can trace each step and assess responsibility. Even if we move from points “A” to “D” we still think in terms of lines of responsibility, which pass through... Continue

Federal water act affects Russian River, Lake Sonoma

Legislation to speed up the Russian River Habitat Restoration to avoid Sonoma County being forced to build a $300 million pipeline will soon be signed into law, its author, Rep. Mike Thompson, said Tuesday. Protecting Lake Sonoma and other high-risk lakes from invasive species was... Continue

The culture of the cocktail

I love that shake-ah, shake-ah noise: ice rattling ferociously in a stainless cocktail shaker. The crunch-crunch sound of ice, fruit, citrus, herbs being muddled... all happy sounds of a cocktail being prepared. The heady aromas of mint being crushed beneath sugar and lime, the glorious anticipation... Continue

Sonoma looks to douse outdoor smoking

The Sonoma City Council moved Monday to effectively ban smoking in all outdoor public spaces including parks, sidewalks and outdoor work areas. With a 4-1 vote, the panel directed city staff to update local smoking regulations, which were last changed in 1996, and set the... Continue

School district names new special ed director

Nikarre Redcoff, currently a program specialist at the Sonoma County Office of Education, will begin as director of special education of the Sonoma Valley School District on July 1. Redcoff has held teaching, administrative, supervisory, coaching and mentoring positions across her career, said Superintendent Louann... Continue

Brewed awakening

Joseph Shoemaker, who operates Sonoma’s new Dutch Bros. Coffee outlet with wife Mackenzie, takes a break during a busy opening weekend. On Friday, May 16, the full crew of 16 baristas served free coffee all day at Broadway and Andrieux. On Saturday, the Shoemakers donated... Continue