Two pools; wine by appointment; Anderson's latest, and more
Nor any drop to drink
The school district has jumped into the discussion of a swimming pool, this one at Sonoma Valley High School. As plans and fundraising continue for a community pool on the Paul’s Resort property on El Verano Avenue, the district this month floated its own plans for an eight-lane pool on campus, large enough for water sports and community access. Early numbers: $3.78 million to open, and about $14k a month to operate. Those figures might have suggested a reconsideration of repairing the old one – if it hadn’t been shut down and filled with cement back in 2005… Just wondering: what if the pool opens in a drought that, like right now, has the city’s mandatory restrictions stating, in part, “swimming pools may not be filled or refilled from an empty condition.” One of the big selling points for Sonoma Splash, the group behind the pool on El Verano Ave, is the safety factor: swimming lessons can save lives. It’s true — no kids can drown in an empty pool.
And water rates are going up in Sonoma. Under California law, municipalities attempting to raise utility rates must offer property owners a chance to submit written protests. Here, that would have meant about 2,100 protest letters to block the rate hike. Under 50 were received, but no wonder. Writing a letter, who does that? Facebook message, maybe. Protest selfies, absolutely.
Three Sticks Wines is open in the restored (faithfully and gorgeously) Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe at 143 W. Spain St. The project was initially approved for “an office with a limited wine tasting component,” and strictly speaking, the ‘tasting by appointment only’ policy fits that bill. But that phrase, quaint enough to mollify some concerned with traffic congestion and commercial creep, has no legal or even industry meaning. Any winery using it can take reservations weeks or days out – or on the cell phone as you circle the block looking for parking.
With Gary Edwards election to the Sonoma City Council – the swearing-in is likely at the December 1 meeting – there’s now an opening on the Sonoma Planning Commission. Application forms are available at City Hall, or at Sonomacity.org.
A city panel rejected a request by the De Anza Moon Valley Mobile Home Park to raise rents for 20 years to cover street repairs. The increase was called temporary but, cracked one tenant, “For a senior, 20 years is better known as permanent.”
Cornerstone Sonoma, the quirky shops-and-public-gardens complex on 36 acres at the Valley’s southern gateway, has been sold to Darius Anderson’s Kenwood Investments. His portfolio is getting so big, he may need the Big Blue Chair for his office desk.
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