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Sonoma Valley Sun resumes print publication: A letter from Editor David Bolling

The Sun and the Circle of Life
By David Bolling, Editor

According to Mufasa, “you must take your place in the Circle of Life,” a metaphorical reference that extends far beyond the pop sentiments of Disney’s Lion King and comes to mind as I take the editor’s seat at the Sonoma Valley Sun.

That’s because my role in the collaborative relaunch of the Sun contains a more-than-metaphorical circular history, a roundabout story, in short, I have never shared in print.

In 2007, shortly after Bill and Jim Lynch generously asked me to take over as editor of their Sonoma Index Tribune, I received a phone call from a management representative of the Sonoma Valley Sun. It involved an invitation to have coffee, which seemed like a gracious and neighborly thing to do, since the two newspapers were then literally on opposite sides of West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma, and a well-hit baseball could easily have traveled from one office to the other.

I accepted the invitation, thinking perhaps we could talk about ways to  cooperatively coexist, maybe even collaborate on issues and initiatives important to Sonoma’s future.

Instead, after a brief congratulation on the week-old news of my Index-Tribune appointment, the Sun representative boldly asked me if I would like to “take the next step up,” by crossing the street to become editor of the Sun. It was an act of such extravagant chutzpah I thought at first she was joking, but when she insisted she was serious I politely and emphatically declined and the meeting was over. Little did I know what the future would hold.

In the intervening 17 years I became increasingly invested in and committed to exploring the past, present and future of the Sonoma Valley, which I’ve called home since 1976 and which, like most of us here, I consider one of the very special places to live on Earth. And while it is a remarkable jewel of a community, it appears to be simultaneously at increasing risk of losing its historic, cultural and environmental integrity.

After spending eight years at the Index-Tribune and Sonoma magazine, I left in 2014 to launch Valley of the Moon magazine. The goal was to provide a locally-owned voice for exploring in greater depth, and with beautiful images, the critical issues, events and people in this unique Valley. Over the course of five years we focused on a seemingly endless succession of pivotal issues, most of them not getting adequate local coverage. That content included: the uncertain future of the Sonoma Developmental Center; how to build a sustainable Sonoma; the imminent seismic risk from the nearby Rogers Creek Fault; the wine versus water dilemma; surviving and preventing firestorms; how to achieve home energy independence; MeToo victims in Sonoma; the power and appeal of public art; the Great Tasting Room Debate; wellness and fitness resources in the Valley; the problems with plastics; Jack London’s legacy; the Better For You Food movement; and an entire issue on dogs.

In 2020 the Covid hammer hit and advertising revenue couldn’t sustain Valley of the Moon magazine, so I shuttered it, hoping that a revival might be possible in a healthier economy.

Meanwhile, ownership of the Sun had passed from its founder into the hands of a small group of employees, of whom Val Robichaud and design director Barney LaHaye were the remaining members. It was during the covid days that Val and I began sharing a multi-media fantasy to link our publications in a collaborative nonprofit partnership. So we prepared a joint plan for what we labeled Valley of the Moon Collaborative Media (VOMCOM) and began mapping out the steps toward nonprofit status.

We agreed that our focus should include stories never adequately covered in Valley of the Moon, like the educational challenges in Sonoma’s public schools; the Valley’s Native American legacy; the crisis in truly affordable housing; the cultural divide between the Valley’s Anglo and Latinx communities; the issues and needs of the ever expanding population of aging residents; the mysterious real estate buying binge that triggered WakeUp Sonoma; and a creative reimagining of the Springs. 

Those are all stories Val and I talked about covering in an unfinished dialog interrupted by his death. With this reset, we plan to continue that dialog in print, addressing those and many other important issues in the nonprofit pages of the Sonoma Valley Sun. But God help us, we have no intention of turning the Sun into a somber soapbox. As Val put it during our planning sessions, “the Sun is like a gathering of neighbors talking to one another over the backyard fence, with different voices, diverse faces, many opinions.” We will continue to feature local columnists while seeking a mix of different voices, but – as revenue increases – with a broader base of expert, in-depth reporting. We’ll also be covering art and entertainment, spirituality, fitness, wellness, recreation, fascinating people and places, and of course food, wine and the people who make it.

Val Robichaud’s death was an enormous loss for the community, for his daughter Annie, for his sister Nikki, and for the Sun’s readers and contributors. I am honored to help preserve Val’s legacy, in the company of Larry Barnett, Anna Pier and Alyssa Conder. 


Left to right: Larry Barnett, Anna Pier, Alyssa Conder and David Bolling

Larry has been one of the Sun’s most stalwart contributors and a generous benefactor for Val’s persistent publishing efforts. As most people know, he has been a multi-term member of the Sonoma City Council, serving two terms as mayor, is the retired owner of a website development company, is current chair of the Sonoma Planning Commission and is an astute commenter on the human condition. 

Anna Pier is another longtime Sun contributor, journalist, former director of the CommonBond Foundation, past president of the La Luz board, a founding teacher of Flowery’s dual immersion program, and Springs community activist.

Alyssa Conder had been Arts Editor at the Sun before Val’s death, with a deep resume in graphic design, marketing and management skills. She will become Creative Director, fulfilling Barney LaHaye’s longtime desire to retire from the Sun, where he has done yeoman’s work for years, designing the paper and managing its digital footprint. 

We will be exploring fertile new ground together and, hopefully stimulating fresh thinking, sharing ideas and opinions, collaborating on creating the newspaper Val always wanted to build. We hope you’ll come along for the ride.

Meanwhile, I will meditate from time to time on the Buddhist concept called samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth through which we ultimately experience enlightenment, or at least a successful newspaper, a circle of life, if you will, but without the Disney soundtrack.

6 Comments

  1. PJ Clark PJ Clark June 6, 2024

    What a lovely piece, David. Good luck to your amazing, passionate team. I am relieved that The Sun will continue to rise, and look forward to reading it regularly. Thank you to all that have regrouped to make this happen. Val must be so pleased♥️.

  2. Anya Ushakova Anya Ushakova June 6, 2024

    David, it is such heartfelt wonderful news that you are where you are again in community life. I cannot think of anyone other than you at the helm, in this renaissance of community engagement, than you. Let us find time to meet again. I would love that. Congratulations!

  3. Mary L Flett Mary L Flett June 6, 2024

    May the Sun continue to shed light on all things in the Valley!

  4. Tarney Baldinger Tarney Baldinger June 6, 2024

    This makes me so happy as I’m sure it does many members of our Sonoma valley community. I’m sure like many of us. I did not realize how much I relied on Val‘s constant readiness to report on and support many different endeavors of mine over the years. I look forward to a rich relationship with the new Sun, including getting a subscription delivered to me if such a thing is possible. I never want to miss an issue and I always read it covered to cover. Great thanks to all of you for reviving this.

  5. Joanie Bourg Joanie Bourg June 6, 2024

    I am thrilled at the coming together of this particular group of human professionals to take the baton in the next chapter of the Sonoma Valley Sun , and to continue a discourse amongst Sonoma valley residents! I am grateful that a group of long time Sonoma residents are at the helm of what has been a community gem of a paper. We need this knowledge, caring, historical perspective and professional collaboration in our community, and I’m relieved that these folks have stepped up to maintain it. Can’t wait to read the next issue. Cheers, joanie

  6. Lauren Drinkhall Lauren Drinkhall June 6, 2024

    I am so excited to read your beautifully captivating words again David! I love and adore you!!

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