Ladies on the Court

Much has been written about the 2008 Lady Dragons basketball team, and much more likely will, as we follow the star player from that team into her college career next year. But if readers will bear a few more words on the subject, we can’t help reflecting on the season ourselves.
For those who may not be familiar with the story, three years ago local businessman Sil Coccia took on the girls varsity team at Sonoma Valley High School. In 2005, that team had won only two games. The team won five games in Coccia’s first year, it won eleven last year, and then a school record 21 games this year, including a share of the Sonoma County League championship, the first time since 1984 that Sonoma had earned such an honor.
We’ve enjoyed watching the games on SVTV27, but it was especially fun this season to observe the crowd at home games. Most seemed surprised not to find simply a genteel version of the boys’ game – that’s not an adjective that came to mind, seeing the girls in action. They played with just as much grit and determination as the boys, and this is surely a reflection of the coach: the players are tough, they defend with tenacity, and they emphasize teamwork.
This means that the program should be able to transcend the graduation of Sarah Semenero, truly the most valuable player in the league. As Coccia said after winning the team’s last league game and a piece of the championship, he fully expected to reach this level, just not necessarily in his third year. With players returning next year like junior Daryn Kelley and sophomore Erin Galut, girls whose demeanor and dedication epitomize the team, the Lady Dragons can have every expectation of remaining a dominant force in the league. Congratulations, all ‘round.
Lady in the Hall
We’ve enjoyed seeing the development of a new position in Sonoma city government, one presently being advertised: City Historian.
This idea by new City Manager Linda Kelly speaks directly to her character. She is confident in her instincts, not hesitant about introducing new ideas just days and weeks on the job here. She is sensitive to the community, recognizing the importance of our town’s history. And she is happy to have help from a volunteer, over whom she might not have the same authority that she does, as the city’s top administrator, over city employees.
So often in bureaucracies, “turf” becomes more important that citizen service. A lesser administrator might feel threatened by using volunteers, or might be timid in bringing forward something new. This is a refreshing approach by Kelly who, in the midst of leading city staff work on big issues the council is tackling, shows initiative and resolve.
It is apparent that Kelly believes in government serving the citizens. That bodes well for her tenure, and for us.