Under the Sun: Noemí Vázquez Romero, dressmaker

The work of Noemí Vázquez has been displayed recently by folkloric dancers at various celebrations of Mexican Independence Day, during Hispanic Heritage month. The Sun's Anna Pier sat down to speak in Spanish with the talented seamstress for Quetzalén, our local folkloric dance troupe and... Continue

Three generations of Sonoma women swim Alcatraz

On a very hot Labor Day, Kaeti Bailie jumped into the cold waters of San Francisco Bay off Alcatraz Island and swam, without a wetsuit, 1.27 miles of open water in 56 minutes. It was her eighth time participating in the Alcatraz Invitational, and the... Continue

School District halts long-planned construction at Woodland Star school

Three days before the first day of school, Caroline Hopewell, director of Woodland Star Charter School, was surprised to see workers tarping the huge demolition site at the new entrance to campus, where construction was slated to begin on a new, long-awaited Multipurpose Room building. ... Continue

Sun Interview: Mary Roach, author

Anticipating the writer's visit to Sonoma for the Authors Festival, August 26-28, the Sun's Anna Pier sat down with Mary Roach to explore what goes into her books, including six New York Times best-sellers... Have you always wanted to be a writer? Not at all.... Continue

Under the Sun: Kina Chavez, restaurateur

Kina Chavez has launched a new venture, Kina's Kitchen. The Sun's Anna Pier sat down with her to talk about the change, her family influences and growing up in Sonoma. This new venture is in the place you've been for three years. That's right. April... Continue

School board distracted from needs of Special Ed students, parents say

The Special Education Advisory Council was created in 2018 by parents of students with special ed needs, to inform and advise the Sonoma Valley Unified School District. The District welcomed the input; it formally approved the SEAC by-laws, and appointed two teachers to serve on... Continue

Under the Sun: Bill Stallings, voice of KSVY

The Sun's Anna Pier sat down with Bill Stallings, long-term volunteer at Sonoma’s local radio station, KSVY 91.3 FM. How long have you been volunteering at the radio station? Since 2011. I told Bob Taylor (station manager), "You're gonna need me as much as I... Continue

Under the Sun: Susie Gallo, advocate for mentoring

January is National Mentoring Month, so the Sun's Anna Pier sat down with the Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. Our local mentoring program has received governmental and national recognition. That's right. Kathy Witkowicki, who co-founded the original Stand By Me, and served... Continue

On the high school farm, it was birth by Zoom

Janice the ewe gave birth to twin lambs on as Sonoma Valley High's ag students watched over Zoom. Jessica Hamilton (above) set up her laptop in the pen and offered live commentary and instruction on parturition for all 165 students in the ag program. The... Continue

Trying times? Try reading a good book

"Reading is a way to go somewhere else without having to leave the house," believes Jude Sales of Readers’ Books, "and it gives us the experience of someone else's life – real or imagined." Manager of Sonoma's treasured local bookstore, Sales continued, "This is one... Continue