With recent wildfires already raising concerns and readiness among local responders, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is officially declaring today the start of the 2008 fire season. The proclamation bans all burn permits within CAL FIRE's Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit, which oversees the counties... Continue
Depending on the jurisdiction, Memorial Day drunk-driving arrests took a hop or a dip this year – with Sonoma in the second category, having registered only one such bust during the holiday weekend. “She was driving around town with the parking lights on, almost bouncing... Continue
If you think Sonoma’s public spaces are experiencing more than their share of defacement and damage, it’s not your imagination. “This July I’m going on 35 years with the city, and I have never seen graffiti and vandalism as bad as I have in the... Continue
Driven by financial urgency, the board of directors of the Sonoma Valley Hospital – after reviewing and approving their 2009 budget – voted Wednesday to place a bond measure on the November ballot. In recognition of the absence of CEO Carl Gerlach and boardmember, Bill... Continue
The San Pablo Bay Wildlife Refuge may soon grow by 3,200 acres, following the House of Representatives’ passage Thursday of a proposal by Sixth District Rep. Lynn Woolsey – and a small boost from the Sonoma City Council. Woolsey’s proposal, support for which squeaked through... Continue
After all the numbers are crunched and all the belts are tightened, the success of hospital CEO Carl Gerlach’s 2009 budget, which he was to have presented to the hospital board of directors on Wednesday, rests with community. “Year-to-date,” it says in the budget overview,... Continue
Gray skies provided a fitting accompaniment to the 50th annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park. Ryan Lely/Sonoma Valley SunRifle salutes, a riderless horse, and faces taut with grief and remembrance – all of these traditions and more were observed Monday at... Continue
On Monday this week we attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park behind the Veterans’ Building. It was a lovely event, the 50th here in Sonoma, in a setting made even more lovely by Robert Behrens’ sculpture. We were moved to... Continue
Warm Words for ‘Dubya & Dick’ Editor: I am inspired to write after reading Joan Huguenard’s column of May 22 entitled, just joan just questions. I saw my opportunity to say something good about President Bush. You can understand my concern. Time was running out.... Continue
“We’re starting earlier than normal,” said CAL FIRE spokesman Eric Hoffman, regarding the beginning of the fire season. Photos Courtesy of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cover Photo by Ryan Lely Sonoma Valley’s recent rain and cool weather may have taken locals’... Continue