Focus on nature at ‘Optics Festival’

Saturday, September 14: Wine Country Nature & Optics Festival. The free fair is an opportunity to learn about many important California conservation efforts and animal rescue groups, meet nature artists at their easels, nature journalists, and renowned photographers. Major manufacturers of cameras, spotting scopes and... Continue

Insurance Brokerage opens new Sonoma office

Sonoma Chamber Ambassador Sharon Somogyi of LaLuz Center and Lockton Senior Vice President Chris Reiter with Lockton Pacific Series leadership Dard Hunter, Phil Pierce, Won Anderson and Nate Mundy. Lockton Insurance Brokers has opened its new Sonoma office, at 635 Broadway. The move to a... Continue

Director of Jack London Park to step down

[caption id="attachment_32757" align="aligncenter" width="420"] A longtime environmental advocate, particularly for open space, Tjiska Van Wyk raised funds for nonprofit groups including the Sierra Club, Earth Justice and the San Francisco Zoological Society.[/caption] Jack London State Park, once on the verge of closure during California's budget... Continue

Sassarini cements new admin structure

Tom Stubbs has been named the interim principal at Sonoma's Sassarini Elementary School for the 2019-2020 school year. Retired for four years, Stubbs returns to the Sonoma Valley Unified School District after having been a long-time teacher and administrator in the Valley. He served SVUSD... Continue

Botched pot deal leads to street fight, police chase

A pot deal gone violently bad ended with the arrest of two suspects, and the escape of a third, in a police action that closed West Aqua Caliente Road on Sunday afternoon. At about 3:15 p.m. deputies were dispatched to reports of a man with... Continue

Extend growth plan to allow for broader conversation

Since an Urban Growth Boundary sets the stage for a comprehensive land-use plan, the Sonoma Valley Housing Group calls for a two-year extension of the exact same UGB and UGB language, and a concomitant inter-related discussion of the UGB and the General Plan. We support... Continue

Does banning colors in schools actually prevent gang activity?

Guest editorial by Dean Szanyi | Student Reporter It is no secret that a certain number of young people attending Sonoma Valley High School are affiliated with gangs, and the school district is making clear attempts to curb such affiliations in their students. However, one... Continue

No thanks for donors; restaurant tidbits; and ‘common sense’ for PG&E

The Chinese pagoda tribute proposed for Sonoma’s Depot Park has run into a brick wall. Specifically, bricks engraved with the names of donors to the Ting project, an idea rejected by the City Council. The Sonoma Sister City committee behind the project looked to honor... Continue

Under the Sun: Deputy Eric Smith, school resource officer

How do the students at Sonoma Valley High relate to the “cop on campus”? I get different reactions. Some of the kids relate to me, want to engage with me. Others get quiet when I’m around. This is my fourth year on campus, so I... Continue

Rep. Thompson: ‘Sick and tired of indifference’ on gun control

I’ve heard from many constituents about how outraged you are at this latest round of gun violence. I share your outrage and I’m sick and tired of the indifference some in Washington feel toward this issue. Please know I remain focused on doing everything I... Continue