Beyond chocolate: A new idea for pairing wine with dessert

Kristie Sheppard | Special to The Sun We all know wines pair well with food such as fish, beef, poultry, but we often overlook the opportunity to pair wines with other desserts. Yes, there are chocolate and wine pairings, but we shouldn’t forget treats like... Continue

Comments on Brown Act were cynical, unfair

The August 17, 2017, column by Bob Edwards, “Olly olly oxen free”, presents a cynical, and I believe misleading, view of the purpose and enforcement of the California open meeting law, or Brown Act, that requires response. Whatever Mr. Edwards may think about the substance... Continue

A decade of good deals

[caption id="attachment_82746" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Anna Bimenyimana, of the Bon Marche thrift store, cherishes her “small town relationships.”[/caption] Val Robichaud | Sonoma Sun -- Ten years ago, Anna Bimenyimana founded the Bon Marche thrift store (‘good deal’ in French) with the idea of helping women in... Continue

Thompson: it’s time to rename military bases named for Confederate figures

[caption id="attachment_13140" align="alignright" width="200"] Congressman Mike Thompson[/caption] Rep. Mike Thompson, whose Fifth District includes the Sonoma Valley, today joined 21 other members of Congress in calling for the renaming of military installations across the country that are named for Confederate figures. The letter to Secretary... Continue

Chapter 8: A mother’s realm of endless toil

Rachel returns to the stoop. At least a half-hour passes while she watches the bees buzz around the lavender. Outside the house, Rachel feels free. Inside the house lies an unbroken promise of thankless toil. She hears the television blaring, forgotten in the morning rush.... Continue

22-year prison sentence for Sonoma attacker

The man convicted of beating and sexually assaulting a Sonoma woman in 2016 has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. Alexander William Parlato, 30 of Novato, had pled “no contest” to charges related to the attack on June 8, 2016. The victim, a 55-year-old... Continue

A legacy of resiliency and empowerment

We three standing up here today are a reflection of what this country has to offer. It is a reflection of what this community has to offer and it is a reflection of the kind of impact you all have on this organization. One of... Continue

Road to recovery

Larry Castelli has lived in Sonoma 40 years – plenty of time to recruit ‘Team Castelli’ for the upcoming Tour de Fox bike ride to support Parkinson Research. Riding with him on August 26 will be his three children, his son-in-law, three of his six... Continue

Then & Now: The Riverside Hotel

Built in the 1890s, The Riverside Hotel, perched on the creek in ‘downtown’ Glen Ellen, was a thriving resort until it burned down in the 1920s. The site is now home to the local post office. Continue

Sonoma Valley death notices

Alvin Lawrence Beebe, 91, of Sonoma, passed away July 18, 2017. Anthony Mark Berardinelli, 66, of Sonoma, passed away July 14, 2017. Eliza Modesta Boles, 95, of Sonoma, passed away July 21, 2017. John T. Bouldt, 71, of Sonoma, passed away July 10, 2017. Arlene... Continue