Mattson’s slow build; fractional real estate; planned fires; and more

KS Mattson Properties, best known for buying and then ignoring pieces of Sonoma Valley real estate, has dusted off plans for projects in the Springs. The update was presented to the Springs Municipal Advisory Group and other than a new spokesperson not much has changed.... Continue

Time for re-start at the school district office

The opportunity to hit the reset button for the Sonoma Valley Unified School District is here. The hiring of a new Superintendent is an opportunity that can give our education community a new, positive direction. The turbulence of the last five years in the District... Continue

Kicking off bear season in Sonoma Valley

[caption id="attachment_111966" align="aligncenter" width="420"] A black bear at Sugarloaf State Park[/caption] By Teri Shore | Sun Guest Writer The black bears are here. Over the past five years, more and more black bears have shown up on wildlife cameras rambling through the backcountry of Sonoma... Continue

Food trucks are back at Tuesday Night Farmers Market

Food Trucks are back, it's open to 8 p.m. and the produce gets more bountiful by the week. Peak Tomato is on the way! Continue

What changes on June 15?

California’s grand reopening day is almost here, but it comes with a few asterisks. On June 15, the state's 15-month ordeal of public health restrictions, mandates, bans, and color-coded tiers to stem the COVID-19 pandemic will finally come to an end. As Gov. Gavin Newsom said... Continue

Transcendence Theatre roars back into the spotlight

Broadway-caliber performers including Arielle Crosby return to the live stage this summer for the Transcendence Theatre’s 10th anniversary season. After a Covid-canceled 2020, the Broadway Under The Stars troupe presents its first show, My Hero, in a drive-in format at two locations: June 4-6,... Continue

Sonoma County launches review of cannabis program to tackle permitting backlog

The County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors this week approved $370,000 in one-time funds to speed up progress on the backlog of cannabis permit applications, as well as for public outreach and staff support in developing cannabis policy goals as the basis for an Environmental... Continue

Sonoma Valley’s ‘prescribed burn’ a success

Sometimes you've got to fight fire with a planned fire. Wildfires can be devastating, but prescribed burns -- such as the monitored fire Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve last Friday -- remove excess flammable vegetation, manage invasive plants, and revitalize native plant communities. The Sonoma Ecology Center... Continue

Addressing concerns about Sonoma’s 4th of July fireworks show

The Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters' Association distributed this letter last month: Dear fellow Sonoma Valley Residents: This year, the members of the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association are excited to bring back a modified July 4: Fireworks celebration - a beloved community event that was necessarily canceled... Continue

Sonoma declares Stage 1 water shortage

Faced with drought conditions and with no relief in sight, the City of Sonoma declared Monday a Stage 1 Water Shortage, which seeks voluntary conservation from all customers. The City Council unanimously voted to enact the initial phase of the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan... Continue