Bay Area health experts: Covid vaccines are safe and effective

Public health officials from all nine Bay Area counties including Sonoma issued a joint statement reaffirming that all three Covid vaccines now in use, including Johnson & Johnson's one-dose version, are safe and highly effective. Though it’s difficult to compare their efficacy, "As local health officers,... Continue

Maite Iturri is excited about summer… school

You know school is back in session when kids are already looking forward to summer. So too is the School District and Maite Iturri, principal of El Verano Elementary, who is co-coordinating the summer school program. Her thoughts: Q: Why is summer school important? Will... Continue

Sonoma County now in Orange Tier

Sonoma County this week moved into the less-restrictive Orange Tier. The re-designation means restaurants can expand their indoor dining capacity, as can movie theaters, gyms and places of worship. It also allows bars, winery tasting rooms, bowling alleys and offices to reopen with limits. See... Continue

Protect care workers — you’ll need us someday

By Soccoro Diaz -- I’m a domestic worker in Sonoma County. You can just imagine how badly COVID-19 has impacted my income. Clients, especially elderly people, were suddenly uncomfortable with letting outside people into their homes for fear of contracting the virus. A lot of... Continue

Cannabis and the economy — at what future cost?

This year our Sonoma County is, once again, heading into drought. We need to take a longer view when making choices that impact our collective resources. This is why I am disappointed in our county's new cannabis ordinance, which goes for a one-size-fits-all, let's-make-it-easier approach.... Continue

Recycled and loving it

The recycling center meets the Bravo network for the annual haute mess that is Trashion Fashion. The annual celebration of repurposing discarded items into wearable art culminates in a splashy runway show, streamed live on Saturday, April 10, at 4 p.m. Along with designer talks... Continue

New vax clinic just announced — appointments will go fast!

FULL -- A new round of COVID-19 vaccine clinics has been announced for April 8, 9 and 10 at Sonoma Valley Veteran’s Memorial Building. Note the website to register has changed: sign-ups are now booked through the State's MyTurn website. Eligibility now applies to: -Persons... Continue

Cannabis Draft Ordinance not as promised

The Cannabis Draft Ordinance is contrary to what the public was told and promised coming out of public hearings from the first amendment back in 2019. Namely, the first amendment was a temporary patch, didn’t cover neighborhood concerns, and promised that phase 2 would primarily... Continue

‘Kindness, empathy and dedication’ — in tribute to the late Dr. Robbie Cohen

Dr. Robert (Robbie) Cohen, a legendary presence at Sonoma Valley Hospital, passed away on March 18 after a brief illness. He was 75. Cohen had a memorable career at SVHS. He began there in 1998 and ultimately served as the hospital's Chief Medical Officer. Along... Continue

State answers Sonoma County request for more COVID vaccine

Sonoma County has received a significant increase in COVID vaccines from the state, including a shipment of Johnson & Johnson doses specifically for the County’s effort to distribute the vaccine equitably to the most vulnerable communities. The increase, announced today, is a direct result of... Continue