Rude Awakenings

Catherine Sevenau is a writer and storyteller who is out to capture your skittery mind. She's penned three books, compiled numerous collections of family genealogy, and has been a regular columnist in the SUN since 2016. She can be reached at [email protected].

Elegy to my father

Born on a Minnesota farm, you milked cows and picked corn. You hated farming; that’s why you left Minnesota, that, and your mother always telling you what to do. She cried when you left home; you were only 16. You had nine siblings, all with... Continue

Opinion: Fighting for a fair wage for workers

An activist for many years, I am always impressed by the May 1 marches organized by the farm workers union, inspired by the long-gone activist César Chávez. The sea of people with their signs from very many different sectors, people who work in different industries,... Continue

Fresh news: Sonoma Valley’s farm scene

For thousands of years, indigenous tribes managed native food crops such as acorns, berries, shellfish, and wild game in the Sonoma Valley. Spanish settlement brought cattle and other livestock as well as traditional European crops, such as wheat, barley, legumes, orchard fruits, figs, olives, and... Continue

What’s next for the Sonoma Developmental Center?

Driving south through Glen Ellen, you cross over a historic trestle bridge, and you think you’ve entered the land that time forgot. And you may be right. You enter a sprawling campus of green grass, towering oaks and quaint cottage-style buildings. You are driving through the Sonoma... Continue

Regional Gods and local heroes

Despite the cultural arc of history of the past 500 years -- the efforts toward emancipation and the relentless rise of science and technology -- humanity appears terribly, one might even say, hopelessly, stuck. The habits and predispositions of our past -- religious conflict, otherworldly... Continue

Tax tips for teens with summer jobs

By Bonnie Lee, E.A. With summer almost here, many students will turn their attention to making money from a summer job. Whether it’s flipping burgers or filing documents, the IRS wants student workers to know some facts about their summer jobs and taxes. Not all... Continue

The new terms of engagement

Civic life is alive and well in the city of Sonoma. The first public event in the Valley for the upcoming presidential campaign went down at the Pueblo Serena Clubhouse with the “Bernie Sanders for 2020” Kickoff. Then, in early May, the Sonoma City Council... Continue

Theft and corruption

Whenever there is wealth and property, (and for the past 5,000 years when has there not been?), theft and corruption accompany it. Greek mythology prominently features Hermes' theft of Apollo's cattle, and virtually all major religions include prohibitions against theft. The Ten Commandments includes it... Continue

Addressing societal challenges through innovation

We’re facing many challenges these days in Sonoma Valley. These challenges are making the work of our local nonprofits more difficult than ever because people turn to them for help in the face of hardship. Lack of affordable housing, issues related to homelessness, food insecurity,... Continue

Communication 101

Delicate conversations are never easy. I still slip up sometimes because, well, I'm human. But when people in a relationship improve their communication, I see how powerful just a few shifts with the lips can be. I regret not having more skill in talking to... Continue

Columnist