This week I discuss one of Sonoma’s own, Mr. Henry Weyl. While most simply pass by Weyl’s buildings extending from the corner of First Street West and Spain, specifically the Sonoma Hotel, Weyl was one of Sonoma’s mover and shakers in the latter part of... Continue
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My children remind me daily that summer will soon be here. They are so excited, however, it will take but a few hours, once the last bell has rung, for them to scream out those dreadful words, “I’m bored.” For parents looking for an educational... Continue
A lthough nonprofit organizations are not required by law to publish an annual report, it can be an effective tool for the leadership of a nonprofit to share major accomplishments, recognize key supporters, and forge new partnerships. Plus, many philanthropic foundations and corporate giving programs are... Continue
We conventionally view causality moving from “Point A” to “Point B,” a straight line through which we can trace each step and assess responsibility. Even if we move from points “A” to “D” we still think in terms of lines of responsibility, which pass through... Continue
People love stories, particularly melodrama. Thus television programs like “Downton Abbey,” the mini-epic about changing manners and society set within a grand estate in the London countryside is less history than soap opera. Scriptwriters plot their dramas in terms of “narrative arc,” casting characters against... Continue
Spring has sprung, bees are buzzing and so are people. As birds bring tiny branches to my bird house, humans seem to want community, too. But, I notice that life can be lonely when we don’t connect with neighbors and loved ones, when we’re shunned... Continue
What do the Grateful Dead, Bear Flag Revolt, The Chosen Family, 8,000 year old Native American site, a Victorian estate, Camilo Ynitia and George McKale all have in common: Olompali State Historic Park. If you have never visited Olompali, there’s never been a better time... Continue
This week I rehash a column published May 6, 2010. The content extolls the virtues of Sonoma in the 19th-century, and a little like Camelot, one can’t find “a more congenial spot for happily-ever-aftering than here in” Sonoma. In “The Illustrated Atlas of Sonoma County,”... Continue
The Chinese Taoist Yin-Yang symbol wordlessly conveys the deepest truth of each moment: that existence is not static but dynamic and the forces of creation and destruction carry the seeds of their opposite. The dynamic quality is represented by one black and one white teardrop-shaped... Continue
It’s hard going through old papers and picture albums. The dust and memories are tough, sometimes. I miss my mother every day. But, when I read her wonderful musings I smile. So, I thought, in advance of Mother’s Day, I’d pass along some of my... Continue