Public Citizen

Larry Barnett lives in Sonoma where he was elected to three terms on the City Council and served twice as Mayor. A thirty-five-year resident, he currently serves on Sonoma's Planning Commission, where he recently was Chair for two years. Until her passing, he was married to his wife Norma for 50 years, has two daughters and three grandchildren.

The religion of politics

The role of religion in American society waxes and wanes. I remember back in the 70s when Time Magazine unearthed Friedrich Nietzsche and famously declared “God is Dead” on its cover. Turns out the death of God was greatly exaggerated, as current events demonstrate. The... Continue

Upcoming in June: County Budget Hearings

Beginning June 11th, the county will commence Budget Hearings for the Fiscal Year 2024/25. Like the State of California, though not to the same extreme, the County is working with far more limited resources this upcoming Fiscal Year than in recent years. One-time funding the... Continue

On whispering to flies

Everyone gets flies in the house from time to time, and we’re no exception. Sure, we’ve got screens on our windows but in one way or another, flies appear inside. Sometimes they find their way in from below, finding a hole or gap in the... Continue

On this Mother’s Day

ON THIS MOTHER'S DAY To the women (and men) who've mothered me over the years. To those I've mothered, and to those who've shared that mothering with me. To those caring for their elder or infirm mothers, swapping roles. To those whose mother has lived... Continue

Are we governable?

Despite an avalanche of laws, political systems, religious doctrine, and just plain ordinary human experience, humanity’s wildness persistently asserts itself. Our hopes and disappointments propel a fusillade of argument and criticism directed at the very institutions and leaders we’ve enabled. While it’s true that it’s... Continue

In search of funny

Someone asked me about humor, and how do you learn to be funny. I said I don’t think you can learn to be funny. Either you are, or you aren’t. I told her I thought humor is often closely related to pain, that it arises... Continue

Statuary to inspire

While most of it is long gone, a proliferation of beautiful statuary was harbored once at Sonoma's Plaza. For decades, the only 'resident' was Whatshisname-With-Flag-On-A-Rock marking the site where, in 1846, rag-tag (i.e., drunk) white settlers raised the Bear Flag in revolt against Mexico, establishing... Continue

Firmness and flexibility

A strong wind Bamboo deeply bends and sways. In shifting shadows A robin sits, Undisturbed. The blustery storm of world events - violence in the Middle East, political conflict, cultural change, and so on - often feels like too much. Admittedly, I ain’t no robin.... Continue

Trending profound

"Profound: 1. having or showing great knowledge and understanding; a profound thinker." In the wake of plagues, coups, wars and killer cops, readers may have noticed a sharp uptick in Profundity in newscasts & on social media. Apparently, that's because mass mediacasters (as well as... Continue

Keeper of the lines

Why bother? I mean, really. They’re dead. Who cares about the past, and what difference does it make? However, there are occasions when we do something for its own sake, simply because it’s interesting or satisfying, or it feels worthwhile. For several years I’ve researched... Continue

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