The Sun: Looking back, looking ahead

Almost 12 years ago the first edition of the Sonoma Valley Sun appeared on the doorsteps of 10,000 households. The publisher of this free newspaper was local engineer Bill Hammett, a SVUSD trustee and member of the Charter School board. Why did Hammett start this... Continue

A safe and sober New Year’s Eve

Alcohol deaths in America are at a new high; over 30,000 people died from liver disease or alcohol poisoning in 2014. When you add alcohol-related auto accidents, firearm deaths, and other violence, the toll rises to over 90,000 people. We live in wine country and enjoy the... Continue

Planning vs. Reacting in Sonoma

We spend a lot of time and effort in Sonoma doing something we call "planning." The City of Sonoma has a "Planning Department" and a "Planning Director, a "Planning Commission" and a "General Plan." Planning sounds like a good idea. While none of us can... Continue

The rain is nice…but

Like most of us we've been enjoying the spell of rain over the past few weeks. It's not yet the gully-washers predicted, but certainly is welcome. The fields and hills are turning green, and it's reassuring to head outside amid the puddles. It's going to... Continue

In the wake of Sonoma’s Measure B

In 2013, a special election was held to determine the fate of Measure B. That initiative was placed on the ballot by citizens hoping to mitigate the downsides of tourism on our quality of life by limiting the creation of any new large hotels until... Continue

Government’s deafness on affordable housing

Despite the hand-wringing, pious statements, sympathy and woeful admissions that a lack of affordable housing is a serious problem, government - fulfilling Nixon's image of it as a "helpless, pitiful giant", is largely throwing its hands in the air while pleading poverty. The shame of... Continue

California’s Pilgrim Story

California is a long way from the chilly New England shore where the pilgrims landed. Living three thousand miles from Massachusetts and nearly 400 years after that continent-changing event, we can’t help but ponder the significance of the Thanksgiving celebration we Californians are heirs to.... Continue

Anybody home at City Hall?

We've gone on record calling for Sonoma's city government to take steps to move into the 21st Century by adopting new technologies and making government more transparent. Yet a quick look at the city's website reveals it's not even keeping up with the 20th Century.... Continue

True sustainability demands honesty

Sustainability is a concept seeking to account for the earth’s ability to carry aggregate human environmental effects now and into the future. One major effect, greenhouse gas emissions, has clear and measurable negative consequences that threaten the environmental stability upon which our current societies and... Continue

Well, Well, Well

Understanding water in Sonoma Valley is simple: It’s complicated. The Valley has two water sources: (1) The Russian River, via the Sonoma Aqueduct managed by the Sonoma County Water Agency. It provides water to metered customers in the Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD)... Continue

Editorials