This past year has seen a number of big stories, and it’s been our pleasure to bring them to you, though the news itself may not always have been pleasant. Here’s a look back at a few – Luis Miranda The speed with which a... Continue
Editorials
We’re looking forward to the long “weekend” ahead, with Christmas Eve falling on a Monday and Christmas on Tuesday. Maybe we’re the only ones who have put off Christmas shopping, but having that time to get ready seems a vast improvement over those years when... Continue
The new mayor of Sonoma, Joanne Sanders, announced earlier this week that she will keep a regular “office” hour at City Hall, where Sonoma residents and other interested persons can meet with her individually. We applaud the initiative to try something new, and hope that... Continue
Welcome, Linda Kelly. We appreciated all the nice things you said about Sonoma in your comments after your selection as new City Manager was announced. It just so happens – we agree! Sonoma is a special place, whether one means the whole valley or simply... Continue
With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas on the way, we reflect again on the city council’s recent decision regarding “holiday” displays on the plaza. Readers will recall that the council voted to prohibit all “unattended displays,” which previously had been allowed with an over-the-counter permit... Continue
At least, that’s what we suggested in our October 4 column, when absentee ballots were being mailed. But it appears that “everybody” didn’t agree, as only 57 percent of voters approved of the six-year, $91 parcel tax for our local public schools. While that’s still... Continue
The perspective of a fortnight seems not long enough to assess the impact in Sonoma Valley of the murder of Luis Miranda. Certainly, many have been quick to blame gangs, though Miranda’s friends insist he was not a gang member. And many have suggested that... Continue
Certain folks have been making a big deal out of the frustration experienced by a long-time, local family in not landing a deal with Sonoma Valley Hospital to build a new hospital on their land. It must have looked to the family, as it did... Continue
It must feel a touch strange for the city council members, voting themselves a salary from taxpayer money. But all the other city councils do it, comes the reply, and there’s nothing wrong with it. Maybe .... Incentives matter. We believe that people generally make... Continue
We refer to the parents of Nina Gorbach and Ilene Sagall, the sisters who together with Howard Gorbach founded WillMar Center for Bereaved Children and named it in honor of their parents. Located here in Sonoma, WillMar provides a unique place where children can learn... Continue