A letter from John Hennelly, new Sonoma Valley Hospital CEO

I’m deeply honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading Sonoma Valley Hospital and becoming part of this wonderful community. I come to you with experience in both large and small hospitals, and have been blessed to work with, and learn from, some great... Continue

Reject Amazon’s proposed Sonoma distribution center

Recently, Sonoma County officials had put a temporary halt to the proposed Amazon “Distribution Center” on Eighth Street and the 121, having twice rejected permit applications from the warehouse owner who wishes to lease his vacant building to the online retail giant. In the debate... Continue

Real estate disclosure and Sonoma County cannabis

If the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approves the draft cannabis ordinance, some permits will be ministerial with no notice given to neighbors and no way to object to site-specific particulars. Health and safety protections and notice to impacted neighbors will disappear. The presumption is... Continue

Strange bedfellows behind Sonoma County’s cannabis push

The North Bay Leadership Council endorsed an extreme cannabis ordinance that invites massive outdoor cultivation in Sonoma County. Friedman’s Home Improvement, Comcast, Redwood Credit Union, Wells Fargo Bank, Kaiser Permanente, St. Joseph Health, and Sutter Health are on its letterhead. The proposal eliminates health, safety,... Continue

The great gas tax ripoff continues

“State needs billions to fix highways despite gas tax,” was just one headline in reaction to a report issued by Caltrans last week. The response from California taxpayers was, “you’ve got to be kidding.” California has the highest gas tax in the nation and yet,... Continue

Navigating through the fog: National Victim’s Rights Awareness Week

A few years ago, my brother came to visit me from New Orleans. We took a day trip to San Francisco. We spent our day seeing the sights, shopping with the local merchants, and sampling all of the delicious food. The day was picture-perfect. But... Continue

An Earth Day appeal to address the climate crisis

Earth Day, April 22, should be a call to action for all of us. Never has this planet faced a deadlier threat to our natural and social environments. Commentary by Jane Bender If we deny the climate crisis or put the responsibility off on others,... Continue

Reflections on ending police violence

Daunte Wright of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota was a 20-year-old black man and Adam Toledo of Chicago, Illinois was a 13-year-old Latino boy. Daunte, a young man who called his mother moments before he died, and Adam, still a child, were both killed just days apart... Continue

Drought and cannabis

While county residents mull over the looming water scarcity brought on by two years of drought, our water crisis intensifies with the rollout of commercial cannabis. Napa’s “9111 Report” states cannabis water demand per harvest is 6 times that of grapes. That fact, added to... Continue

Cruelty and lies at Sonoma anti-mask ‘protest’

At the Sonoma Plaza on Saturday, April 10, an anti-mask marcher carried a sign that read "I Can't Breathe." I called out that her offensive appropriation of those words was wrong. Others in the area spoke in agreement with me. The sign carrier smiled. After... Continue

Letters To The Editor