Sonoma writer well served by M.F.K. Fisher writing contest

Audubon Canyon Ranch, steward of iconic American writer M.F.K. Fisher’s “Last House” on the Bouverie Preserve, announced today the winners of the Second Annual Last House Writing Contest. Sonoma's Janet Constantino took second place in the adult category for her short story, Liberation, which is... Continue

School is hard, lost cats, and a farmer’s lament

Life -- and homework -- goes on at El Verano Elementary School, but without principal Maite Iturri, who resigned, suddenly and unexpectedly, shortly before school began. The well-respected Iturri had worked for the district for 25 years. She has taken position with the Petaluma School... Continue

Growing cannabis — it’s always something

By Jonah Raskin -- Remember the Biblical plagues -- water turning to blood, infestations of frogs, lice, flies, plus livestock pestilence, hail, locusts, and darkness? Sure you do. There are others just as unforgettable, including the curse on firstborn children. As a species, human beings... Continue

A secret new company is trying to ship toxic coal over North Coast rail lines

Unidentified coal companies appear to be behind a new backdoor effort to acquire the North Coast Railroad Authority’s right-of-way between Eureka and Willits and rehabilitate the defunct railroad, all so they can export coal to Asian markets via the Port of Humboldt Bay. State Senator... Continue

From our Creative Arts special issue

Last Call Novel excerpt by Terry Sue Harms As “last call” approached on that tension-filled night, when the bars are supposed to close, my cochlear nerves and every receptive fiber in my ears were at full attention. I listened for the car to round the... Continue

The closest you’ll ever get to giving away $96 million

Sonoma County is looking for residents to serve on a work group that will help allocate $96 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide relief from public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. ARPA will fund immediate economic stabilization for... Continue

Authors Day comes to Sonoma High

[caption id="attachment_113325" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Min Jin Lee, author of “Pachinko,” a National Book Award finalist[/caption] The preface to this year's Sonoma Valley Authors Festival was its annual Students Day, with a handful of visiting writers speaking to students at Sonoma Valley High School in a... Continue

Binding commitment: Library needs book sale coordinator

With last Sunday's one-day outdoor sale in the books, the Sonoma Valley Friends of the Library is now looking to fill the role of Book Sale Coordinator for the quarterly events. For 15+ years, volunteers Dave Dobbins and Carol Brown coordinated the sales. The events... Continue

Help for Sonoma Valley nonprofits responding to ongoing Covid challenges

A total of $230,000 -- Recovery Grants administered by the Sonoma County Community Foundation -- will be utilized by 12 Sonoma Valley nonprofits to fund specific responses to the pandemic crisis. The fund has so far awarded $1,000,000 in local grants to help organizations adapt... Continue

Legislature Approves Sen. Dodd’s Wildfire Power Shutoff Bill

With wildfires threatening new rounds of public safety power shutoffs across the state, the Legislature today approved a bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would help local governments fund emergency operations centers during the planned power outages. “Today’s vote is an important step toward... Continue

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