The County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors this week approved $370,000 in one-time funds to speed up progress on the backlog of cannabis permit applications, as well as for public outreach and staff support in developing cannabis policy goals as the basis for an Environmental... Continue

  Sometimes you've got to fight fire with a planned fire. Wildfires can be devastating, but prescribed burns -- such as the monitored fire Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve last Friday -- remove excess flammable vegetation, manage invasive plants, and revitalize native plant communities. The Sonoma Ecology Center... Continue

Faced with drought conditions and with no relief in sight, the City of Sonoma declared Monday a Stage 1 Water Shortage, which seeks voluntary conservation from all customers. The City Council unanimously voted to enact the initial phase of the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan... Continue

"Pacaso is litigious, and they’re bullies," said Brad Day, of Sonomans Together Opposing Pacaso. Commentary by Jackie Lee Sonoma residents are mostly respectful of their neighbors, aside from the occasional loud birthday music. They maintain cordial relationships at a friendly distance, but when one has... Continue

The eastward view of Sonoma's Patten Street at the corner of 3rd Street East, circa 1935 (that's owner Oliver Maffei crossing the street), and the same view today. 'Then' photo courtesy of J. Chipchase. Continue

Creekside High School class of 2021 Benjamin Goodman Chavez was the lucky winner of the Sonoma Valley High School Grad Night Car Raffle, sponsored by Sonoma Valley Rotary. Benjamin has been working to buy a car to get to Santa Rosa Junior College; his mom... Continue

The drought is on, and you'll be hearing more and more about ways to conserve water as the summer heats up. To arm customers with handy water-saving devices, Sonoma Water will give away a free toolkit at two Drought Drop By locations on Saturday, June 12,... Continue

Garrett Toy, moving on after eight years as chief administrator of Fairfax, in Marin County, is the city manager of Sonoma, effective July 20. The City Council officially offer the $220k-per-year job at its June 7 meeting. As town manager of Fairfax, Toy served as... Continue