By Karla Noyes Many cities in California, and around the world, have instituted annual taxes on mostly-empty second homes to encourage owners to rent or sell the properties they’re not using, and to allow those properties to be lived in by people who work in... Continue
News
Local Sonoma Valley News:
Vella Cheese Company announced last week on social media that they are closing after 94 years in business. As our daughter said, “That’s awful.” And I think lots of people will feel that way. Most famous for their Dry Jack, the family posted “Our business... Continue
Award-Winning Author To Speak Author Jill Bronfman will read from her award-winning novel, “Thanks for Meeting Me Here,” at Readers Books, on Wednesday, September 16, at 6 p.m., In “Thanks for Meeting Me Here,” Bronfman explores the depth of womanhood and its history of being... Continue
The City of Sonoma’s decision to surrender a silly idea about imposing an utterly unnecessary mini-roundabout, i.e. “traffic circle” on Third Street West – ostensibly to calm traffic and make bike riding safer – is worthy of praise. Third Street West traffic demonstrably doesn’t need... Continue
County Needs More Analysis By David Bolling In a surprise announcement released on a County website last weekend, the Sonoma County planning department – Permit Sonoma – announced that the expected release of a new draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed development of the... Continue
The following commentary was provided by Susan Lamont John Alden, Director of IOLERO (Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach) has resigned and there is an interim director while the county searches for a permanent director. The interim director is Matthew Chavez. He has... Continue
The proposed traffic “circle” on Third Street West was such a hare-brained project it prompts the question, “How did it happen?” It’s not like the residents and neighbors on Third Street West asked for it, nor was it expected. So what’s the story? Why is... Continue
The City of Sonoma, Sonoma County Transit and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) invite you to join local and regional leaders on Tuesday, September 8, for Sonoma Valley Meets SMART, a regional transit tour highlighting the newly redesigned Route 40X bus service and the connections... Continue
Like most of us, I keep pretty busy. Since the death of my wife of 50 years a year ago, keeping busy has provided some sense of purpose as I work through project after project. I’ve transformed the garden space around the condo I live... Continue
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday advanced an ordinance that would restrict the retail sale and distribution of nitrous oxide and nitrous oxide-dispensing devices in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. The proposed ordinance is intended to address growing public health, safety and... Continue