Williams-Sonoma event expansion appealed; City’s new budget; Relay for Life update

The Sonoma Planning Commission decision to grant an expanded use permit to Williams-Sonoma – a move that legitimized what the retailer had already been doing without permission – has been appealed. The paperwork was filed by former mayor and three-term city council member Larry Barnett.... Continue

Motives for “Little Murders”

[caption id="attachment_53667" align="aligncenter" width="327"] (Photo: Ray Mabry)[/caption] New York in 1967 was a mad, mad world, and not in a funny way. Gritty, noisy, unforgiving, plagued by muggings, power failures, random shootings and obscene phone calls, it was enough to drive a family a bit... Continue

Community workshops to transform Maxwell Park

In 1973 Maxwell Park was designed as a rural regional park. Today, 40 years later, the park is surrounded by the densest urban neighborhoods in Sonoma Valley. How best to integrate the park with its adjacent urban neighborhoods, and best serve multiple multi-cultural, social, and recreational... Continue

Update: man arrested at scene cleared in Sonoma woman’s gunshot death

The Sonoma Police Department received a 911 call Monday night requesting an ambulance to the 1300 block of Pueblo Avenue for a female who had shot herself and was non-responsive. Colleen G. Ramirez, age 53, was found deceased in her bedroom from an apparent gunshot wound. A handgun... Continue

Mentoring Alliance names new executive director

Lee Morgan Brown has been named executive director of the Sonoma Mentoring Alliance, succeeding founder Kathy Witkowicki, who will retire after 19 years at the helm of the organization that matched adult mentors with local students through the Stand by Me program. “As a Sonoma... Continue

Taking root

Newly transplanted from Boston, Luke Carneal is the interim farm manager of the Sonoma Farm at Sweetwater Spectrum. A Boston resident, Carneal saw the job listing on a farm site while on a bike tour of the west coast. He worked an interview into the intinerary,... Continue

Traffic will get messy for NASCAR race this weekend

As expected, traffic will get rather messy near Sonoma Raceway in lieu of this weekend's Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR race. Here's your guide on how the traffic will go down this weekend. Fun fact: 85% of the people who pass by Sonoma Raceway on a race... Continue

Keeping teens busy: henna, catapults and more

[caption id="attachment_53508" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Henna art![/caption] Running out of ideas about how to keep your teens and tweens busy this summer? The Sonoma Valley Library hosts free fun workshops for grades 7-12 on upcoming Wednesdays at 3 p.m. On July 1, it’s all about Henna Art.... Continue

NASCAR hits Sonoma’s road course

NASCAR returns to Sonoma Raceway with the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on June 27-28, in what is likely the last race here for local favorite Jeff Gordon, a five-time winner. Weekend races and activities – including a fly-over, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a hot dog eating contest –... Continue

The drive to succeed

High school graduate Alberto Soriano-Morales takes the keys to his new car – which he’ll use to commute to Sonoma State University -- from Mike Salmas of Sonoma Chevrolet. Dealer Dan Roseland, continuing a tradition started by Bob Nobles, donates a ‘new’ used car each... Continue

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