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What’s Happening
Local Sonoma Valley News:

Congregation Shir Shalom to dedicate its new banner on Nov. 14

Thirteen years ago, at the first “baby naming” celebration of Congregation Shir Shalom, temple member Julie Diamond promised to have a new banner made for the sanctuary in honor of her daughter, Sasha Honigman’s Bat Mitzvah. At the time, a blue banner covered the cross... Continue

What’s included in pet medication price?

Dear Dr. Forsythe: The online pharmacy seems always to have better prices; I can’t believe veterinarians can get away charging as much as they do. Why haven’t the costs of medications gone down at the local level? I’m so surprised and relieved pet medications are... Continue

Finally – business as usual at Tuesday’s school board meeting

For the first time in months, the school board meeting finished early. There was no earth shattering revelations, no hard driving discourse on painful budget issues, no discussion of mission statements. Just a plain, old meeting. It was refreshing. Two students from Sassarini were recognized... Continue

GATE symposiums leverage out-of-the-box thinking

The face of the school district’s Gifted and Talented Education program at the elementary school level is changing. Suzanne Heiser, a fourth-grade teacher at Prestwood Elementary and a Gifted and Talented Education coordinator for the district, is leading the charge by way of a series... Continue

Lost your way? Look no further than the Plaza

A smattering of new signs has popped up around the Plaza in recent weeks, courtesy of the Economic Development Advisory Committee. The four new “wayfinding” signs are a prime example of the city’s support of local businesses, says Laurie Decker, economic development manager for the... Continue

Honoring their service

Sonoma’s 50th annual Veterans Day celebration included flags, uniforms, heartfelt speeches, bagpipes and a few tears. Hosted by American Legion Post 489 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the event at the Veterans Memorial Building drew more than 300 people, from boy scout to WW... Continue

City pours more funds into Cash for Grass program

The Sonoma program that awards rebates for the removal of residential and commercial lawns, Cash for Grass, is getting even greener. The city council has approved an additional $40,000 to continue the successful water conservation effort through June 2010. “We’ve got a good thing going,”... Continue

It’s crystal clear – Sonoma wants a pool

Sonoma Splash recently released the results of their online survey to gauge Sonoma’s interest in a community pool. The answer was a resounding yes. Taking the lead on that high note, Sean Mullen, the high school’s water polo coach and latest force behind the building... Continue

Weekly closures of local State Parks confirmed

The Vallejo Home, Mission San Francisco Solano and the Sonoma Barracks – officially known as Sonoma State Historic Park – will be closed Thursdays beginning next week. The budget-cutting move will likely be in place at least until June 30, the end of the state’s... Continue

Fire station named for Al Mazza

Some civil servants are honored after a long and influential career with a gold watch. Wednesday night, Al Mazza got a fire station. The matter of a tribute to Mazza, a former Sonoma mayor, councilmember and fire chief, was on the city council agenda. Mayor... Continue