After years of wrangling over how and whether Sonoma should fund local nonprofits, the City Council Wednesday night agreed to try settling the matter once and for all. Mayor Joanne Sanders and Mayor Pro Tem Ken Brown will head an ad-hoc committee composed of city... Continue

On April 16, 2008, the City of Sonoma’s Community Development Agency (CDA) approved a new loan program to provide financial assistance to businesses that wish to install energy efficiency upgrades, including but not limited to photo voltaic installations for electricity generation (solar power). To promote... Continue

Even given short notice, the Sonoma Valley Hospital Board of Directors’ post-bond meeting Wednesday night was packed. Fifty or 60 “usual suspects,” some standing, some lined up outside the door, listened to the board, grumbled among themselves about the time–were the board members trying to... Continue

This [failure of Measure F] makes [our task now] even more challenging,” said hospital board president Dick Kirk. “We need to be assertive, move on with the business plan, make sure people get the care they need.” To him, the priorities are immediate and obvious:... Continue

Taylor Serres was named the 2008 Dairy Princess. She is accompanied here with her cow, Liberty, and her dog, Tinker Bell. Photo by Ryan lely/Sonoma Valley SunAgriculture is the heart of Sonoma,” said Taylor Serres, who was crowned the fifty-first Dairy Princess at the Dairy... Continue

Deli section at fig pantry, after removal of sedan. Photo by Ryan lely/Sonoma Valley SunDriver totals fig pantry deli Sonoma Police and the California Highway Patrol are investigating an early morning crash Thursday at the fig pantry on East Napa Street in which the driver... Continue

Following Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, Sonoma cycling enthusiast Chip Roberson could soon take his bicycle advocacy to a higher level, At presstime, the council was expected to appoint Roberson as Sonoma’s representative to the Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The committee advises the... Continue

Nora Flood, director of Sonoma Charter School, has been selected as the recipient of the 2007 CommonBond Foundation award, which is presented annually to an individual in the community who exemplifies the CommonBond mission of fostering cross-cultural respect and mutual appreciation among neighboring cultures in... Continue