Under The Sun – Madeline Black

January 7, 2016

I’ve heard you referred to as the “Pilates Lady” -- what’s your story? I grew up in New York and became involved in professional dance. This was in the 80s. At that time the Pilates craze was dying; there were no Pilates studios at all.... Continue

Under the Sun Interview: K.D. McComb

November 6, 2015

Do you mind telling me what K.D. stands for? Not at all; it stands for Krishna Devata. I was born into an Ashram community in Vancouver, Canada. Our teacher was Bhaktivedanta Swami. My parents were westerners, and I was raised as a Hindu there for... Continue

Under the Sun: Anita Torres, home care worker

September 17, 2015

Where are you from Anita and how long have you been a Home Care Worker? I was raised right here and went to El Verano school. I've been an active Home Care Worker since 1996. Currently I work for In Home Support Services (IHSS), a... Continue

Under the Sun: Rabbi Steve Finley, Congregation Shir Shalom

September 4, 2015

Finley? Bet there's a story behind that name. Yes. My father's family was from Ireland -- Catholic. He spent his childhood in a Catholic orphanage. He met my mother while a G.I. in England during the Second World War. She was from an Orthodox Jewish... Continue

Under the Sun: Dmitra Smith; musician, advocate

August 21, 2015

I once knew a Dmitri, but you're the first Dmitra I've met My mother was absolutely sure she'd have boy, but she got me. She was an avid reader and loved Russian writers, so Dmitri became Dmitra. Well, you're certainly not Russian. Where were you... Continue

Under the Sun: Dan Eraldi, three generations on Sonoma Plaza

August 10, 2015

Eraldi's is a real fixture on the Plaza. How did it begin? My Grandfather David lived in Sonoma and owned the Star Saloon, which was just south of Depot Park on First Street West. He decided to start a Men's store, and in 1922 opened... Continue

Under the Sun: Frank Fuller, Sonoma Market butcher

July 23, 2015

How did you get your start, Frank? Well, I actually was born in Japan where my name was Frank Morita. My father was in the U.S. military and my mother Japanese; they were not married. I was part of an unwanted generation of "half-breeds." I'd... Continue

Under the Sun: Sonoma filmmaker Mike Abela

July 9, 2015

Your short documentaries for the Sun have been wonderful. How did it all begin? When I was just 13 years old I fell in love with filmmaking, though I hadn't even realized it yet. I was just a young, scrappy skateboarder who was obsessed with... Continue

Under the Sun: Andy Weinberger

May 15, 2015

Andy Weinberger is the proprietor of Sonoma’s Readers’ Books at 130 E. Napa St. The Sonoma store opened the day after Thanksgiving in 1991. Recently Andy announced that he’d be transferring his personal location to Los Angeles, but the store and its staff will remain... Continue

Under The Sun: Interview with artist, professor Chester Arnold

April 3, 2015

I hear you were raised in Germany. Is that true? Yes, my family moved to Munich, Germany when I was five, and I went to school and lived there until I was 15. Honestly, it gave me a European sensibility; I had great teachers, took... Continue

Under The Sun: Interviews