Under the Sun: Susie Gallo, advocate for mentoring

January is National Mentoring Month, so the Sun's Anna Pier sat down with the Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. Our local mentoring program has received governmental and national recognition. That's right. Kathy Witkowicki, who co-founded the original Stand By Me, and served... Continue

Under the Sun: Maite Iturri, community leader

Sonoma County Supervisors recently acknowledged Maite Iturri's extraordinary ongoing contributions to life in the Sonoma Valley. The Sun's Anna Pier sat down with the former El Verano principal who remains deeply invested in Sonoma. You are from an immigrant family? My father was Basque,... Continue

Under the Sun: Andy Weinberger, bookseller

Under the Sun: Andy Weinberger, bookseller The proprietor of Reader’s Books talks with The Sun’s Anna Pier about how the shop began, 30 years in the business and his own writing career. So, 30 years. How did it all get started? It's been quite a... Continue

Under the Sun – Commander Willi Vaughn, born to serve

Wilda Vaughn, a well-traveled Navy veteran and the first female commander of Jack London Post 489 of the American Legion, in conversation with The Sun’s Anna Pier. Tell me about "born to serve." I'm from the South. I'm born to serve my country, my community,... Continue

Under the Sun: Molly Curley O’Brien, after the fire

Sonoma native Molly Curley O'Brien is the Director of Grants and Government Programs for the After the Fire organization. Were you living in Sonoma during the 2017 fires? No, I had left Sonoma in 2016 to start a masters program at Mills College. My husband... Continue

Under the Sun: Tracy Salcedo, writer, editor, librarian

The Sun’s Anna Pier sat down in Maxwell Park with the Glen Ellen writer. How did you get started writing? I've always been a writer. In 6th grade I wrote my first mystery novel. When I was in high school, I wrote a fantasy novel.... Continue

Under the Sun: Daniela Innocenti Beem, actress

Known for her work with Sonoma Arts Live, with bigger-than-life roles in Hello Dolly and Merman’s Apprentice, among others, Dani Innocenti Beem is ready for her close-up as Norma Desmond in the SAL production of Sunset Boulevard. The Andrew Lloyd Weber show, a big influence... Continue

Under the Sun: Nikita Ducarroz, Olympian

Nikita Ducarroz, raised in Glen Ellen, is a world class BMX rider who will compete in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Here, she speaks with The Sun’s Anna Pier -- her teacher at Woodland Star Charter School for grades one through three. When I met... Continue

Under the Sun — Adrian Palazuelos, PhD, new school superintendent

On his first day on the job, the new head of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District spoke with the Sun’s Anna Pier. What did you do today on the job? I focused my time on the elementary schools. At Dunbar, I witnessed a Covid-era... Continue

Under The Sun:Tony Ginesi, Sebastiani Theatre manager

The Sun: What's your role at the Sebastiani? Tony Ginesi: I've been with the Theatre since 2017. I'm the general manager. Roger Rhoten is the executive director, and we work as partners. When it was closed, we offered curbside concessions, and online movies – it... Continue

Under The Sun: Interviews