Under the Sun: Karina García, aide to Supervisor Gorin

In conversation with The Sun’s Anna Pier You were recently named Supervisor Susan Gorin’s Field Representative. Yes, at the end of January. I had been a Board Aide for her for the past year. I am more than ever feeling the responsibility to help those... Continue

Under the Sun: Annie Falandes, advocate of the homeless

The driving force behind a new local nonprofit, Homeless Action Sonoma, speaks with The Sun's Anna Pier. You critiqued my Sun report, “Where do the homeless sleep?” observing that I presented the viewpoint of the public face of the homeless question, but didn’t include the... Continue

Under the Sun: Jessica Hutchinson, High School principal

The Sun’s Sarah Ford talks to new Sonoma Valley High School Principal Jessica Hutchinson. How are things going so far with Distance Learning 2.0? It’s going well so far. Everybody has had a can-do attitude – staff, students, teachers, and parents – which I really... Continue

Under the Sun: Maricarmen Reyes Larios, community advocate

Anna Pier: You were recently recognized by the Redwood Community Health Coalition for your work at the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center. What is your position there? Maricarmen Reyes: I am an Outreach and Event Coordinator, in addition to being an enrollment counselor. Covered California... Continue

Under the Sun: Corin Rasmussen, former Director of Nursing, Sonoma County Jail

Marin County native and Sonoma resident Corin Rasmussen, the former Director of Nursing at the Sonoma County Adult Detention Facility in Santa Rosa, in conversation with The Sun’s Anna Pier. How did you end up in Sonoma? My mom had moved here. So when I... Continue

Under the Sun: Toni Vernier, Director of Special Ed, SVUSD

Toni Vernier, new Director of Special Ed for the Sonoma Valley School District, in conversation with The Sun's Anna Pier. I know you've just come to the District as Director of Special Education. That's right. I began informally the last half of June, and officially... Continue

Under the Sun: Bill Myers, hiker

The Sun’s Anna Pier sat down with Bill of Bill and Dave’s Hikes; his partner Dave Chalk (above right) is away until August. So you and Dave have been leading hikes since 2000? How did it all begin? Dave and I met in a docent... Continue

Under the Sun: Mary Favaro, dreaming big for Sonoma schools

The Sun sat down with the new executive director of Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, Mary Favaro. When did you start as Executive Director of the Education Foundation? March 11. It’s been a full learning curve. Not only learning what the Ed Foundation does, but understanding... Continue

Under the Sun: John Schafer, MD at 86

How long have you been practicing medicine? Let’s see now, 57 years. I always tell people, if you like what you’re doing, don’t retire. Unless there’s another job you like more that you want to do. I like being helpful, being useful. You can always... Continue

Under the Sun: Jesús Paez, undocumented in Sonoma

How old are you? I’m 29. Where were you born? In Guadalajara, Mexico in 1989. My parents brought my four older sisters and me to the U.S. when I was around three. Did they come straight to Sonoma? No, first we moved to... Continue

Under The Sun: Interviews