Under the Sun: Steve Akre, fire chief

Firefighter was maybe the favorite costume this Halloween. You’re a local hero. I’m uncomfortable with that label. The heroes are the crew. Typically on a big fire they would be working 24 hours on, 24 off. We had crews on the line from Sunday evening... Continue

Under The Sun: Three humble heroes

Haley Cutter, Firefighter When did you arrive at the fire? In the early hours of October 14. My strike team from Squaw Valley had been fighting fires in Grass Valley when we got the word to come protect a structure in Sonoma. We arrived in the... Continue

Under the Sun: Andrew Ryan, new school principal

Andrew Ryan, until this summer a vice principal at Sonoma Valley High School, is the new principal at Sassarini Elementary School in Sonoma. The Sun’s Sarah Ford chatted with him recently to ask him about his new role. What are you looking forward to in... Continue

Under the Sun: Matt Metzler, city commissioner

I understand you were a teacher, Matt? Yes. Though I've lived in Sonoma County for 40 years, and the City of Sonoma for twenty-seven years, I taught mostly in the Vallejo school system all that time, in the elementary grades. I retired one year ago,... Continue

Under the Sun: John Curotto, Sonoma’s garbage collector

Tell me your story, John. My family lived in San Francisco, where my father worked for Sunset Scavenger. In 1949, my parents bought a piece of property on Grove Street here in the valley - a shack really, perhaps 20 x 20 feet. We'd come... Continue

Under the Sun: Esmeralda Sánchez Moseley, Flowery School principal

Does the Springs remind you of where you grew up? Absolutely. Woodland was small then. I’ve returned to a small town environment. It gives me a sense of connectedness, I don’t feel isolated. You’re always running into the people you live and work with. We’ve... Continue

Under the Sun: Cynthia Tarr — singer, teacher, music director

What brought you to Sonoma, Cynthia? I lived in Los Angeles in the early 80s. I wanted to be an actor or singer! I worked in clubs for quite a while, but it's actually hard to make a living that way. Things got tougher during... Continue

Under the Sun: María Calvillo Moncada, working mother

You’re the face of La Luz. Everyone who comes in the door is greeted with your warm smile. I love my job. I think of myself as the “front line.” I find out what people really need, not just what they asked for when they... Continue

Under the Sun: Celeste Winders, advocate for special needs kids

You’re on the School District’s new Equity and Inclusion Task Force, and you have a Facebook group for parents of special needs kids. How did you become involved in this? I have two boys with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and my children are my number... Continue

Under the Sun: Kyle Lely, engineer/paramedic

How long have you worked for the fire department, Kyle? It's now the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority, a consolidated department. I started in as a volunteer 2002 right out of high school, and became a full-time employee in 2006. And are you a... Continue

Under The Sun: Interviews