A few years ago, Sonoma resident Susan McQuaid faced a dilemma. Five days a week her husband drove to his law office in downtown San Francisco. Anyone who has made that 120-mile, four-hour-or-so round trip knows what a toil it can take on the spirit,... Continue
FineLife has undergone a metamorphosis. Last week, it was a twice-folded newsprint tabloid. Now it’s a glossy, forward-looking magazine. Delivered locally in the Sonoma Valley Sun, the new and improved bimonthly publication is also distributed to portions of Marin and San Francisco through a partnership... Continue
Janet Rude, owner of Wedekind’s. It takes time to grow a masterpiece; especially when the subject ranges close to 4 acres, with towering sycamores, dozens of categories of plants, trees, flowers and foliage, plus numerous collections of fountains. So, it’s not surprising that Wedekind’s owner... Continue
“You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high-flying flag,” wrote George M. Cohan, and Sonoma is preparing to do its part to celebrate that sentiment as the Fourth of July approaches. With two flag stores in town, it’s not hard to find supplies. From flags... Continue
Owner and designer John Rippe and gemologist Karen Piper stand outside Opalesce Jewelry in Jack London Village. photo: james golway/special to the SunTo highlight its two-year anniversary, Opalesce Jewelry is holding a weekend-long celebration at its creekside studio and showroom in Glen Ellen. Visitors will... Continue
Feeling the urge to cast a line into the water, or to sleep in a tent high in the mountains where a million stars drift overhead? It’s summer, time to get away from cities and pavement and head for your favorite outdoor spot. Whether it’s... Continue
Planet Organics (www.PlanetOrganics.com), the Bay Area’s award-winning organic and artisanal food home delivery service, is relocating its warehouse operations to the old Nicholas Turkey Co. facility at 19445 Riverside Drive in Sonoma. The company moved into the new facility on June 1 and became operational... Continue
The annual Sonoma Lavender Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17, at the Sonoma Lavender Barn in Kenwood. The festival celebrates its eighth year by adding special lavender cooking classes that will raise money to support the activities of the Valley... Continue
Ryan lely/Sonoma Valley Sun Jeff Martinez checks the smog on a client’s car.The idea of a career in the service-station business would not be first on everyone’s list, but to Jeff Martinez, it’s a business in which he can help with customers’ automotive needs, give... Continue
james golway/special to the Sun Ron Lenius holding a Sonoma Peach Opal that he discovered.It has a beguiling feminine quality, endowed with a creamy pattern of pastel colors. For decades it was known only to collectors, gemologists and visitors to the rare gem collection at... Continue