It was all about gold and greed. The North American story and the search for gold began in the 15th century, with the explorations of Christopher Columbus. Columbus wasn’t the only explorer whose quest for riches stemmed from the adventures of one man, Marco Polo.... Continue
This week I continue to share my experiences turning stones in Egypt. I left St. Catherine satisfied and looked forward to relaxing while we made the three hour journey through the Sinai to coastal town of Dahab. Andrew and I came prepared with a snorkel... Continue
I have always had an insatiable desire to glimpse what’s on the other side of the mountain. Here in Sinai, I must make an important decision. Do I take my son Andrew beyond the safety of Sharm-el-Sheikh, a well-fortified tourist town situated on the Red... Continue
This column comes direct from Egypt. Last week, my son Andrew and I traveled from San Francisco to Paris and on to Cairo. The day of departure began perfectly. Andrew had a championship game with his St. Francis CYO league and squeezed out a two-point... Continue
Two of our sister-cities are in trouble. First, Egypt has undergone tremendous change since Mubarak was overthrown in 2011. Now, Ukraine is under fire. Our sisters live in Aswan and Kaniv. The very least we can do, which may be more powerful than one might... Continue
Preservation must come from the heart and is a community-based grass roots effort. Tourists come to Sonoma each year for a variety of events knowing they will witness dozens of incredible old buildings. Many may be interested in the particular histories of each building, but... Continue
I like bugs but I don’t like them crawling on me. In fact, when I find an insect on any part of my body, I shiver to the core of my soul. Many cultures throughout the world use insects for food. When animals eat insects they... Continue
Valentine’s Day serves many purposes in the lives of people everywhere. It marks the beginning of little league. No, that’s not it. Oh yes, it reminds us to let that someone special know that they are still special to us. Let’s talk sex for a... Continue
In July of 2010, to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the founding of our pueblo, I conducted an archaeological excavation at the Casteñada adobe, inviting the public to come out and dig, screen and catalog artifacts. The owners at the time, Robert and Leslie Demler,... Continue
In 1835, the Pueblo of Sonoma was founded and Mariano Vallejo appointed Commandante of the Fourth Military District and Director of Colonization of the Northern Frontier. Vallejo describes his arrival to Sonoma County, on his way to the mission to lay out the pueblo of... Continue