Strike three: Sonoma man gets 15 years for reckless DUI

The Sonoma man who crashed into an occupied car while trying to evade police in a high-speed chase was sentenced to 15 years in state prison. Jason Patrick Smith, 44, tried to evade officers on Highway 101 between Windsor and Santa Rosa on January 1o. When... Continue

Swim champs without a pool; Council disclosure error?; Cohn on Music Fest concerns; and more

Congratulations to the Sonoma Valley High School boys swim team, which somehow won the league title despite not having a campus pool. Much credit goes to co-coaches Keith Ryan, and Jane Hansen, who runs the Sonoma Aquatic Club in the Springs… Meanwhile, fundraising continues for... Continue

Man killed at Glen Ellen worksite

A 23-year-old Santa Rosa man died Monday afternoon at a residential construction site in Glen Ellen. Cody McBride, an employee of A+ Pool and Spa company, was working at a Garric Avenue home when an accident occurred involving an excavator, according to the Sheriff's Dept. The... Continue

Mike Benziger named Green Personality of the Year

Mike Benziger has been named 2015 Green Personality of the Year by Drinks Business, the leading spirits, beer and wine magazine in the United Kingdom. The magazine's Green Awards celebrate the work that industry leaders (both individuals and businesses) are doing to promote and incorporate sustainable... Continue

Food + Drink Bites for April 16

The latest food + drink news, events and calls for your participation in and around Sonoma Valley. As the legendary James Marshall Berry says... "If your gig isn't in my column, you didn't tell me about it." Send your news to our Food + Drink... Continue

Springs’ highway improvements get symbolic start

Breaking ground on the Highway 12 sidewalk project are Jennifer Gray and Pat Gilardi from Supervisor Gorin’s office, Rich Lee of the Springs Community Alliance, former Supervisor Valerie Brown, First District Supervisor Susan Gorin, Tom O’Kane and Susan Klaussen, Sonoma County Public Works Department, and... Continue

Former Uncle Patty’s to become a new restaurant

By Gina Cuclis Considered to be the biggest eyesore in the Springs, the former Uncle Patty's at 15 Boyes Boulevard near the Sonoma Mission Inn, next year will be transformed into an upscale pizza restaurant. The owner, Karen Waikiki, has drawn up plans that involve tearing... Continue

Report: Sonoma Valley Hospital has $104 million economic impact

Sonoma Valley Hospital generates $104 million in total economic activity and supports 658 jobs within the hospital and in other business sectors, according to a new study commissioned by the hospital. “Hospitals in general are an important part of the economic engine for a region,... Continue

Music for Tim; road repairs; Yamada’s plan; and more

Musician Tim Casey moved here from Nashville about a year ago to make a new life for himself. He picked up gigs in Napa and around Sonoma County, often with the Mark Larson Band. On January 5, he was involved in a horrific head-on crash... Continue

Leaderglass launches Kickstarter campaign

[caption id="attachment_45064" align="alignnone" width="300"] Leaderglass owner Alex Leader (right) at work. (Photo credit: Leaderglass)[/caption] Leaderglass, a Sonoma glassblowing studio, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $15,000 to build a "hot shop" space at their studio. Leaderglass opened in 2010, sharing a studio with another... Continue