Sonoma Valley Grange Hall to re-open soon

By Gina Cuclis Hopes are high among Sonoma Valley Grange members that their long task of upgrading and refurbishing the Grange Hall on Highway 12 will soon be finished. President Seth Dolinsky said he believes the hall will re-open for community use and rentals sometime... Continue

Community design with an eye on Springs history

With the Springs Specific Plan Community Workshop on community design coming up June 29, I believe it’s important for us to understand the background and context regarding our current design guidelines. I’ll also identify a few buildings that were constructed following those guidelines. The current... Continue

The historical artist of Boyes Hot Springs

When artist Michael Acker moved to Boyes Hot Springs from San Francisco in 1996, he took to walking the streets. “I would walk up and down Highway 12. The old buildings in the Springs inspired me. I could see traces of history,” Acker said in... Continue

Tobacco retail licenses, vacation rentals updates

Today’s column closes the loop on two issues I've been following the past year. Plus, my observations on how the more things change the more they stay the same. Preventing youth access to tobacco products After a year of consideration, the Board of Supervisors adopted a... Continue

70 years on Happy Lane

I love looking at old photographs of the Springs to imagine how it was in the heyday of its resort era. But nothing tops talking to someone who has lived here since then. Jan Schwarz moved to Boyes Hot Springs from San Pablo with her... Continue

El Verano School’s strategy for student success

By Gina Cuclis A special concept in public education called “a community school” has been underway at El Verano Elementary School for about a year, and principal Maite Iturri said the program is achieving results. The concept of community schools was developed by the New... Continue

Republic of Thrift: Not a typical thrift store

Sonoma Valley’s 11 public schools each recently received a $750 check from Republic of Thrift, a fun second-hand store on Highway 12 in Boyes Hot Springs that donates its profits to our local public schools. Sisters Jeannette Tomany and Michelle Mammini, whose children attend Sonoma... Continue

Sheriff’s Office heading for hiring crisis; Proposed vacation rental rules for Springs

A recent announcement from Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas is cause for concern for Springs residents. The sheriff announced on Facebook he is reducing services because his office is unable to fill positions, and is losing experienced deputies and staff to other counties and cities.... Continue

Getting Highway 12 sidewalks hasn’t been easy

It’s been 30 years since the need to construct sidewalks along Highway 12 was first identified in the Springs’ redevelopment plan. So it’s exciting to finally see the project getting close to completion. Having personally been involved with this project since the early 1990s, I... Continue

Who will decide Springs’ destiny?

by Gina Cuclis The editorial in the August 28 Sonoma Valley Sun, “The City of Boyes Hot Springs?,” touched on what has become a topic of discussion at Springs Community Alliance meetings and among residents concerned about how decisions impacting our community are made. The... Continue