My family’s Boyes Hot Springs home is now sandwiched between two vacation rentals. We’ve had one across the street for a few years, and we recently received a letter from the owners of a house behind us that they have received a permit to rent their “vacation home.” Who among... Continue
A Sebastopol designer’s approach to façade improvements along Highway 12 in the Springs has created controversy among local residents who have seen his designs. At the June Springs Community Alliance meeting, Rico Martin presented designs for eight commercial properties along the Highway 12 corridor. I’m now writing about that meeting, because of... Continue
Numerous neighborhood roads in the Springs will benefit if a quarter-cent sales tax measure, slated for a special election on March 3, passes. I reviewed the initial maps in the draft of the long-term roads plan. While the specifics could change, I believe we can expect to see on the... Continue
The work of the county’s Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force seems to be even more critical now that Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch has announced her office won’t file criminal charges against the Sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed 13-year-old Andy Lopez outside Santa Rosa city limits. Ravitch... Continue
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services recently released a report that examines data from each of Sonoma County’s 99 census tracks to determine how residents are faring in three fundamental areas of life: health, access to knowledge, and living standards. Called “A Portrait of Sonoma County,” the report was prepared by... Continue
[caption id="attachment_41520" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo: Cristin Lawrence and Marguerite LaDue of Sonoma Valley Teen Services[/caption] “Employing teens, encouraging dreams” is the slogan of Sonoma Valley Teen Services. While the sign outside the building at 17440 Sonoma Highway in Boyes Hot Springs still has the old... Continue
Springs resident Alejandra Cervantes is an inspiring individual with a personal mission – to encourage and help her Latino neighbors get involved in the community. Cervantes is the full-time, unpaid executive director of Nuestra Voz, a nonprofit whose mission is to develop leadership among the Latino community in Sonoma Valley. Thanks... Continue
The man in charge of getting our Highway 12 sidewalk project constructed —Sonoma County Deputy Public Works Director Tom O’Kane — told me the county is “still working its way through the Caltrans process,” but he plans to advertise the project for construction bids before... Continue
First, an update of last month’s column about the candidates running in the June election to represent the Springs in the State Assembly: Napa County Planning Commissioner Matt Pope dropped out of the race last week. No surprise, as his fundraising was poor. That leaves three candidates: Napa County Supervisor Bill... Continue
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 11 for an opportunity to engage in a community dialogue with Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas. The Sonoma Valley Grange and I are hosting Sheriff Freitas at a community meeting to discuss local public safety and law enforcement issues.... Continue