Final tally: Sonoma’s leaf blower ban wins by 19 votes

The final results of the November 8 election released today by the County Registrar of Voters confirm the passage of Measure V with 50.2 percent of the vote. The total of no votes was 2,956, a mere 19 votes behind. The result reinstates a city... Continue

The Pseudo-Science of CEQA and an EIR

An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) responds to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), legislation intended to asses and address the environmental impacts of large developments, such as air-quality, construction debris and dust, noise and other factors. It takes only a few minutes reviewing the EIR... Continue

America’s moral compass is broken

In my pre-election article, I somewhat ironically advised my fellow progressives to ‘vote their conscience.’ My faith in the judgment of my fellow citizens and my erstwhile team on the Left has been shaken by the outcome of this catastrophic election, which will be known... Continue

Measure U passed… now what?

In a pre-election editorial we took the position that Measure U -- the half-cent sales tax extension -- should be rejected, yet it passed with a whopping 70-percent plus majority. Clearly, our concerns were not the concerns of Sonoma's voters, namely that the City had... Continue

Sonoma Valley death notices

Joy L. Ascari, 88, of Sonoma, CA, passed away October 2, 2016. Donald Malcolm Brown, 91, of Sonoma, passed away October 31, 2016. Herbert Maurice Casen, Jr., 67, of Sonoma, passed away October 4, 2016. Betty Jane Cline, 95, of Sonoma, passed away October 27,... Continue

Shopping Queen buys local

Many of us have too much stuff, and with the holidays upon us, more stuff can creep into our space. My dilemma is shopping locally, versus not shopping at all. I have grandchildren, and as much as I like to buy them presents, I refrain... Continue

Sunflower Caffé team buys Breakaway Café

Bob Rice, owner of the Breakaway Café, will retire and sell the popular restaurant, to the owners of another Sonoma hot spot, Sunflower Caffé. "After over 20 years of working with people, they become like family,” said Rice. “I wanted to make sure that whoever... Continue

Q and A: Lauren Smith, student activist

On November 10, about 500 Sonoma Valley High School (SVHS) students walked out of sixth period and marched up Broadway to the Plaza, chanting and carrying flags and banners to show support for people of all ethnicities, genders, and orientations in the wake of the presidential... Continue

Capitalist Morphology

Morphology, the study and comparison of form, is one method used by scientists and naturalists to classify plants and animals into Genus and Species. By determining physical structures as unique to a particular organism, one species of organism can be differentiated from other members of... Continue

Hurry for Sonoma’s ‘Christmas at the Mission’

Passes still remain for the Christmas at the Mission event on Saturday, December 10. The holiday tradition is free – with presentations at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. – but tickets are required. They are available now, while supplies last, at the Mission San... Continue