Gilroy receives lifetime environmental achievement award

Sonoma County Conservation Council has announced that Sonoma Valley resident Norman Gilroy will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and action in in support of environmental, planning and conservation work in the Valley and Sonoma County. Gilroy, trained as an architect... Continue

Santa’s Sonoma Plaza pre-party

The Santa Claus Christmas World Tour 2023 makes an advance stop in Sonoma on Friday, December 1, 4-6pm. The jolly one will arrive at the Sonoma Plaza horseshoe on an antique truck, and preside over the ensuing seasons greetings, photo opps, and hot cocoa. The... Continue

Good tidings, great music

It’s the season for a Broadway Holiday, the all-new musical revue from Transcendence Theatre Company. Filled with song, dance and good cheer, the show plays December 1-10 at Hanna Center in Sonoma. The festive indoor event, starring professional Broadway and national tour performers, is perfect... Continue

Rise of the machines

Of the elements of the Industrial Revolution (1760-1830), the development of interchangeable parts was among its most significant. Not simply the efficiency of building machines was affected; workers were reduced to interchangeable parts, too, which greatly enabled the growth of capitalism. As economist Karl Polanyi... Continue

Mobilizing for change at SDC

By Teri Shore and Nancy Kirwan -- Recently the Sonoma Valley Democrat hosted a community panel that provided updates on efforts to scale back development on the historic campus at the former Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC). The online event drew about 60 people. The panel... Continue

Know-your-rights forum planned for County mobile-home owners

Mobile-home owners will get a chance to find out how they are affected by the county’s revised mobile-home rent-control ordinance at a know-your-rights forum on Thursday, November 30 at Centro del Popular, 18346 Sonoma Highway in Boyes Hot Springs. Conducted in English and Spanish, the... Continue

Under the Sun: Marty Bennett, agent of social change

Retired history professor Marty Bennett has been involved in the unionization of four Sonoma County hotels, and currently is advising the effort to establish UniteHere Local 2 as the bargaining agent for Sonoma Mission Inn employees. The Sun's Anna Pier checks in. What's the most... Continue

Sonoma Cultural and Fine Arts Commission names Treasure Artist

Victor Ferrer, executive director of Grupo Folklórico Quetzalén, is Sonoma's 2024 Treasure Artist. The city presents the annual honor to celebrate the exceptional achievements of a local artist in visual, literary or performance art. The troupe “promotes the splendor of Mexico's traditional dances, music and... Continue

Revolving door spun – mom was back

Chapter 65: 1950 • Camp McBride, Strawberry Lake, Pinecrest, California Even though she shunned ruffles and ric-rac, Betty carried a purse wherever she went, typically a small shoulder strap as it freed her hands to climb fences. She had a collection of pocketbooks handed down... Continue

Notes from our Climate town hall

On Wednesday, November 1, the county’s Climate Action and Resiliency Division held a Virtual Town Hall that I hosted along with Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, with whom I sit on the Board of Supervisors’ Climate Ad Hoc. When I was last Chair of the Board of... Continue