All clips written by Roger Coryell, owned by their publishers
The aroma of apple fritters greets visitors before they reach the gate at Ragle Ranch Regional Park, signaling arrival at the Gravenstein Apple Fair. The event celebrates its 52nd year…
Every town swears it’s unique. Sonoma County went ahead and legislated it. From gas pumps that never shall be to courthouses where even the grass has rights, our patchwork of…
For the first time in five years, the Petaluma River’s going to get a good, deep clean. Come fall, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be back with their…
Here’s the summer rumor, cleaned up for daylight: “Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is draining Lake Pillsbury, so the upper river’s toast.” Catchy, dramatic and not quite right. What’s…
After years of planning and community anticipation, Cloverdale's Alexander Valley Healthcare Wellness Center is advancing with a redesigned, more sustainable approach. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the modified…
Santa Rosa’s homeless count is falling, but those closest to the issue say there’s no time to slow down.
Windsor is spending $1.2 million on a 107-foot aerial ladder truck to match the town’s rising skyline. The Town Council approved the purchase for the Sonoma County Fire District using…
Are pre-dawn roosters and vineyard booms crimes — or just the price of country living?
In Rohnert Park, California, a new industrial facility is at the center of a heated local debate. On one side is Resynergi, a company proposing a cutting-edge “advanced recycling” plant…
Wednesday’s Sonoma City Council meeting turned tense as residents crowded into the chamber to challenge what they saw as insider influence and a lack of transparency in the city’s General…
How much more will it cost to license your dog, run your restaurant, or pay off a DUI?
Sonoma County shelters are overflowing, prompting the Humane Society of Sonoma County (HSSC) to join a national ASPCA campaign and offer fee-waived kitten adoptions.
Cynthia King is stepping into new territory this week, taking over as CEO of the Sonoma County Humane Society as of August 4. The move is significant — not only…
If your child’s math homework leaves you bewildered, you’re in good company. Today’s math education differs greatly from what most parents experienced. Here’s a quick, friendly rundown on what’s changed,…
At a July 23, 2025, meeting of the Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission (SVCAC), Deputy Ryan Foiles, a motorcycle officer assigned to traffic enforcement for the City of Sonoma, revealed…
Sonoma County has become California's leader in cooperative child support agreements by prioritizing empathy over adversarial courtroom battles.
An international team of scientists recently announced a major breakthrough in understanding sea star wasting disease, a mysterious epidemic responsible for decimating sunflower sea stars. More than 90% of this…
The rugged Sonoma County coastline—from Point Reyes to Point Arena—is a stunning landscape beloved by residents and visitors alike. But beneath its scenic beauty lies a rarely discussed yet serious…
It’s a perfect 69-degree afternoon in Sonoma County. You and your partner sink into your hot tub in the garden, sharing a peaceful intimate moment under the sun. Life feels…
Sonoma County wine producers, facing declining sales, shifting consumer tastes, and climate pressures, are now considering a county-wide Wine Improvement District (WID) to fund collective marketing and tourism outreach.
When someone in Sonoma County faces a mental health crisis, trained counselors — not just police officers — now respond to help. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has committed…
Right now, in Ensenada, Mexico, nearly 200 dogs remain trapped in conditions described by rescuers as horrific—living without clean water, adequate food or basic medical care. Sonoma County-based Compassion Without…
When Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies share inmate information with federal immigration officials, it can instantly change lives—families split apart, community trust erodes, and neighborhoods feel less safe. This Tuesda
Giuseppe Martinelli arrived in Forestville in 1887 with calloused hands and a cart full of Zinfandel cuttings. Today, his great-great-granddaughter Tessa Gorsuch crouches in the same dirt, examining grape clusters…
Sonoma County’s groundwater is quietly vanishing beneath our feet, and the numbers are alarming. In parts of Sonoma Valley, deep aquifers have plummeted nearly 100 feet in the last decade,…
Welcome to Cotati, where the accordion is king, the tuba is queen, and absolutely no one is taking themselves too seriously. Aug. 16 and 17, La Plaza Park will once…
A mysterious optical phenomenon in the hills near Penngrove, Gravity Hill is a rite of passage for local teens and curious drivers. Tucked on Lichau Road overlooking Sonoma State University,…
Doran Beach, Sonoma County's go-to spot for camping, walks along the sand and memorable sunsets, faces a future increasingly threatened by rising seas. The narrow, two-mile barrier spit that locals…
What if Sonoma County residents have to flee another wildfire or flood — and can’t get out in time?
California has just drastically changed the rules around building new homes, rolling back parts of a controversial state law known as CEQA — short for the California Environmental Quality Act.…
My extended family is big and messy and impossible to chart. Cousins I smoked dope with behind the toolshed. Nieces and nephews now raising their own kids. A whole other…
The author stepped onto their porch at 5:45 AM with coffee and the free Merlin bird identification app running. Pocket Canyon was already alive with activity.
You can feel it, right? That warm wind in the vines, the hum of bees in the lavender, the welcome clink of glasses on patios across the county. Summer’s here,…
Sonoma County’s ultimate July 4 guide for 2025
Sonoma County has a lot going for it — towering redwoods, winding rivers, beaches that actually make you breathe easier. But let’s be real: Come June and July, things heat…
Let’s start with a truth that holds steady no matter what storm is brewing in the sky or the headlines: Sonoma County is a farming place. Not just because we…
In the hills just outside Santa Rosa, you’ll find something you don’t expect: giraffes. And zebras. And rhinos. And now, one of the best places in the entire country to…
Spring brings fresh flavors — and a batch of new restaurants — to Sonoma County. From cozy cafés to vibrant pop-ups, there’s plenty to taste.
At its May 8 meeting, the Sonoma Valley Board of Education voted 4-1 to close Flowery School at the end of the 2025-26 school year. The decision is based on…
Sonoma County’s legal community is stepping up this May to fight local hunger in the face of recent setbacks, including food shipments unexpectedly halted by federal authorities. The fourth annual…
Sonoma County is installing free vending machines stocked with lifesaving supplies—such as overdose-reversal medication—in an effort to fight rising opioid-related deaths and offer discreet, stigma-free access to critica
Spring in Sonoma County means new growth — and for many local gardeners, a trip to the nearest Prickett’s Nursery is the first step into the season. Founded in 1941…
Let’s be real — “sustainability” and “resilience” are words that get thrown around so much they start to lose meaning. Oh wow, another ‘sustainable’ farm dousing everything in glyphosate? Miss…
A process that will shape Sonoma County for decades quietly launched this month, and if you blink, you might miss it. Sonoma County’s general plan—the blueprint guiding everything from housing…
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved Regional Parks' application for an $8 million state grant to help acquire 1,517 acres of forestland near Monte Rio for park expansion.
Two Sonoma County restaurants have earned a spot in the Michelin Guide, a well-deserved recognition for the local food scene. Enclos in Sonoma and Table Culture Provisions in Petaluma aren’t…
Rural Sonoma County residents are tired of unreliable, expensive or nonexistent internet access. Many homes remain disconnected even when infrastructure runs right past them.
Cotati’s first Climate Ready Fair kicks off Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SMART Train Depot, 970 E. Cotati Ave. Organizers hope this free event…
Picture your favorite local café, the neighborhood bookstore you love, or the boutique that gives downtown its charm. Now imagine them thriving, welcoming more customers and growing stronger. That’s exactly…
Sonoma County is rich in farmland, home to thriving farmers’ markets, and known for its vineyards. It’s a place where food is celebrated. Yet, thousands of residents don’t know where…