Sonoma Style

May marks the beginning of one of Sonoma’s most beloved traditions, the Valley of the Moon Certified Farmers Market begins on Tuesday, May 7 and continues every Tuesday evening through the end of October.  The market takes over the Sonoma Square, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and continues until dusk every Tuesday night.  It is the favorite activity of Sonoma residents where you can run into all your friends and neighbors picnicking in the square (bring your own table, chairs and blankets). Each week features live music performance, great food booths and of course includes all our wonderful local, organic farmers selling fresh produce.  Looking forward to seeing you all there!  

By Gina Roman

When Marianne Uhl was growing up she watched her mother can a variety of foods but never really paid attention to the preserving process. Later when she was on her own and ready to try the canning process she found out there’s a lot more to it than one would expect.  So Marianne took it upon herself to get some solid training.  In the spring of 2012 she was accepted into and trained by the El Dorado County Master Food Preserver Program to the University of California, Davis, Cooperative Extension. This program is the same organization that trains Master Gardeners.  

The City of Sonoma retains a small-town, rural character that makes the town an attractive place to live and visit. Like all towns, Sonoma relies on tourism, but tourism needs to be balanced or it will destroy the very character that visitors come to enjoy. 

Of late, one of the biggest development pressures facing the City of Sonoma and putting in jeopardy its unique small-town charm, character and historic central Plaza are large hotels that would ironically destroy the very qualities that draw visitors to it in the first place. This happened in Sonoma before when developers sought to buy and build a luxury resort on Sonoma’s hillside backdrop, but were soundly defeated at the ballot box. Then and now, I expect, residents will not succumb to developer’s promises of money in exchange for the quality of life they want and receive from their town. Seventy percent (70%) of Sonoma's voters rejected the hotel!

Ballot initiative to control large hotel and motel development announced

The recently formed Preserving Sonoma Committee today announced its intention to collect petition signatures from registered voters within the City of Sonoma for a special election initiative this fall which would limit the approval of new large hotels within the city limits of Sonoma.

“Humanity's ascent is often measured by the speed of progress. But what if progress is actually spiraling us downwards, towards collapse?” Transition Sonoma Valley’s upcoming film, Surviving Progress, thought-provokingly explores this question. The local screening of this Martin Scorsese produced film will be Thursday, March 21, beginning at 7:00 PM at the Sonoma Valley Grange, located at 18627 Hwy 12 in Boyes Hot Springs. 

Come to Jacuzzi for a lovely Sunday wine country afternoon of wine paired with fresh made pizza from the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards kitchen, featuring sustainably grown ingredients from Green String Farm. From 11 a.m. until 3 p,m., every Sunday in March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, located at 24724 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. Cost is only $30 for an 8” pizza and bottle of wine (serves 4 guests). Maximum 6 persons in a group. For more information call (707) 931-7575. 

When one really looks at the problem caused by nuts with firearms, one must look at the second amendment and realize that it was an opening of Pandora’s Box. It is true that what came out of that deadly box were not guns.  It was a law that put them into the hands of many of the wrong people. There are responsible gun owners and Gun Nuts. The law straight out of the box did not discriminate.  Just as most of us own automobiles that some turn into deadly weapons, we do our very best to regulate them with law.

The month of love is upon us.  What can I say, I’m a sucker for Valentine’s Day and everything that comes with it; the flowers, the cards the chocolates – it’s all wonderful!  This year we’re celebrating my niece’s recent engagement.  Her fiancée proposed on New Year’s Eve, at a performance of the Philharmonic Orchestra.  Quentin had been planning the evening for six months, he wrote a song and performed it with the orchestra, then jumped off the stage and proposed to Elizabeth sitting in the front row.  The audience was stunned and of course loved it!  Great love story for sure!!

In the City Council Vision Statement in the preface to the 2020 General Plan a number of key elements are listed that reflect what kind of a place – what kind of a community in both physical and cultural attributes – Sonoma residents want. Paramount among these desires is that development “… respects … and enhances the scale [and] character … of the community.” Also prominently mentioned is that “… locally-owned businesses [should] complement the small-town atmosphere and provide high-paying jobs.” Among other featured elements in the Council’s Vision Statement are that “Housing is available and affordable to … the local workforce,” and that “Traffic is mitigated.”

Have meteorites landed in Sonoma County? Apparently there is evidence that a massive meteorite fall-out in mid-October left debris in emanating from a fireball that traveled directly across the town of Sonoma! So while you are out decorating your house for the holidays, be on the lookout for some brown-black, crusty looking “rocks” that may have rust spots on them.

Here we are quickly ending the harvest season, and right into the holiday season!  Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already upon us. Of course nothing wrong with a holiday that’s all about family and friends gathering together and being grateful for our lives and many blessings.  As always there is no shortage of fun and fabulous events around the Sonoma Valley this month.

The fall harvest season is in full swing in the wine country. The air is filled with the scent of ripe grapes, and leaves are changing colors. The squash season is here, and it’s time to enjoy some butternut squash soup, curried cauliflower and acorn squash, and fresh baked pumpkin bread. Of course there is no shortage of things to do this month in Sonoma!

As the evenings get cooler, the fall harvest season will soon be upon us.  And that means Sonoma’s annual celebration, the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival is coming. This oldest festival in northern California began in 1897, so this will be the 115th year!

As local parks struggle to stay open, we are very fortunate that Transcendence Theatre Company has put together some wonderful live performances, all to benefit Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen.  Transcendence has partnered with the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association to bring live theatre performances to the park this summer, and will play a major role in saving Jack London Park from closure due to state budget cuts. 

The primary election is upon us. On Tuesday, June 5, remember to get out and vote! Please do your best to get educated on the issues beforehand. It’s getting increasingly difficult to know what is truth and what is propaganda these days, as the political discourse gets more convoluted. 

With everything in bloom, it’s certain that spring is here! While you’re enjoying the warm weather, don’t forget Mother’s Day is Sunday May 13. It’s a bittersweet day for me, as my mother died in 1984. I still remember so vividly her laugh and her lovely kind nature. My family was fortunate to have her! Today I have so many wonderful mothers in my life; my sisters, nieces, cousins and friends. So plan to celebrate all the mothers in your life.

Happy Spring. It’s my favorite time of year, as with spring comes the Film Festival!

Although we still have the chilly winter nights here in Sonoma, the calendar is heating up for March. Keep in mind our big event coming April 11 to 15, the 15th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival. For details go to sonomafilmfest.org. 

Well Sonoma is all a-buzz these days with the TV crews around town, following Ben Flajnik, this season’s “The Bachelor” that premiered in January. Ben, co-owner of Envolve Winery, was turned down when he proposed to last year’s “Bachelorette” and so they brought him back this year to have his pick of the ladies. Perhaps he’ll fare better this time!