During this challenging time there are many services available for our most vulnerable populations; our Senior Citizens and those with Immune-Compromised Health. Below are resources for: Grocery Stores - Meal Services - Pharmacies - Transporation - Caregivers - Legal Aid & More. This resource list will be updated regularly.  If you have information to share that is not included in this resource, please email  editor@SonomaCountyGazette.com 

The Federal government is working now on the next stimulus bill. This is a good time to be telling your Federal representatives what you want to see in that bill. Congressman Mike Thompson will be holding a FB Live Town Hall on April 2 from 7-8pm. Information here. My next scheduled live FB fireplace chat will be Thursday at 8:30 and then Sunday at the same time on my public facebook page here. I'm answering some Frequently Asked Questions in thsi briefing.

Hello Alice, a free multi-channel platform in partnership with the U.S. Chamber Foundation and hundreds of entrepreneur  networks and government agencies, the digital resource center is designed to provide business owners and  entrepreneurs with step-by-step, comprehensive access to financial support, government programs, mentors and  the real-world help urgently needed at this time. Founders/Business owners can visit the Alice site  to apply for an emergency grant, access financial aid, search national, state, and  local government programs, learn how to operate a remote team and migrate business from offline to online,  receive anxiety and mental health resources, connect with a supportive community, and more.  

Sonoma County school districts had previously, announced that they would suspend in-person classes at least through the end of the Sonoma County health officer’s shelter in place order, which was set for April 7. Then Gov. Newsom called for individuals to stay at home state-wide and prohibited mass gatherings of more than 10 people indefinitely. Following this order, and in consultation with Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase, schools are preparing for the possibility of conducting distance learning through May 1.

The Sonoma County Health Officer today extended the Health Order for people to shelter-in-place safely in their homes until May 3, 2020.  All individuals currently living in the County are ordered to shelter in their homes. If leaving their homes for essential purposes as allowed by the Order, individuals must socially distance themselves from others by at least six feet.  The Sonoma County local Health Order is consistent with the current Governor’s Order to Shelter in Place. The recent Order from the Health Officer implements the Governor’s Order in a way that is localized to Sonoma County. The new Health Order adds to the list of activities people may undertake outside their home as well as clarifies guidance from the previous Order.

We must recognize that while we are all taking difficult steps to protect our community members who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, a prolonged shelter-in-place order creates NEW vulnerabilities in other members of our community. For those workers and businesses who are classified as non-essential, this news is especially difficult. Those of us who are still able to work must do our best to support others. Can you donate to a local non-profit? or volunteer to deliver essentials?

We will get through this pandemic. But we will survive and thrive as a community only if we value one another equally. From the youngest to the eldest, from the most vulnerable to the healthiest, let’s take care of one another by throwing ourselves into our new jobs — and showing the world the tough, compassionate stuff that Sonoma County is made of. We must stand up and demand access to adequate personal protective equipment, testing, and safety protocols for healthcare workers, our front-line soldiers in this crisis.

April is a big month for Climate Action; the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day is April 22nd. Events were planned globally for the entire week. But as we move into shelter-in-place worldwide, those events — marches, climate strikes, tree plantings, and etc., have been canceled physically and are going virtual on the internet. We’re not turning our backs on the Climate Crisis. As a matter of fact, our interconnectedness in the face of this virus have made us even more aware of how we all are one people on one planet. Here are some suggestions for climate activism that does not involve striking in public.

Sonoma County Gazette's printable guides for School Meals, Family Guide; Art, Science and Fun Projects.All activity guides include OLDER KIDS CHALLENGES, and are preceded by 'Some Preliminary Tips for Parents'. Enjoy! Graphic art by our very own: © Elisabeth DeGoff.

As schools across Sonoma County and the country close for an extended period of time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of educators that includes representatives of the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), have launched an effort to provide a set of hands-on maker activities and design challenges that children and their families can complete at home using simple products found around the house.The project, called CoBuild-19, is being spearheaded by the Maker Educator Collective, a network of experienced educators from K-12 and higher education working to help educators integrate maker education principles and  philosophies into core curriculum.

Protocols outlined by the Community Market applies to all Food markets. The number one priority is to keep customers, the community and workers safe.  Hourly changes  are being closely monitored in the coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols through the CDC and the County Health Departments. The goal is to continue to provide groceries, nutritional supplements and natural remedies to customers in the midst of the current challenges to our health and well-being. 

Sonoma County and all of Northern California is facing an urgent situation as hundreds of blood drives across the state have been canceled due to the coronavirus.

More than 50 percent of mobile donations generated from blood drives have canceled in the month of March across the Bay Area and that challenging trend will likely continue into April and May. It is completely safe to donate blood at this time. Blood bank staff follow rigorous safety and disinfection protocols at blood drives – and they will be taking temperatures before donors give blood. Blood drives are considered an essential service. Donating blood is a truly meaningful way to make a difference.

While we all know the value of parks to our mental and emotional well-being, especially during this difficult time of sheltering in place, we are convinced this order of closer of our parks is the right move. We want to help make a real difference in the outcome of this crisis. The closure order is in effect until further notice. To explain what the closures mean, we’ve prepared answers to some frequently asked questions. Cierran Todos Los Parquesdentro del Condado de Sonoma, Actualizar 25/03/2020 - Respuestas a Preguntas Frecuentes. Read more to get some answers.  

I wanted to encourage citizens to attend the Budget Sub-Committee’s public meetings about funding community grants and reviewing departmental requests for FY 20-21. I was going to explain a new Water Bill Savings Program that would allow customers to invest in system upgrades to better conserve water, without any financing costs. I’d planned to advertise the openings on the local Library Advisory Board and report on the developing Strategic Plan for our Regional Library. But our world has been rocked by the ongoing public health crisis, some say “never to return.” Activities and events have been canceled or postponed indefinitely.

Sonoma County is encouraging the public, businesses and organizations to donate new, unused personal protective equipment to assist first responders, health care providers, and health care facilities responding to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).