Petaluma
GOVERNMENT
A new, exciting summer season at the Green Music Center
This new season features indoor-outdoor concerts from popular artists including pop music sensations Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw; American music icons The Beach Boys; chart-topping country artist Niko Moon; Reggae/Pop legends UB40; and singer and songwriter; businesswoman, author, television celebrity, and two-time Latin Grammy Award winner, Chiquis. Concerts take place in Weill Hall with seating both in the hall and on the outdoor grass and terraces of Weill Lawn. Lawn tickets for most performances are $30 (kids 12 and under are half off).
The EIR for a 50-apartment project on Hwy 12. has just begun
The City of Sonoma has announced that the Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report for the Montaldo Apartments Project has now begun. A view of the interior of the site to be developed. There will be an NOP Scoping Meeting on August 1, 2024, 6:00 PM –...
Temporary Road Closure at San Miguel Road and SMART Intersection July 23-26
As part of the Coffey Park and Fountaingrove Neighborhood Road Recovery Project, the track crossing at San Miguel Road and SMART tracks is scheduled for temporary closure to through traffic between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 23 through Friday, July 26 as crews repave San Miguel Road east of the SMART tracks.
The City’s New Vacant Building and Lot Program Begins Proactive Inspections on Aug. 1
On February 27, 2024, the Santa Rosa City Council adopted Ordinance ORD-2024-003, amending Chapter 9-24 of the Santa Rosa Municipal Code and establishing a new program for the inspection, maintenance, and registration of vacant buildings and lots that do not comply with the minimum standards set forth in the ordinance. These standards and additional information are available at SRCity.org/VBL.
California Private High School Completes New Community Performing Arts Center
Sonoma Academy—a private, co-ed college preparatory school in Santa Rosa, Calif.—recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 350-seat Community Performing Arts Center, according to a news release. The facility will play home to the school’s music, theater, and film productions and host various types of programming for the community at large. The school partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and WRNS Studio for the project’s design, DPR Construction for construction, and The Shalleck Collaborative as a theatrical consultant.
Effort underway to reopen Forestville’s El Molino High School, consolidate west county school districts
An effort to reopen Forestville’s El Molino High School and unite it with other west Sonoma County school districts is in full swing as residents say the move can reduce costs and improve education. Currently, the lower Russian River region is served by six elementary school districts, while Sebastopol is served by four elementary school districts. The entire west county area is served by the ...
Environmental docs available for comment on Koi Nation casino plan
photo credit: Koi Nation via Bay City NewsRendering of a proposed casino and resort near Windsorproposed by the Koi Nation of Northern California. The public can weigh in on potential environmental impacts of a casino and resort southeast of the town of Windsor in unincorporated Sonoma County proposed by the Koi Nation of Northern California, following the release of a draft environmental impact statement from federal regulators. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs completed a draft environmental impact statement that will be open for public comment until Aug. 26 for the controversial proposed development on a roughly 68-acre site that the federally recognized...
Planning For A Much Closer Future
Is Sonoma’s new 20-year General Plan already obsolete?. If you feel as if things are changing so quickly you can’t keep up, you’re not alone. The pace of change really is happening faster, driven by technological advances that themselves spur yet faster change. The introduction of the...
Nomination period now open for 4 Santa Rosa council seats
The nomination period opened Monday for prospective candidates to qualify for the November general election, where a majority of Santa Rosa City Council seats are up for grabs. Santa Rosa residents will elect a representative in Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7, though the races so far have been slow to shape up. At least one newcomer is guaranteed to join the seven-member council as two hopefuls vie ...
Ryan selected as next Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit chief
NORTH COAST, Calif. — Cal Fire Director/Fire Chief Joe Tyler has appointed Matt Ryan as the next Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit chief, effective Monday, July 15. Ryan, 42, takes over as the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, or LNU, chief following Mike Marcucci’s retirement on June 28. Ryan has intricate knowledge...
Steele Lane Elementary Pilot Project to Begin Second Phase
The City of Santa Rosa is planning to implement Phase Two of the Steele Lane Elementary Pilot Study to further Steele Lane “road diet” between Meyers Drive and Rowe Drive by reducing the eastbound traffic to one lane and creating a center two-way left turn lane. This second phase of the pilot study will take place from mid-August through December. It is designed to further enhance multimodal school safety, building upon the findings that began with Phase One earlier this year.
Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley announces new club President Charles Goodwin
The Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley has named Charles Goodwin as club president for its 2024-2025 Rotary year. Goodwin joined the club in 2021 and has previously led the club’s communications and governance committees. Since its founding in 1946, our Rotary club has worked to help improve the quality...
Po Shu Wang's "Intersecting Infinity" selected for Fire Station 5 Public Art Project
The City of Santa Rosa and the Santa Rosa Fire Department are proud to announce the selection of Po Shu Wang, a distinguished artist from Berkeley, CA, for the creation of a permanent site-specific public art installation at Fire Station 5. Po Shu Wang's proposal, titled “Intersecting Infinity,” features a striking 8-foot stainless steel sculpture symbolizing the phoenix rising. This proposal was chosen following careful deliberation by a selection panel and consideration of community input gathered through a public survey.
Santa Rosa chamber CEO to head Napa County Farm Bureau
The chief executive officer of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber has been tapped to take over as the permanent head of the Napa County Farm Bureau, he said Monday in an email to chamber board members. Peter Rumble said he will depart his current position sometime after Labor Day to become the farm bureau’s chief executive. “I was not looking for another opportunity. I have been blessed by how ...
Leona Egeland Rice: Pioneering Feminist Assemblymember
Leona Egeland Rice was a pioneer first in the lobby corps, and then in the California Assembly where she served three terms ending in 1980. In this oral history interview, conducted at her home in Napa by journalist Dan Morain, she recalls how she won even though the California Democratic Party would not endorse women. Legislators—Bill Lockyer, Willie Brown, George Moscone and March Fong Eu—did support her in that first campaign in 1974.
Rivertown Revival After Dark & More
Friends of the Petaluma River presents Rivertown Revival: After Dark!, 5 to 10pm, Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20, at Steamer Landing Park, 6 Copeland St., Petaluma. This reimagined evening festival promises a (literally) cooler experience amidst Petaluma’s warm summer, featuring music, food, drinks, local art, acrobatics and $5 weddings (some may recognize at least one officiant as the Bohemian and Pacific Sun editor). Friday’s lineup includes Wreckless Strangers, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, Tru Lyric, Abracadabra Trip, Sierra Camille, and Bourbon Street Brass Band. Saturday’s Rivertown Revue showcases Sean Hayes, Pete Delaney, Jessica Malone, LaiddBackZach, Josh Windmiller, Aki Kumar, Simoné & The Smokey Edges and the Sonoma County Pomo Dancers. Both nights offer additional performances and chill vibes from the Abracadabra Bus. “Our goal is to create a magical evening event for our community, with the cooling Petaluma breeze enhancing the experience,” says FOPR founder Elizabeth Howland. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to enjoy the festivities. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, or $40 for a two-day pass and available at rivertownrevival.com.
A local snapshot: Don’t miss the Farmers’ Market in Sonoma this summer
A great way to start off your weekend in Sonoma is a visit to the Friday Morning Farmers’ Market at Depot Park, 9 to 12:30 a.m. It operates year-round, but the summer months brings out the best and most varied local produce. Say hi to Hilda — she’s been the market manager since 1987.
Peter Rumble readies for a new role at Napa County Farm Bureau
Peter Rumble took the helm as president and CEO of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber shortly after the 2017 fires, a tumultuous time for the region. Now, he’s preparing to depart and lead the Napa County Farm Bureau, starting shortly after Labor Day. Leaving, he said, was “a tough...
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.