Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor A longtime Sonoma local has opened Sonoma Sauna & Plunge where tech-driven therapies meet traditional healing — aimed at helping guests recover A new wellness destination in the heart of Sonoma is offering a high-tech twist on holistic healing Sonoma Sauna & Plunge It blends traditional therapies with modern “biohacking” techniques — treatments that use science and technology to support physical and cellular health Founded by longtime local and holistic health advocate Susan Aslin the spa offers a menu of services designed to reduce inflammation Treatments include infrared sauna sessions pulsed electromagnetic field mat sessions and cold laser therapy involves using tools like these — alongside lifestyle changes — to improve health The movement gained mainstream attention through tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson who has made headlines for his multimillion-dollar efforts to reverse aging While there are some studies suggest benefits from cold exposure and red light therapy, scientists caution that evidence is still limited — especially when it comes to extending lifespans many people report feeling more energized and experiencing less pain and inflammation after such treatments “We’re always trying to find things that are going to improve our health and our immune system and help us live a healthier life,” Aslin said people are interested in exploring holistic or alternative wellness opportunities.” The spa’s signature “circuit experience” invites guests to alternate between hot and cold therapies — like sauna and plunge — followed by a customized massage the practice has been linked to improved circulation reduced stress hormones and faster recovery cold plunge and red light therapy all aid in recovery by reducing inflammation through the different mechanisms of heat “And for improved circulation and vascular health alternating between the sauna and the cold plunge creates a sort of vascular workout.” with a team of local therapists offering treatments for stress relief deep tissue work and post-exercise recovery Aslin said she envisioned the spa as a sanctuary not just for visitors A day pass — which includes a 60-minute sauna and cold plunge session plus a 60-minute massage — costs $215 making the spa accessible for those looking to drop in for a single service Whether winding down after a long week or recovering from a weekend of wine tasting Sonoma Sauna & Plunge offers a personalized “I want the community to feel like they have a place to come to experience (treatments) where it feels affordable and approachable,” Aslin said “We have something here that people really want and desire and maybe didn’t really know that it was just in their backyard.” Sonoma Sauna & Plunge is located at 721 W in downtown Sonoma and is open daily from 9 a.m For more information visit sonomasauna.com You can reach Staff Writer Isabel Beer at 707-933-2734 or isabel.beer@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @IsabelSongBeer By The City of Sonoma is moving forward with adopting the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map which designates areas based on their level of wildfire risk This map is required under Government Code Section 51179 and has been reviewed in partnership with the Sonoma Valley Fire District (SVFD) and CalFire The updated FHSZ map is now scheduled for approval during the May 7 where it will appear on the Consent Calendar Watch Live Stream: Available via CivicWeb and YouTube Channel If you would like to provide public comment, please use the Public Comment form on the CivicWeb Portal or speak during the Public Comment period for Consent Calendar items at the meeting or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on fire risk factors such as fire history incorporating feedback and modifications by the Sonoma Valley Fire District will help streamline fire hazard zone designations and clarify regulations for affected properties New requirements will apply to properties within High and Very High zones including building code changes and defensible space landscaping for properties in the Very High zone Staff is working on providing additional educational resources to inform the public about the new fire safety requirements and regulations For more details on the FHSZ map, please visit the City’s FHSZ Page Subscribe to more lists > This content is for decoration only skip decoration More than 5,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co customers in Napa and Sonoma counties were without electricity Monday after the utility raised the sensitivity of power lines due to 55 mph wind gusts and low humidity Lea el artículo en español aquí. PG&E activated its fast shutoff system Monday to reduce wildfire risk as strong winds swept through the region The system automatically cuts power within a tenth of a second when something — like a tree branch — touches a line crews must inspect the entire line before turning the power back on PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland said a tree fell onto a power line along Highway 128 and broke a pole cutting electricity to 363 customers from north of Calistoga into Sonoma County and power was expected to be restored by 3:30 p.m a separate outage knocked out power to 1,340 customers in Calistoga Two additional outages later Monday morning affected 302 customers near Lake Hennessy and 548 in the Oakville-Rutherford area for which power was partially restored by 2:15 p.m Those customers were expected to see power fully restored by 9 p.m More than 900 customers around Yountville lost power about 2 p.m and 2,807 customers lost power in northeast Santa Rosa PG&E shut off power to 133 customers near Lake Berryessa for planned maintenance You can reach Staff Writer Madison Smalstig at madison.smalstig@pressdemocrat.com A hearing in the case brought by Allred is set for next month Another case against the Santa Rosa private school has settled A high-profile sexual harassment lawsuit against Sonoma Academy two former teachers and a former administrator is still making its way through court more than two years after a dozen female graduates of the school alleged rampant abuse while they attended the Santa Rosa college prep high school The civil complaint, filed in December 2022 by well-known attorney Gloria Allred’s law firm, is the most sweeping detailed and explosive of several civil cases that alleged the campus and its leaders failed to protect female students from staff misconduct over nearly two decades “We are still fighting for justice,” Allred said in an email to The Press Democrat last week The lawsuit accuses former humanities teachers Marco Morrone and Adrian Belic of inappropriate conduct toward students that included grooming Much of Allred’s lawsuit cites findings outlined in a 49-page independent investigation paid for by the school and made public in November 2021 by New York-based firm Debevoise & Plimpton concluded Morrone had acted inappropriately with 34 students during his 18-year tenure at Sonoma Academy The suit alleges additional details that, if true, fill out the investigators’ findings against Belic, an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker who taught a film course at the school in 2004. School investigators found he had fostered a sexual relationship with two students educators do not need state licensing to teach at private schools Morrone “self-revoked” his California teacher’s credential in 2022 while the allegations were pending According to Sonoma County Superior Court records the lawsuit has had several “case management conferences“ this spring Another such case conference is scheduled for May 13 with Superior Court Judge Patrick Broderick Attorneys listed in court documents for Morrone Durgin and Dwight did not respond to email requests for comment It’s unclear if Belic is still a defendant in the lawsuit Judge Broderick ruled that Belic was not properly served his lawsuit summons under the state code of civil procedure Though Belic is named in the third amended complaint Allred ― who has brought sex-abuse cases against Harvey Weinstein Sean “Diddy” Combs and others ― declined to comment about Belic Her lawsuit is one of at least filed after abuse allegations became public following a Press Democrat investigation in 2021. A third amended complaint in her case was filed in Sonoma County Superior Court on Aug Her suit cites “repeated failure … to protect underage (Sonoma Academy) students from the pervasive inappropriate mental and physical abuse and sexual misconduct of certain members of its faculty and staff.” It also accuses administrators of engaging in a “cover-up of incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment of … female students by … faculty and male students.” Current Sonoma Academy Head of School Tucker Foehl could not be reached for comment about the Allred lawsuit said in an email Wednesday “we are not able to comment at this time.” a class action case seeking tuition refunds for alums who felt they were misled about their safety was dismissed by a trial court last summer a San Diego-based attorney representing those student alums Schack said the trial court ruled the parents did not have standing to sue because they were not directly affected by the “pervasive inappropriate conduct.” Schack said his firm appealed a case but got a similar ruling He said he hired a longtime California Supreme Court clerk to review the case and on Tuesday the clerk filed a petition for the state Supreme Court to review the case can happen anytime within the next 90 days,” Schack said in an email Schack is also the attorney behind a separate lawsuit filed in December 2021 the first case brought by a former Sonoma Academy student over staff misconduct and abuse That suit names as defendants Sonoma Academy It was filed on behalf of a former student alleging that the student experienced sexual abuse and harassment in the educational setting among other alleged civil rights violations which initially sought $2 million in financial damages ended with a confidential settlement two years ago Schack said this week he could not comment on the details of the settlement You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com A possible vote on closing an elementary school at the end of the 2025-26 school year is among the agenda items that the Sonoma Valley Unified School District board of trustees is scheduled entertain at its regular meeting on Thursday A possible vote on closing Flowery Elementary School at the end of the 2025-26 school year is among the agenda items the Sonoma Valley Unified School District board of trustees is scheduled consider at its regular meeting this week The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Sonoma City Council Chambers, at 177 First St. W. in Sonoma. It is open to the public, and also will be accessible on Zoom at https://sonomaschools-org.zoom.us/j/95705539339 At their study session on April 22, the trustees directed district staff members to explore options for closing Flowery at the end of the 2025-26 academic year in the face of declining enrollment They requested input from staff members prior to the meeting on May 8 so that they would have time to review it in advance Other agenda items for the meeting on May 8 include: Thursday and will include an opportunity for public comment on closed session items board members will discuss several labor contracts and confer with legal counsel They will reconvene in open session at approximately 6 p.m A period for public comment on items on the agenda will be available before the consent and regular agenda items are discussed Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at daniel.johnson@sonomanews.com California Governor Gavin Newsom and the State of California sued the federal government Friday over its decision to greenlight a massive tribal casino project in Sonoma County wine country claiming federal officials flouted the law and undermined state sovereignty In the suit filed in the Northern District of California the state challenges the federal Department of Interior’s approval for the Koi Nation of Northern California to build a sprawling gambling complex on the “Shiloh Site,” 68.6 acres of land adjacent to the town of Windsor The planned development would include 2,750 slot machines a 400-room hotel and facilities capable of hosting more than 10,000 people Please fill out the form to send a message to the CDC Gaming Reports team you can send an email to the address on the footer of each page Hundreds of people filled Sonoma Plaza for the Cinco de Mayo celebration that took place on Sonoma Plaza on Sunday Lea el artículo en español aquí. Often confused with Mexico's Independence Day Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican victory over the French empire on May 5 Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla with plenty of vendors on hand to sell crafts A few hundred people Sunday got to see the Sonoma Valley through rosé-colored glasses during the 5th annual Pink Sonoma Rosé Wine Fest and sip on some of the pink-colored wine during the 5th annual Pink Sonoma Rosé Wine Fest floral headpieces and suits worn by the guests and performers and splashes of bubblegum were in the decor at Viansa Winery poured samples for attendees as they milled about the lawn perused the silent auction and exchanged hugs and hellos Tim Irving and Jeff Bater came all the way from New Orleans Louisianna to visit the gay-friendly space that also offers a beautiful view and great drinks “Everyone is open and accepting,” Irving said “And the wine just flows,” Irving concluded selected and altered three completely pink outfits — which involved cropping and hemming some shorts and a sweater and tailoring some pants — for him and his group said he loves “todo,” or “everything,” about the event Attendees also included Sonoma City Councilmember Ron Wellander who went to the event to be an ally for the LGBTQ+ community Some vendors at the event offered food and desserts incorporated Rodney Strong winery’s rosé pinot noir into frozen treats including a lady finger cookie ice cream sandwich with a rosé-berry sauce said the company has been involved in multiple queer events since its inception and believes they are extremely important for the community we find our community,” said Gary Saperstein “It’s great to come together and recognize a commonality that we have and remember that we have a community hosted the performance portion of the event She kicked off the afternoon by lip syncing to “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan while wearing a deep-pink long dress and sparkly cape Funds raised by the event went to Wake Up Sonoma the Sonoma grassroots advocacy group formed in opposition to real estate acquisitions by Ken Mattson and his former company LeFever Mattson Saperstein used to be on the organization’s board Wake Up Sonoma President Lisa Storment said part of the organization’s mission is to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community So Pink Sonoma was a great chance for them to express that support while also receiving some donations which Storment said she intends to use to support the community with protests and events “We have a big challenge ahead of us with this new regime and they’re trying to squash the LGBTQ+ community through their anti-DEI initiatives,” Sorment said “We just need to keep that visibility up and make it very clear that we are not going anywhere.” 2025Parade aims to feature only the best products and services Shopping for gifts can be overwhelming—especially when you're on the hunt for the perfect Mother's Day present How do you impress the one person who literally gave you life Sporting an attractive $36 price point (originally $45.95), this stylish cocktail set provides users with professional-grade tools designed to accommodate all sorts of homemade cocktail needs. And best of all, it’s a nearly identical dupe to a Williams Sonoma style over 6x the price.  users can take home an all-inclusive bar tool set featuring one 16.9-ounce bar shaker two wine pourers and a wooden stand to boot The set sports a beautiful black stainless steel finish paired with the natural wood finish of the stand providing an effortlessly timeless look no matter which room it’s used in.  And just like its much higher-priced counterpart this LEMONSODA set is the perfect surprise for professional mixologists amateur bartenders and at-home connoisseurs alike It comes packaged in a deluxe black gift box making it a no-brainer for those looking for last-minute gift ideas.  Stop scouring the internet for gifts and snag this versatile cocktail set while the deal is still hot It’s time to bring home the complex flavors of your favorite cocktails and save some money in the process Mom will be impressed with the thoughtful gesture and her kitchen will receive a priceless upgrade as a result.  The man was a 58-year-old Potter Valley resident Authorities identified the man who died Thursday after a UTV he was riding crashed down the steep embankment of a private road north of Lake Sonoma and flipped was going an “unsafe speed” on a Honda Pioneer UTV and lost control on a curve near Cooley Ranch Road west of Cloverdale the California Highway Patrol said in a news release The vehicle hit a wire fence and overturned Firefighters from the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District’s Geyserville unit were dispatched to the crash site around 9:40 p.m and CHP’s Santa Rosa office responded about 40 minutes later The Sonoma County Coroner’s Bureau identified Beeson CHP is continuing to investigate the crash and is asking that anyone with information call the Santa Rosa office at 707-806-5600 Authorities on Friday dismissed four charges against Barbie Robinson filed last year in connection to contracts she facilitated with IBM and DEMA Management & Consulting as head of the Harris County Public Health Department For The Press Democrat’s complete coverage of DEMA, go to pdne.ws/4aYOMnz Law enforcement officials in Harris County, Texas, have dismissed all charges against Barbie Robinson, the former Sonoma County health director who faced four felony counts of misusing public information and rigging bids connected to contracts she facilitated with IBM and DEMA Management & Consulting as the head of the Harris County Public Health Department Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, who took office on Jan. 1, said in a statement Friday that his office determined none of the charges against Robinson could be proven in court beyond reasonable doubt, the Houston Chronicle and other Harris County news organizations reported Teare said there was no evidence that Robinson profited from the contract process He also indicated that Robinson was caught in the middle of a political feud between his predecessor “[P]rosecuting public corruption must be done vigorously and with the utmost integrity — devoid of politics, innuendo, or speculation,” according to part of Teare’s statement reported by Houston Public Media unbiased review of this case reveals that this prosecution failed to meet that standard.” told Houston Public Media that Robinson is looking forward to “focusing on her daughter and rebuilding her professional career and reputation that was unjustly tarnished Robinson is thankful that the truth has come to light and that this politically driven case is finally behind her.” alleging she provided inside information to IBM during the competitive bidding process for a $31 million contract for data-hosting services and case management software Robinson’s public health department in Harris County hired DEMA in July 2021 months after she relocated from Sonoma County to Texas for a no-bid contract to run mobile health clinics during the pandemic Harris County officials fired Robinson in August 2024 following Houston Chronicle’s initial report that Robinson had been offered a consulting gig by DEMA CEO Michelle Patino In an interview Friday night with ABC13-TV in Houston Ogg blasted Teare for not pursuing the case noting that Hidalgo endorsed Teare in his run against Ogg "This is a cover-up by Sean Teare in return for support he received from certain public officials who could be implicated in these investigations," Ogg alleged "A grand jury felt there was sufficient evidence The prosecutors who filed the cases thought there was sufficient evidence and I can tell you I've seen the evidence.“ The Board of Supervisors voted to sever ties with DEMA in the wake of those revelations last year and the company soon after ceased operations in Sonoma County. In mid-February of this year, FBI agents searched a Santa Rosa home linked to DEMA founder Patino The FBI confirmed the activity but said “we are not able to provide any additional information at this time.” In November 2024, Santa Rosa police acknowledged they were working with federal authorities on an investigation into DEMA but declined to comment beyond that The Press Democrat is reaching out to both the FBI and Santa Rosa police regarding the developments in Texas Also during her tenure in Sonoma County, Robinson’s health department contracted with IBM for a similar program to the one in Texas, called ACCESS Sonoma, in 2018 to enable previously siloed agencies Paul Gullixson, Sonoma County’s communications manager, told The Press Democrat in January that the county “does not have any indication that this contract was not made in conformance with county procurement policies.” “People must be able to retire with dignity,” said one retiree Retired Sonoma County government employees are asking the Board of Supervisors to consider a cost of living adjustment for the county’s pension system which retirees and pension system officials say is long overdue Sonoma County government retirees have not had a cost of living increase since 2008 they have taken a significant hit to their purchasing power — a cumulative loss of about 47% based on consumer price index according to Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association officials The issue came before the Board of Supervisors last week during the county’s informational budget workshops. While the Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association Board of Retirement can recommend a cost of living adjustment the final decision rests with the Board of Supervisors but the issue comes as officials brace for tight budgeting amid fiscal uncertainty at the state and federal levels SCERA and county officials would meet annually to decide whether to implement an adjustment and how to fund it Funding mechanisms included using excess earnings realized investment gains or increasing employer contributions The Great Recession in 2008 “shocked” the economy and the county’s pension system disrupting that process and prompting a policy change that “inadvertently killed the COLA (cost of living adjustment) program,” said Wyne “We weren’t thinking about the COLA program at the time we were thinking about survival,” Wyne said said the retirement fund is healthy and amounts to $3.5 billion It places the county in the position to consider an adjustment for “retirees who've been waiting for 17 years,” he said Average annual payments out of the pension system range from $17,074 to $61,345 depending on the type of plan and whether the retiree’s job fell under the “safety” category said 70% of his retirement income is going to his house and medical premiums He said he is now working full time to get by Others noted that their expenses have gone up as they age “Should they be going to the food bank now outlined some options the board could consider One would be adjusting payments for retirees who lost more than 20% of their purchasing power to restore it to 80% — the most expensive option Another included offering a flat 2% increase to all retirees A third option would be offering increases to the most affected groups The board did not make any final decisions but indicated interest in further discussion including Board Chair Lynda Hopkins and Supervisor James Gore said they would like to look at providing a raise at least for the groups of retirees receiving the smallest payouts “The inequity in the system is really galling,” Hopkins said You can reach Staff Writer Emma Murphy at 707-521-5228 or emma.murphy@pressdemocrat.com local food vendors and artisan crafts all in support of the Sonoma Valley’s Latino community Children laughed and darted between food stalls selling tortas and burritos filled with carne asada and bistec weaving past dancers in whirling skirts as more than 3,000 people gathered Sunday for La Luz Center’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration — an afternoon that blended tradition Many of the vendors got their start with help from La Luz Center’s small-business support programs designed to help local Latino entrepreneurs launch and grow their ventures jewelry and artwork celebrating Mexican culture and tradition Parents held their children in line for face painting or stopped to admire bracelets and earrings crafted by local vendors “Cinco de Mayo is more than a Latino celebration — it’s a celebration of the entire Sonoma Valley community,” said Leonardo Lobato The event was co-hosted by La Luz Center with major support from Redwood Credit Union is a way to bring people together — through music food and culture — to celebrate the diversity and shared spirit that define Sonoma Valley A man was killed Thursday night when the ATV he was riding plunged off a steep private road on Cooley Ranch Firefighters from the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District’s Geyserville unit were dispatched to the crash site around 9:40 p.m. They arrived about 50 minutes later and found the vehicle down an embankment with the man The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash Authorities have not yet released the man’s identity You can reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8531 or alana.minkler@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter,) @alana_minkler If you’ve ever heard ‘Sweet Caroline’ played imagine what 250 or so Neil Diamond fans will sound like when they hit the chorus on May 10 at Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma The Sebastiani Theatre plays host to another of the zillion tribute bands out there. Jack Wright’s Neil Diamond Superstar show rolls in for a 7:30 p.m and local Diamondheads will be out in force to sing along If you’ve ever heard “Sweet Caroline” played imagine what 250 or so Neil Diamond fans will sound like when they hit the chorus Wright’s website promises “passionate ballads and high energy rock and roll.” All of Diamond’s hits will be coupled with creative imagery shown behind the band and interesting stories about the songs and Diamond from the band leader himself Tickets can be had at the door or at sebastianitheatre.com The move is part of a family-friendly celebration aimed at giving residents a safe Lea el artículo en español aquí. Fireworks are returning to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds this Fourth of July marking their first appearance since 2019 and the revival of a cherished local tradition Dubbed “Fired up Freedom,” the Independence Day celebration promises a full evening of entertainment and an array of food and drink from regional vendors The fairgrounds’ last fireworks display was held six years ago before the COVID-19 pandemic and financial constraints forced the annual show to pause organizers say they’ve made it a priority to bring the spectacle back “I think there's been a thirst for it in the community,” said Matthew Daly and it's sort of like people are almost sad that it doesn't happen.” Daly said the fairgrounds board intentionally budgeted for the pyrotechnics this year with hopes of reestablishing the tradition ahead of next year’s milestone celebration: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence “This day is not just about the sky lighting up with dazzling colors; it's about coming together as a community to celebrate our freedom and the joy of summer,” the fairgrounds said in a statement The Santa Rosa Fire Department will be on site to ensure safety public fireworks display could help curb the use of illegal fireworks in neighborhoods — a common concern when there’s no official event Organizers say they’ve worked to keep the event accessible Tickets are $10 per person and include parking though the full schedule is still being finalized Several hundred people gathered in Sonoma Plaza on Friday to rally for social justice issues Several hundred people gathered in the Sonoma Plaza Friday May 2 for a protest rallying the community behind social justice the protest encouraged attendees to “resist fascism stop the coup and support immigrant communities.” “I’m very upset with what’s going on — what this administration is doing.” Halpern said she has attended a few local rallies protesting fascism Sonoma State University student and founder of the Sonoma State Political Organizing group Ortega recruits students to attend protests Ortega said protesting has been successful because of the collaboration of local groups Sonoman Jim Wilder spoke about his project Sunflowers Across Sonoma which aims to unify those feeling marginalized under the Trump administration by planting sunflower seeds You can reach Staff Writer Emma Molloy at emma.molloy@sonomanews.com tank convoys and heightened tensions of her Ukrainian hometown Sasha Pronko saw the clips of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s now-infamous Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump cabinet members and a phalanx of cherry-picked conservative reporters Trump needs to understand what kind of person Zelenskyy is,” Pronko said and I don’t think he wants to understand.” And while she certainly wasn’t the only one taken aback by that meeting the scene hit her on a more personal level A former Press Democrat circulation employee and Santa Rosa JC graduate Pronko is a Ukrainian native with American citizenship When The Press Democrat wrote about her in April 2022 she was stuck inside Russian-occupied territory in far eastern Ukraine tending to her dying mother as the shelves went bare in local markets medical supplies grew scarce and explosions split the air She has undergone deep personal growth since she left Ukraine three months after that story ran Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces has seldom let up for long over the past three years The boundary separating territory controlled by the two nations has scarcely budged And the Ukrainian people still suffer from shortages of food even as her own life has grown more stable She left her home in Starobilsk — a centuries-old town in Luhansk Oblast which has been controlled by a Russian puppet government almost since the start of the war — in July 2022 died after being weakened by an intestinal condition Pronko had considered traveling across the east-west axis of Ukraine and that route would have been fraught with wartime peril So when an uncle with Russian citizenship visited Starobilsk for Bondarenko’s funeral she and Daniil took a bus to Russia’s border with Latvia and climbed aboard another bus waiting on the other side took the siblings through Latvia and Lithuania and into Poland Pronko overcame language barriers to get herself and Daniil onto a train bound from Warsaw to Berlin then ventured on to Pronko’s second home: America Pronko has made the most of the past 2½ years quickly met a nice man on a dating app and helped Daniil find work as well When her boyfriend moved to Dallas for work — he runs tests on gas pipelines — Pronko made sure her brother was settled in Massachusetts She works as a patient services manager for Baylor Scott & White Health Daniil is in the process of applying for a green card She has stopped smoking (a habit she acquired under the stress of Russian occupation) She found a gym community she likes — her favorite workout is pole dancing — and attends frequently “Not without an occasional glass of wine or two,” Pronko said “It’s been three years since I lost my mom,” Pronko said they have put me in position to realize I am the only person I have to live with for the rest of my life But if I want to be there for people I love If Pronko is settled internally and grateful for the home she has found in this country she is far from content with global politics conditions in Ukraine — and the presidential administration the American people have put into power Pronko called his administration “terroristic” and expressed her hope that people in the U.S will “go in the streets and start protesting this dictatorship.” She hasn’t protested yet herself but she compared Trump’s goals to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin “For Trump to scream and yell that he’s gonna get rid of residents then take a 4-year-old with cancer and deport them to … where (The child’s) country of citizenship is the U.S.,” she said Pronko will never stop worrying about the fate of Ukraine. She still has many friends and relatives back in Starobilsk, including her father. She wants peace, of course. But she is wary of proposals — including recent comments by Trump — that would cede the eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk to Russia And the way some people want this conflict to end “Peace for me will look like when we get our territories back.” You can reach Phil Barber at 707-521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com The Houston-based budget carrier’s pact to do deportation flights from Arizona starts in May the same month it will cut its routes in half into and out of Sonoma County Citing poor financial performance, Avelo Airlines ― which only about a year ago opened base operations at Charles M Schulz-Sonoma County Airport ― says it will cease those operations at the start of May the same month it is set to begin flying deportees under a new deal with ICE The change means Avelo will maintain only four of its current eight daily routes into and out of Santa Rosa Sonoma County Airport Manager Jon Stout said The move also is expected to result in the airline saying “goodbye to some great crew members” in Sonoma County Avelo’s four continuing routes will go back and forth from Santa Rosa to Burbank The Palm Springs and Bend/Redmond routes are seasonal The routes Avelo will cancel fly from Santa Rosa to Boise; Salt Lake City; Ontario and the Ontario route had already been scheduled to pause at the end of this month the airline began notifying customers via text and email of a flight cancellation in late April scheduled for Boise an early sign of the major change to be announced later Tuesday “Avelo has decided to close the base in Santa Rosa / Sonoma County (STS) almost a year after it was opened,” Avelo communications manager Madison Glassman said in a statement A base operation is an aviation industry term that means that an airline stations crew and aircraft at a particular airport for the flights it operates It operates seven other base operations across the country “STS was selected for closure because achieving necessary financial results there has proven more elusive than expected,” she said perhaps our initial hypothesis could be correct but now is the time to utilize our aircraft in the best possible opportunities.” announcing the airline will begin flying next month for the U.S Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration Control and Enforcement agency as part of a “long-term charter program” to support deportation efforts The company decided the move would help with expansion and protect jobs “We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic,” Levy said in a statement The domestic and international flights will be supported by three Boeing 737-800 planes and based at Mesa Gateway Airport In an online job listing for the Arizona operation Avelo states that the “flights will be both domestic and international trips to support DHS’s deportation efforts.” Avelo employees based at the Sonoma County airport will be given transfer opportunities to stay with the airline inflight and tech ops crewmembers in STS will have the opportunity to transfer to any base where we have openings and we hope they will choose to stay with Avelo,” she said have to say goodbye to some great crew members.” Avelo has base operations at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Burbank Airport Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport the Philadelphia / Delaware Valley region’s Wilmington Airport Central Florida’s Lakeland International Airport Charlotte’s Concord-Padgett Regional Airport and Coastal North Carolina’s Wilmington International Airport Tom Cartwright, a flight data analyst for the advocacy group Witness at the Border whose social media feeds are closely watched in immigration circles said he isn’t aware of any other commercial airlines that have provided such flights for ICE in the past five years he’s been tracking flights He called the decision by Avelo “unusual” considering charter companies the public likely hasn’t heard of typically make these flights “They may fly a flight with all migrants or deportation flights today and they might fly fans to the Masters golf tournament tomorrow,” he said of the charters “They don’t sell tickets in a retail manner like Avelo does.” where Avelo flies out of Tweed New Haven Airport Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker said he called Levy over the weekend to express his opposition to the arrangement and urged the CEO to reconsider “Avelo Airlines’ decision to charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona is deeply disappointing and disturbing For a company that champions themselves as ‘New Haven’s hometown airline,’ this business decision in antithetical to New Haven’s values,” Elicker said in a statement “Travel should be about bringing people together A local immigrant advocacy group called the New Haven Immigrants coalition is urging people to sign an online petition pledging to boycott the airline ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment The Associated Press contributed to this story “They’ll never get another dime from me,” said Lynda Hopkins chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adding that the company has chosen to take part in the “deportation industrial complex” rather than support the local tourist economy Sonoma County officials blasted Avelo Airlines’ decision to shutter its operations base at the county’s regional airport to divert resources to Arizona where the company will provide deportation flights under a contract with the Department of Homeland Security The closure comes less than a year after Avelo opened its base at the Charles M which at the time was lauded by local officials as new era of growth for the airport adding that Avelo’s move would be a blow to the local economy as well as other destinations the airline served Along with the closure of its Santa Rosa hub Avelo also eliminated several destinations to Montana “What’s insane is that the Trump administration is making it more lucrative to participate in the deportation industrial complex than supporting the local tourist economy,” she said When Avelo opened its Sonoma County base last year the airline said it would add 50 new jobs four new markets and two Boeing 737 planes to be parked overnight at the airport That base is now scheduled to close May 1 on the one-year anniversary of its opening The airline will still offer some flights through the local airport Stout notified all five county supervisors of the planned closure in an email Monday night “As a result of this new charter operation mechanics and air crews currently based the Charles M Schulz — Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa will be offered reassignments and closing the base at STS,” Stout wrote STS is the three-letter airport code for Santa Rosa Stout said the airline notified him of its plans for the Santa Rosa hub on Thursday He said first learned of Avelo’s ICE contract Monday through a story published online on airlinegeeks.com A spokesman for Avelo said Tuesday that its Santa Rosa employees would be given transfer opportunities to Mesa The spokesperson said also confirmed that the last remaining Avelo airplane based in Santa Rosa would be transferred to the new Mesa hub In a job listing on recruiting.paylocity.com Avelo states job candidates will be expected to “ensure the safety and comfort” of airline customers and crew members; respond safely to a range of in-flight emergencies Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo said she felt bad for local Avelo employees who might lose their jobs or have to relocate She added that she does not support Avelo’s business decision or its participation in “separating families.” Hermosillo said she hoped the remaining airlines serving the local airport would expand services and that local travelers would give them their business instead “I hope Avelo focuses on staying in Arizona,” she said “I for one know the types of airlines that I’ll be flying on and supporting with my own dollars,” she added Under Avelo’s new contract with the Department of Homeland Security the deportation flights will be both domestic and international It’s unclear whether any of those domestic flights would include Sonoma County airport Some local officials shuddered at the idea I would call against that,” Supervisor James Gore said “I would be out there with many thousands of Sonoma County residents with signs protesting,” she said a community organizer for Raices Collective said Avelo should not be allowed to operate in Sonoma County regardless of whether its deportation operations occur locally or elsewhere in the country “It’s unconscionable that this airline decided it can earn profits by being part of the mass deportation machine,” Saucedo Supervisor Chris Coursey said Avelo may view the DHS contract as “a good decision financially,” but it may hurt the company long-term “They’re not going to make friends in Sonoma County with this decision,” Coursey said Avelo’s deportation flights are scheduled to begin on May 12 and will operate out of the Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport in the far southeastern suburbs of Phoenix Our dining editor shares some of Sonoma County’s lesser-known breakfast spots Brunch items include: GB Cinnamon Babka French Toast with two eggs chicken apple sausage and orange ginger butter along with beverages: a Mimosa and a Weekend at Bubbie’s that has tequila Other plates are: Lox & Latke Benedict Terri’s Favorite containing griddled house pastrami (Photo by Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat) Lox & Latke Benedict with Caviar from Grossman’s Deli Friday Fresh baked breads from Marla SR Bakery and Cafe November 16 Cappuccino and a scone from Marla SR Bakery and Cafe November 16 a croissant-like muffin covered with with maple sugar and sea salt from Marla Bakery Eggs Benedict at Dierk's Parkside Cafe in Santa Rosa French toast with Sal Do Chenin Blanc from J & M’s Midtown Café Oct Smoked Salmon Hash with house-smoked salmon two eggs any style and lemon horseradish sauce from J & M’s Midtown Cafe New England Red Flannel Hash with country potatoes two eggs and arugula from J & M’s Midtown Cafe North Bay Vegetable Hash with seasonal vegetables two eggs any style and pesto from J & M’s Midtown Cafe Thursday (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat) Poached Egg Salad with a Pineapple Chili Shrub from the new J & M’s Midtown Café October 23 Karina Figueroa arranges a tray of pastries at Tia Maria Panaderia y Pasteleria in Santa Rosa Coworkers Chelsea Zieske and Diego Garcia eat breakfast at Tia Maria Panaderia y Pasteleria in Santa Rosa on Tuesday at Tia Maria Panaderia y Pasteleria in Santa Rosa on Tuesday Rosca de Reyes (Celebrate Three Kings) from Tia Maria Panaderia y Pasteleria in Santa Rosa Mocha Tres Leches cake from Tia Maria Panaderia in Santa Rosa Pumpkin Cheese Cake from Tia Maria Panaderia y Pasteleria in Santa Rosa a German-style pancake with caramelized sugar ginger and turmeric; Prickly Pear Margarita; the Beet with carrot apple and ginger; and a Cafe Mocha on the menu at Brothers Cafe in Santa Rosa Mushroom hash and eggs with organic mushrooms onions and red bell peppers topped with two poached eggs and a homemade biscuit on the side Guy Fieri tries blueberry pancakes at Hank's Creekside in Santa Rosa tomato and Hollandaise sauce on an English muffin Grilled Vegetable Hash at Jeffrey's Hillside Cafe in Santa Rosa on Thursday Chicken-fried chicken with gravy at Americana in Sebastopol French toast on the Early Bird menu at Americana in Sebastopol Chilaquiles at Chila-Killer Cafe in Rohnert Park A selection of dishes from the brunch menu at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma Salmon Benedict on the brunch menu at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma French toast on the brunch menu at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma Avocado toast on the brunch menu at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma Counter Culture food story Sax's Joint fried chicken and waffles Open wide for a pancake the size of a pizza at Sax's Joint in Petaluma Pastry case at Stellina Pronto in Petaluma Avocado toast with butternut squash and pomegranate seeds from Baker & Cook in Boyes Hot Springs John and Jenny Purcell at Baker & Cook in Boyes Hot Springs on Wednesday Strawberries & Cream French Toast with ciabatta bread strawberry lemon compote and sweet cream from the The Wild Poppy along the Bodega Hwy west of Sebastopol Friday Emily Wilson delivers morning cocktails to patrons on eating in the back patio and The Wild Poppy Cafe along the Bodega Highway west of Sebastopol Friday 2024 (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat) A brunch spread at Wild Poppy Cafe in Sebastopol scones and other baked items from the The Wild Poppy Cafe along the Bodega Highway west of Sebastopol Friday Dan Talbert grabs a cup of coffee at Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen at Creekside Park in Monte Rio Shakshuka — a Middle Eastern dish of poached egg onions and a side of hummus and puffy pita bread — at Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen in Monte Rio Breakfast sandwich from Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen in Monte Rio Strawberry cheesecake from Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen in Monte Rio Cinnamon French toast made from Village Bakery brioche topped with butter organic raspberries and real maple syrup with orange slices sparkling wine and a cappuccino at Estero Cafe in Valley Ford Breakfast sandwich from Estero Cafe in Valley Ford and apple cider vinaigrette dressing and a mimosa at Estero Cafe in Valley Ford on Wednesday Lemon Ricotta Hotcake with Acorn house lemon curd oat crumble and lemon lavender ice cream from the Acorn Cafe Thursday Tiramisu French toast with whipped mascarpone coffee ice cream and cocoa nibs on Goguette brioche from the Acorn Cafe Thursday ‘Shop Local’ Benedict with Journeyman bacon brown butter hollandaise and Acorn breakfast potatoes from the Acorn Cafe Thursday fresh herbs and Goguette sourdough with a Big Sur juice from the Acorn Cafe Thursday Breakfast and brunch are the focus of Chef Beryl Adler's Acorn Cafe in Healdsburg Amina Syammach and the Quail & Condor bakery team create a mosaic of pastries for the early morning rush Monday The selection of pastries from Quail & Condor bakery Monday Salted Egg Morning Bun from Quail & Condor bakery Monday Shrimp and grits at The Parish Cafe in Healdsburg Breakfast special with poached eggs and hollandaise at Parish Cafe in Healdsburg Rockin' A Adventure Cafe owner Trevor Ambrosini takes down an order as Ashley de Ramus fills another takes a break from selling morning beverages at his drive-thru coffee shop Scrambled eggs and toast won’t get me out of bed but flash a sticky bun and some hollandaise my way In Sonoma County, the breakfast scene runs the gamut, from simple plates of pancakes to fancy caviar-blinged Benedicts to crackly croissants And while better-known haunts get plenty of love you might be surprised by some unexpected breakfast favorites from Petaluma to Cloverdale and everywhere in between Grossman’s Noshery & Bar: Of course, you’ll find great bagels and schmears at this Jewish-style deli, but insiders know to order the lox and latke Benedict with schmaltz hollandaise – because who needs English muffins when you have latkes? Add caviar if you’re feeling fancy. 308 Wilson St., 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com Marla Bakery: Only you can make the decision between the maple sugar and sea salt-dusted crebble (a croissant muffin) or the finger-licking sticky bun. Go for broke and get both — and since you’re there, add a fudgy dark chocolate brownie for later. 208 Davis St., 707-852-4091, marlabakery.com Dierk’s Parkside Cafe: This humble café has reached icon status in Santa Rosa for its chef-driven menu and twist on breakfast standards. The Country Benedict on a crispy baguette with roasted tomatoes will always be my favorite, but the hash and cinnamon-dusted pull-a-parts are a close second. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com J&M’s Midtown Cafe: Former Ramen Gaijin chef Joel Shaw’s weekly specials (like Hot Cross Bun sliders that sell out in minutes) are always a treat, but for traditionalists, the French toast is a winner — fresh ciabatta baguette dipped in egg, milk and cinnamon batter, leaving the inside soft and custard-like and the exterior crisp. 1422 Fourth St., 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com Tia Maria: At this neighborhood bakery and cafe, a sweet concha roll stuffed with scrambled egg, melty cheese and thick strips of bacon is pressed in a sandwich grill for a sweet, salty, creamy handheld breakfast sando like no other. Grab a Mexican hot chocolate for the road. 44 Sebastopol Ave., 707-540-9864, tiamaria.world Brother’s Café: Most folks whiz by this setback cafe, located between a motel and a Mountain Mike’s on a nothing-burger stretch of Cleveland Avenue. Seek it out for the sticky-crunchy Dutch baby German pancake with caramelized apples. Also excellent are the biscuits with mushroom gravy. 3135 Cleveland Ave., 707-541-6345, brotherscafesr.com Hank’s Creekside Cafe: Expect to sit around reading the paper on Saturday and Sunday mornings waiting for a table at this quirky Santa Rosa breakfast institution. Fluffy pancakes as big as your head, sausage, eggs and huevos rancheros, all served with a side of local cred and a homemade touch. Biscuits are made from scratch, eggs are fresh and the cottage fries are “Oh, my God” good. 2800 Fourth St., 707-575-8839, hanks-creekside.com Jeffrey’s Hillside Café: Former John Ash & Co. chef brings Wine Country dining to breakfast. Don’t miss their chilaquiles, Southern-inspired biscuits and gravy, sticky bun French toast and cheese blintzes with lemon curd. Lines can get long on weekends, so put on your patient hat — it’s sooooo worth the wait. 2901 Fourth St., 707-546-6317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com  Criminal Baking Co: You can smell the buttery goodness even before you head inside. Sinful Sandos are a must, as is the Fun Guy, with mushrooms, bacon, spinach, goat cheese, basil and arugula pesto, lemon curd and a baked egg. Plus, burritos, granola, quiche and daily pastries. Owner Dawn Zaft and her team also make plenty of gluten-free bagels and vegan pastries. 808 Donahue St., 707-888-3546, criminalbakingcompany.com Chila-Killer Café: The name riffs on the restaurant’s signature dish, chilaquiles, a hearty breakfast (or hangover helper) of fried corn tortillas soaked in red or green salsa and topped with eggs, cheese, crema and pork carnitas. Killer portions will either break you or fuel you. 5979 Commerce Blvd., 707-595-1779, instagram.com/chila.killer.cafe Sarmentine: Brunch with a French accent includes salmon-laden croissants with hollandaise, a side of gratin potatoes that put home fries to shame and bread pudding in a pool of crème anglaise. You’ll also want to leave with a fresh baguette and croissants for dinner. 840 Petaluma Blvd. N., 707-623-9595, sarmentine.com Sax’s Joint: Giant cinnamon rolls and pancakes the size of a small hubcap are the signatures of this 1950s-style café. Run by sassy sisters, it’s raucous fun but can be hectic on weekends. 317 Petaluma Ave., 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com Baker and Cook: Fresh buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy are legendary at this Boyes Hot Springs café. Originating in 19th-century lumberjack camps, this gut-stuffing breakfast warms the heart and fills the belly for a long day of timbering — or couch rotting. A side salad makes the whole thing almost healthy. 18812 Highway 12, 707-938-7329, bakerandcooksonoma.com Lightwave Coffee & Kitchen: Follow the signs to the Monte Rio skate park, where you’ll find a curious walk-up café. You’ll want to order the warming breakfast shakshuka with tomato-y eggs and whatever pie is on the menu. 9725 Main St., 707-865-5169, lightwavecafe.square.site Estero Café: The “classic American farm-to-table” menu has made it a popular stop for diners headed to the coast. Serving locally sourced breakfast and lunch daily, dishes like chicken-fried Stemple Creek Ranch steak with country gravy and greens, Dungeness crab roll and King trumpet mushroom melt with Estero Gold cheese are local favorites. 14450 Highway 1, 707-876-3333, esterocafe.com Parish Café: Best known for its Louisiana-style shrimp and grits, beignets and po’boys, Parish has a Southern-style breakfast with its standards (yes, you can eat shrimp and grits for breakfast) as well as bananas Foster French toast and a Benedict with fried Gulf shrimp and Tasso ham. Chicory coffee is a staple. 60A Mill St., 707-431-8474, theparishcafe.com You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats images of cars flying around banked ovals likely come to mind But just down the road in wine country lies a different beast: Sonoma Raceway and one where a legendary driver with Rio Linda ties Before he became a household name and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon spent formative years racing right here in the Rio Linda area honing the skills that would make him a racing icon And while Gordon conquered tracks across the country With a record five Cup Series wins at this challenging road course Gordon demonstrated the incredible finesse and car control required to succeed where left and right turns rule the day Sonoma isn’t your typical NASCAR venue 1.99-mile layout (sometimes using the 2.52-mile “Carousel” configuration) features 10 demanding turns and a significant 160-foot elevation change – the most on the NASCAR circuit Forget simply mashing the gas; drivers here battle their 3,400-pound machines through sharp hairpins requiring precision braking and masterful shifting more reminiscent of international sports car racing “Sonoma has always been a very technical flowing road course,” notes Denny Hamlin “It’s a great racetrack and all the drivers and teams enjoy a changeup even from other road courses we have on the schedule,” adds Aric Almirola why should Rio Linda fans make the short trip The tight corners and narrow straights mean close-quarters racing Contact isn’t just possible; it’s practically guaranteed “rubbin’ is racin’,” and Sonoma often delivers fender-bending duels and dramatic last-lap moves especially heading into the infamous Turn 11 “Turn 11 will be seeing a lot of smoke,” predicts Cup Series driver Austin Dillon “It’s going to be an exciting race.” Recent track improvements have only upped the ante all the time,” says former champion Kyle Busch Drivers with diverse racing backgrounds often excel leading to unexpected winners and thrilling championship implications It’s a chance to see raw talent shine on a uniquely challenging stage Imagine it: The roar of V8 engines echoing through the Sonoma hills the smell of tires and race fuel hanging in the air and the sight of colorful stock cars sliding and battling just inches apart It’s a full-sensory experience unlike any other in motorsports Whether you cheered for Rio Linda’s own Jeff Gordon back in the day or you’re new to the excitement of NASCAR witnessing the drama unfold on a road course is a must And there’s no better place to do it than at the iconic Sonoma Raceway Don’t Miss Out: NASCAR storms into Sonoma Raceway for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend from July 11–13 and upgrades now at SonomaRaceway.com or call (800) 870-RACE [7223] Experience the thrill that made a local legend a road course king Contact/Feedback Submit Story Idea Anniversary AnnouncementBirth AnnouncementLetter To The EditorObituarySubmit Story IdeaWedding Announcement Please enter your username or email address to reset your password Here are some go-to local spots for excellent tacos quest fresco chars beans from Cascabel Mexican Bar & Grill in Santa Rosa red onions and cilantro from Cascabel Mexican Bar & Grill in Santa Rosa Family-friendly Mexican classics keep Los Tres Chiles packed The giant bacon-wrapped chimichanga dares you to eat it Al pastor tacos from Las Palmas in Santa Rosa Mushroom tacos from the Lucha Sabina food truck at Mitote Food Park in Santa Rosa Tlayuda from the Maria Machetes food truck at Mitote Food Park includes a giant tortilla topped with chapulines (fried grasshoppers) A variety of Mexican dishes served at the Mitote Food Park in Santa Rosa Ramiro Morales prepares tacos al pastor that was cooked the traditional way on a trompo Molcajete at Taqueria Molcajetes in Santa Rosa Carnitas tacos from Taqueria California in Santa Rosa Tacos al Pastor from Cielito Lindo restaurant in Santa Rosa Caldo De Siete Mares is a seafood soup of scallops and white fish in broth with vegetables from Cielito Lindo restaurant in Santa Rosa (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat) Tacos de Birria con queso with consomme for dipping from Cielito Lindo restaurant in Santa Rosa Enchiladas Michoacan includes five enchiladas filled with quest fresco covered in guajillo sauce with potatoes and marinated chicken from Cielito Lindo restaurant in Santa Rosa pickled onions and avocado from Cielito Lindo restaurant in Santa Rosa Quesadillas are nice, but a machete — a super-sized quesadilla with extra goodies inside — is what you come to El Fogon for. Mexico City street food like pambazo (a torta dipped in red pepper sauce) is also spectacular. (El Fogon) Cochinita Pibil Tacos from Quiote in downtown Petaluma Jalisco-style Chicken Enchiladas with Mole from Quiote in downtown Petaluma rice and organic homemade tortillas at Tortilla Real Mexican Kitchen in Petaluma Chicken enchiladas served with beans and rice at Tortilla Real Mexican Kitchen in Petaluma Tortillas are made from scratch while you wait at El Molino Central in Sonoma Beer-battered fish tacos with avocado lime mayo The chicken mole enchilada by chef Efrain Balmes at Sonoma Eats in Sonoma Tuesday The Baja fish tacos by Chef Efrain Balmes at Sonoma Eats in Sonoma and Baja fish tacos by Chef Efrain Balmes at Sonoma Eats in Sonoma Tuesday November 22 toasted pumpkin seeds and plantains served with mezcal served in a decorated gourd at Agave Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar in Healdsburg The old El Farolito is now Gallina D’Oro with outdoor seating just off the square Friday Flautas Platter has rolls filled with shredded chicken and cheese drizzled with chipotle aioli and a side of jalapeño and pineapple jelly pork ribs in a green tomatillo sauce with nopales A festive lunch is enjoyed at El Milagro in Cloverdale Traditional moles and regional Mexican cuisine from El Milagro Healdsburg Everyone has a favorite neighborhood taco shop and arguing over who has the best burritos Over years of covering restaurants in Sonoma County I’ve collected some tried-and-true spots where you can’t go wrong So the next time you’re haggling with your friends over where to sit down for a Mexican feast Looking for the best burrito in Sonoma County? Click here Cascabel: Elevated Mexican flavors in a welcoming Montgomery Village location. Bite-sized potato pancakes with mole, barbacoa, and conchinita pibil — braised pork marinated in citrus and annatto seed — are top picks. 909 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-521-9444, cascabelbayarea.com Los Tres Chiles: Family-friendly Mexican classics keep this Bennett Valley restaurant packed. The giant bacon-wrapped chimichanga dares you to eat it. 2765 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-304-5724, lostreschiles.com Taqueria Las Palmas: No-frills street tacos and burritos that consistently impress La Texanita: Stellar Mexican antojitos (snacks) like stuffed sopes and the Torta Texana with chorizo made this a Guy Fieri favorite. 1667 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-527-7331, latexanita.com Mitote Food Park: A rotating lineup of food trucks, a mezcal cocktail bar and chocolate-filled churros make this a one-stop shop. Now in a new location. 100 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, mitotefoodpark.com Taqueria Molcajetes: This neighborhood taqueria gained national notoriety after Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives took notice of their sizzling molcajetes carne asada and al pastor tacos have made this humble taqueria a darling of the delivery scene Caramel-filled churros and sweet Jamaica agua frescas end the meal deliciously Cielito Lindo: The list of add-ons to their super burritos is impressive, from al pastor and shredded chicken to soy chorizo, shrimp, potatoes and skirt steak. 52 Mission Blvd., Suite 110, Santa Rosa, 707-978-2070, instagram.com/cielitolindosantarosa El Fogon Taco Shop: Quesadillas are nice, but a machete — a super-sized quesadilla with extra goodies inside — is what you’re here for. Mexico City street food like pambazo (a torta dipped in red pepper sauce) is also spectacular. 623 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-0574; 6576 Oakmont Drive, Suite A, Santa Rosa, 408-872-9953, elfogontacoshopca.com Tortilla Real Mexican Kitchen: Hit up the weekend brunch in this adorable downtown Petaluma cafe for chilaquiles, huevos rancheros and tortas. 5 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-658-1415, tortillareal.com El Molino Central: Tortillas are made from scratch while you wait. Beer-battered fish tacos with avocado lime mayo, ahi tostadas and tamales are best bets. Pick up Mole Enchiladas in the cold case to heat up at home. 11 Central Ave., Sonoma, 707-939-1010, elmolinocentral.com Sonoma Eats: Chef Efrain Balmes makes the best Oaxacan food in Sonoma County using high-quality, locally farmed ingredients at a good price, infused with his heart and soul. The Mole Enchilada is what you’re here for. Other best bets include Baja Fish Tacos and Potato Tacos. 18133 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 707-343-1141, sonoma-eats.com Agave: Mole, a rich dark sauce made with more than 20 ingredients, is the signature of this family-owned restaurant. A large selection of imported mezcal is also a star attraction. 1063 Vine St., Healdsburg, 707-433-2411, agavehealdsburg.com Gallina D’Oro (formerly El Farolito): Owned by the same family as Agave (and several other great Mexican restaurants), you can get their signature mole Oaxaqueno, tacos ahogados and quesabirria, plus tasty mezcal-infused cocktails. 128 Plaza St., Healdsburg, 707-433-2807, gallinadoro.com which owns or manages 68 daily newspapers and more than 300 weekly publications throughout the U.S Lea el artículo en español aquí. Sonoma Media Investments, parent company of The Press Democrat, Sonoma Magazine and five other North Bay publications, is being acquired by MediaNews Group Denver-based MediaNews is part of Alden Global Capital which owns or manages 68 daily newspapers and more than 300 weekly publications throughout the United States The company and its affiliates comprise the largest privately held network of newspapers in the country MediaNews has a wide presence in California including the San Jose Mercury News and the San Diego Union-Tribune New York Daily News and other storied titles Sonoma businessman and lobbyist Darius Anderson did not return a phone call Thursday seeking comment But in a statement Anderson co-signed with former SMI CEO Steve Falk the two said the “economic challenges” facing media companies today are greater than what they were in 2012 when Anderson joined several local investors in purchasing The Press Democrat “This is particularly true for local media like ours,” Anderson and Falk wrote “It has become difficult for a small group of local investors to guarantee the paper’s long-term future.” Sonoma Media Investments’ largest publication when the Sonoma Democrat was sold to Ernest L The company was locally owned for nearly a century before it was sold to The New York Times Company in 1985 The Times sold the newspaper to Halifax Media Holdings led by California businessman Darius Anderson wife of famed “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles Schulz; former Dolby Labs CEO Bill Jasper; Norma Person widow of late PD publisher Evert Person; former Intel Executive Vice President Les Vadasz; and former Citigroup executive Sandy Weill offering 7-day home newspaper delivery there and changing its tagline to “the voice of Sonoma and Napa counties — and the North Bay.” News of the sale came to SMI employees in an email Thursday afternoon in advance of the formal announcement MediaNews Group said in the email that the purchase of SMI will allow the company to “advance its stewardship in California as the largest provider of news and information across the state.” Besides the Mercury News and Union-Tribune the group also owns the Orange County Register East Bay Times and Marin Independent Journal The purchase came as a surprise to many SMI employees including members of the union representing SMI journalists Pacific Media Workers Guild Local 39621 for weeks had been told that SMI ownership was negotiating a sale with Hearst Corporation a majority of union members voted to waive their collective bargaining agreement to facilitate the sale to Hearst But ultimately SMI opted to sell to MediaNews which will keep the collective bargaining agreement intact Press Democrat visual journalist Christopher Chung noted Alden’s reputation for cutting jobs within its newsrooms The company also has been criticized by media industry observers for its staffing decisions “Clearly money was more important to him than his commitment to local community journalism,” Chung said Press Democrat investigative reporter Phil Barber told KQED he was relieved the collective bargaining agreement will remain but that members “have a lot of questions” about the way the sale to MediaNews came together “We’re a pretty optimistic group by nature and we certainly want to make the most of this and hope for the best but it’s going to open up a period of uncertainty for us,” he said Anderson said that “We believe that the newspaper its staff and most importantly the public will be best served under the stewardship of MediaNews Group with the newspaper expertise and financial resources necessary to carry on our mission of delivering the highest-caliber local journalism for future North Bay generations.” a former Press Democrat columnist and longtime reporter expressed hope that MediaNews Group will continue to invest in The Press Democrat and its other publications Coursey was a journalist at The Press Democrat when it was purchased in the mid-1980s by The New York Times which modernized the newspaper and invested heavily into its operations including the construction of a now-defunct printing plant in Rohnert Park who was a longtime president of the paper’s guild face far greater competition and economic challenges now than they did in the 1980s But he said he hopes The Press Democrat will continue to be a “paper that puts a high value on local news and serious coverage of serious issues.” said in the news release that The Press Democrat’s new owners intend to do just that “We are honored to bring a newspaper of this quality into MediaNews Group,” Pine said “We appreciate the importance of local news and information to the communities where we publish and are proud to expand our commitment to Northern California in the North Bay.” You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com The joint news release by Sonoma Media Investments and MediaNews Group is below Santa Rosa, Calif., May 2, 2025 — Sonoma Media Investments, owner of The Press Democrat, has reached an agreement to sell the newspaper and its sister publications to MediaNews Group the nation’s largest private operator of newspapers independent local press was vital to our North Bay community with the newspaper expertise and financial resources necessary to carry on our mission of delivering the highest-caliber local journalism for future North Bay generations,” said Darius Anderson managing member of Sonoma Media Investments MediaNews Group has a major Bay Area presence with its ownership of the San Jose Mercury News and the East Bay Times The company owns 68 daily newspapers in major cities across the country Denver and Orlando as well as another seven larger-market dailies through Tribune Publishing MediaNews Group publishes more than 300 weekly papers across the U.S The sale to MediaNews Group includes a provision that honors the existing contract with the Pacific Media Workers Guild the union that represents the editorial staff “We are honored to bring a newspaper of this quality into MediaNews Group,” said Frank Pine The Press Democrat is one of the most respected local news organizations in the country The paper’s editorial staff has consistently produced some of the nation’s best local reporting including earning a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting in 2018 for coverage of the Tubbs Fire Anderson formed Sonoma Media Investments in 2012 with local community leaders to preserve and revitalize local journalism in the North Bay at a time when it was uncertain if The Press Democrat would survive The group invested significantly in the newsroom and acquired (and started) other North Bay publications Sonoma County Gazette and the Spanish-language La Prensa Sonoma “This has never been a business venture for me or my fellow investors as much it has been an investment in ensuring there is a trusted voice that informs and reflects the diverse voices of the North Bay,” Anderson said “I am grateful to my fellow investors for putting their resources and reputations on the line to the newsroom staff for their dedication to the mission and to the North Bay community for their support.” “I am immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished including a Pulitzer Prize – an award that is rarely earned by a publication of our size These results are a tribute to the dedication and hard work of our editorial staff on behalf of the community about which we care so much,” he said Organizers across the United States have framed this year’s protests as a pushback against what they called a sweeping assault on labor protections diversity initiatives and federal employees Lea el artículo en español aquí. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world turned out Thursday for rallies marking International Workers’ Day many united in anger over President Donald Trump’s agenda — from aggressive tariffs stoking fears of global economic turmoil to immigration crackdowns thousands of people joined planned rallies in Sonoma and Napa counties at least 300 people gathered Thursday afternoon outside the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Mexican and state of California flags and toting dozens of signs “Justice for immigrants,” “100 Days of Hell,” “Bring back federal workers,” “No DICtator,” “Abolish ICE,” “Democracy not oligarchy” and “Hands Off our Immigrant Neighbors!” the group then marched to Old Courthouse Square downtown where they joined hundreds of others as they listened to music and planned speakers “America was built on all of us coming from other places,” said Mary Pappas as she made her way down Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa with the procession People with signs lined Third Street on the square awaiting the arrival of the walking masses “The abuse and criminal behavior,” Pappas said “They are pulling people out of their homes members of The Hubbub Club band of Sebastopol played tunes as the marchers approached from the north passing drivers honked in support of protest signs that displayed Trump’s face and called for “No Kings!” Thursday’s action and rally on the square was about building connections to protect vulnerable communities from the Trump administration’s actions whether that is deportations or dialing back long-established LGBTQ+ protections “I’m hoping to get connected to more people to be safe,” she said “You are not safe unless you are connected and plugged in you are not safe and that community needs to stand up for you as a trans woman standing up for immigrants,” she said the usual afternoon traffic flowed along the East Washington Street corridor as more than 70 protesters gathered on the south side of the freeway overpass Passing cars — traveling beneath the Highway 101 overpass and along the east-west city street — honked continuously in support of the group Some of the protesters held signs that read “Tariffs Cause Job Losses,” “Save Social Security,” and “Eat the rich.” said many of the participants are “unhappy” with the current the Trump administration He underscored that “May Day is about workers.” People decried the administration’s cuts to funding for scientific research while still others said Trump’s actions are threatening the U.S "A lot of us have been feeling overwhelmed and wondering what the heck we can do in Petaluma we haven't had any events that we could easily get to so I thought that this would be a nice way for people to be able to express their feelings about the horrible regime in Washington," Little said about 200 people turned up at Veterans Memorial Park to protest sang along to a protest song and marched around the city’s downtown bridges waving signs to passing motorists who honked in support Protester Denise Faciani said she’d been at several major protests recently and the potential loss of due process rights is a huge reason people need to be protesting now She referenced the high-profile abduction and deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador by the Trump administration saying that it was important to stand up for due process rights for moral and constitutional reasons Others spoke to the pressures face by immigrants and immigrant workers Napa City Council member Bernie Narvaez said in a speech that he couldn’t help but think of his own parents on International Workers’ Day who immigrated to the United States from Mexico to build a better future “International Workers’ Day is not just any day,” Narvaez said The Associated Press and Press Democrat staff writers Kerry Benefield Edward Booth and Jennifer Sawhney contributed to this report There is a new space in Glen Ellen to gather and appreciate a wonderful sense of community it is located a bit south of town in Jack London Village There is a new space in Glen Ellen to gather, enjoy others, and appreciate a wonderful sense of community. Called, appropriately enough, the Glen Ellen Gathering Space The proprietor of the space, Lisa Willet, has booked two interesting and dynamic upcoming musical events. On two separate evenings, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Matt Venuti will perform Venuti will present his “Music and Sound Alchemy” show he blends the basic elements of sound immersion with his considerable musicality He guides his audience as they feel the energy the music creates Venuti offers his “AmeriCosmos: A Multidimensional Music and Visual Journey.” This presentation utilizes that same musical energy and combines it will projected visual storytelling Venuti uses a selection of electric and acoustic instruments to bridge sound and soul Venuti uses two instruments heretofore unheard of and another unusual device called the Electronic Valve Instrument it rings like a bell and has a tone similar to that of a pan drum Played like a trumpet and looking a bit like a melodica it is MIDI capable and sounds like nothing normally heard in Glen Ellen The events at the Gathering Space will be lovely and groundbreaking in many ways. The space itself is above the Yeti Restaurant, 14301 Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen, and access to the second floor can be made via stairs or an open-air lift. Space is limited, and tickets can be purchase in advance at glenellengathering.com View/Download a PDF of this Press Release CA – The City of Sonoma’s Cultural and Fine Arts Commission (CFAC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Student Creative Artist Award celebrating outstanding artistic achievement by local high school students residing within the Sonoma Valley Unified School District boundaries After a competitive application and interview process the City received 13 submissions from students attending a range of schools including Sonoma Valley High School Applicants submitted work across a wide variety of disciplines Reflecting on the applicants’ work and interviews “Each of these students represents the incredible creativity and depth that exists within our community and their commitment to artistic exploration are truly inspiring “The quality of submissions and the maturity displayed by each student were truly inspiring It speaks not only to their dedication but also to the excellence of the arts educators and programs that have nurtured their creative development It was an honor for the Commission to experience their work firsthand.” The Student Creative Artist Award program, founded in 1988, has awarded more than $60,000 to over 80 students. It is designed to support Sonoma Valley youth as they pursue their creative education and expression. More information about the program is available at www.sonomacity.org/student-creative-artist-award demonstrated her passion for storytelling through her video submission “The Pomegranate Heart.” As Teagan described in her artist statement “I hope to continue refining and enhancing my ability to create multi-meaning films that encourage people to think and to see themselves in art.”​ Sonoma City Council will recognize the student artists and present the awards at a future meeting. Recordings of the student interviews, conducted during the CFAC meetings on April 15 and April 22, are available for viewing on the City’s YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UChZjUrg2rNLYxTgQHhFy-Tg/videos Additional funding for this year’s awards was made possible through generous donations raised at the 2025 Treasure Artist Reception honoring Margaret Hatcher allowing the Commission to recognize multiple students for their exceptional creative work The Cultural and Fine Arts Commission extends its sincere appreciation to all who participated Students who are juniors are encouraged to reapply next year and the Commission is also exploring opportunities to showcase the work of all applicants later this year The City of Sonoma has been honored with the 2024 Bridge Award for Project Management by the Northern California Engineering Contractors Association for the successful completion of the Chase Street Bridge Replacement Project This regional award recognizes excellence in project delivery and team coordination. The Chase Street Bridge project was led by the City’s Public Works team, with Granite Construction, Ghirardelli Associates, and Consor Engineering comprising the project team they replaced a structurally deficient bridge enhancing safety and improving access for vehicles A video shown at the awards ceremony—featuring Public Works Director Mike Berger—is available to watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dcavyms18rA?si=ulLY-soo41tI3kN6 For more details about the project, visit: www.sonomacity.org/chase-street-bridge Yolanda Contreras began mentoring Alee Villasenor when she was in fifth grade and still has a close relationship with her 16 years later In need of a mentor to help with sudden challenges in her life then a fifth grade student at Prestwood Elementary School establishing a close relationship that still thrives 16 years later “It’s not unusual for mentors and mentees to remain in one another’s lives well beyond high school,” said Susie Gallo, executive director of Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance which Villasenor contacted to facilitate her mentor-mentee relationship with Contreras “We get to hear the stories of mentors attending college graduations becoming ‘grand mentors’ and even monitoring their original mentee’s child “Imagine putting a time limit of a friendship … Mentoring is a beautiful trajectory and so many of our matches are friends for life.” Contreras was surprised when Villasenor requested her to be her mentor because she already had one “She spoke with the mentor coordinator and told them she did not resonate with her current mentor and had found someone else,” Contreras said I knew she had just had a big loss in her life: Her mom had just passed away.” Contreras’ family approved the relationship and she received training and support from Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance to facilitate it “I knew that she was put in my path for a reason,” Contreras said “There was no way I could say ‘no’ to this beautiful big-brown-eyed little girl that needed me at such a critical time in her life.” just five months before she was to be promoted to the sixth grade loving woman that unfortunately passed away when I was 10 years old becoming both a steady hand and a soft place to land he made sure my brother and I had the love He didn’t just fill the space she left: He became our anchor Contreras provided the additional love and support that she needed “What drew me to Yoli was her presence,” Villasenor said You could feel her strength without her needing to say a word I asked her to be my mentor because I knew I had so much to learn from her — not just about business or leadership going to the movies and cooking albondigas (meatball) soup laughing and just having conversations helped us build a strong bond,” Villasenor said wisdom and a lot of life lessons in those simple conversations She felt less like a mentor and more like family.” Their weekdays began following a consistent rhythm Contreras drove Villasenor to school in the morning and when classes ended picked her up and drove her to the hair salon she owns Villasenor started serving as Contreras’ assistant at the salon cleaning up and assisting with whatever else was needed seeing how she treated her clients and how she carried herself as a businesswoman It was important to me because I got to see firsthand what it looks like to build something from the ground up and do it with love Contreras said that after doing simple tasks for a couple months she became eager to learn about the salon industry organized bills and soon learned how to mix colors and run the salon They maintained their relationship during Villasenor’s years at Adele Harrison Middle School and Sonoma Valley High School As mentees enter their teenage years, a time inevitably arrives when the nature of their relationship with their mentors changes “It was all new territory for me,” Contreras said I felt like I need to protect and guide her as I was used to being with her all the time I was sad and scared to let her go but I knew she was growing her own wings I knew I had to take a step back even though it scared and hurt me to let her go Contreras said that she soon realized that this was all part of Villasenor becoming an independent teenager made new friends and started dating,” Contreras said I found that the more room I gave her to branch out the more she would find her way back to me for advice or just to hang out It was a learning experience for both of us.” Contreras’ role changed to more of a steady step out into the world and really explore what I want to do on my own,” Villasenor said “She wasn’t just giving me advice anymore: She was empowering me to believe in my own voice and choices ”That trust she had in me helped me grow more than anything and it brought us even closer because I knew she would always ‘be there,’ cheering me on As Villasenor was preparing to graduate from high school she expressed an interest in becoming a cosmetologist she then attended Le Melange Academy in Napa “I wanted to pursue a career in cosmetology because after spending time at the salon with Yoli I realized how much I loved the creative side of it — helping people feel good about themselves and seeing the confidence It gives them,” she said my brother is a barber and my aunts and cousins all have salons or work in the industry.” she worked at Personal Image Salon for a couple years but it then closed for six months due to the pandemic “We all had to reinvent ourselves,” Contreras said “Alee started doing lashes and opened her own lash studio (Alee’s Artistry Villasenor chose to focus on eyelash extension due to the artistry involved and the personal connections she could build with her clients “Starting my business was the next step and it felt natural to create a space where I could share that same confidence-boosting energy that inspired me,” she said Contreras is proud of Villasenor for opening her own studio did her research and found the location to set up her studio,” she said Her mentoring of of Villasenor has also enhanced her parenting skills “Alee helped me so much as she opened the road for me to navigate the same road with my boys,” she said “Our children will grow and go out on their own but they always come back when they need us That is what being a parent or mentor is all about — unconditional love!” said that Contreras has not only been a mentor I’ve learned what it means to be confident compassionate and resilient,” Villasenor said “She’s shown me the power of kindness in business and how to balance ambition with authenticity Yoli has taught me to believe in myself and to always trust the journey Her support and presence have shaped how I am today and I’m forever grateful for the love and wisdom she’s shared with me.” Contreras said that Villasenor is and always will be her mentee connection and commitment does not end when the mentee graduates from high school,” she said and see her get married and grow her own family KQED Live EventsPRX Podcast Garage EventsEvents Around the Bay AreaMember Benefits with KQED LiveVideos from KQED LiveWatch recordings of recent KQED Live events FeaturedThat's My WordAn ongoing exploration of Bay Area hip-hop history See Senior Director of TV Programming Meredith Speight’s recommendations from this month’s KQED 9 Watch recordings of recent KQED Live events Support KQED by using your donor-advised fund to make a charitable gift The Press Democrat’s former printing facility in Rohnert Park on April 11 The sale of the Sonoma County papers to the owner of San José Mercury News and East Bay Times was a surprise twist in a plan to initially sell to SF Chronicle-owner Hearst The Santa Rosa Press Democrat and sister publications have been acquired by the MediaNews Group the nation’s largest private newspaper operator — and not media conglomerate Hearst said the newsroom was “stunned” by the sale which staff learned about in an email from the MediaNews Group — a newspaper publisher owned by investment firm Alden Global Capital — and not from management “We have a lot of questions,” Barber told KQED “We’re a pretty optimistic group by nature but it’s going to open up a period of uncertainty for us.” managing member of Sonoma Media Investments — which owns the North Bay papers — said a viable independent local press was vital to the North Bay community with the newspaper expertise and financial resources necessary to carry on our mission of delivering the highest-caliber local journalism for future North Bay generations,” Anderson said The announcement was the latest twist in a winding plan to find a new owner for the paper which has been under local ownership since 2012 Earlier this month, The Press Democrat’s staff faced a difficult choice of waiving their union contract in order to make the Hearst deal possible While the union had concerns that Hearst would not recognize their current contract Barber said staff were pressured into signing a memorandum of understanding so that the deal could be made the next communication that we get is that we’re being sold to Alden,” Barber said While it is not clear what happened to the deal with Hearst or why the sale to MediaNews Group went through Barber said that the newsroom was told that all jobs at The Press Democrat and its sister publications were secure and staff would be allowed to maintain their current union contracts While that news was a “great relief,” Barber said which also includes Bay Area papers like the San Jose Mercury News and East Bay Times in its portfolio has earned a reputation among journalists for buying distressed newspapers and gutting their ranks the papers were in local hands for nearly a century “We’ve all enjoyed our independence and our collaboration as a small cluster of publications,” Barber said The Santa Rosa Press Democrat garnered a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for its tenacious coverage of wildfires in Sonoma County “We are honored to bring a newspaper of this quality into MediaNews Group,” said Frank Pine “We appreciate the importance of local news and information to the communities where we publish and are proud to expand our commitment to Northern California in the North Bay.” KQED’s Natalia Navarro contributed to this report Correction: The description of Alden Global Capital has been updated To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. Sonoma State University’s ambitious campus expansion left it with $158 million in debt — now amid steep enrollment declines and deep budget cuts the university faces a reckoning that echoes across the CSU system Sonoma State University embarked on an ambitious mission to turn the institution informally known as “Granola U” into something of a West Coast Ivy League school The university put a bold building plan into motion complete with a state-of-the-art performance venue and high-end student housing complexes named after wine varietals “Once we wore sandals. Now we wear Armani suits,” then-SSU President Ruben Armiñana said in an interview at the time. The changes ushered in a culture shift and brought an influx of new students but critics worried the debt on the new amenities would be a drag on the university for years to come or even overwhelm it entirely SSU’s outstanding debt on those and other projects stands at $158.8 million after payments made this year the largest share of which goes for housing projects According to records obtained by The Press Democrat and data provided by SSU the total debt is equivalent to 70% of the university’s total annual budget and payments are projected to stretch as far as 2049 laying off more than 100 faculty and staff and axing its entire intercollegiate athletics program While SSU’s capital debt payments are handled separately from its academic budget, the buildings, many currently underutilized, tie into a larger debate about spending priorities and management not just at SSU but across the entire California State University system “We support campus investments in upgrades and infrastructure that enhance campus sustainability and attraction,” said Catherine Hutchinson “But when university management willfully takes on millions of dollars in debt and then cites a budget deficit as cause for eliminating academic programs and instructors SSU’s vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer described SSU’s debt as “very small compared to the assets it has” with no direct bearing on the university’s instructional budget or its ongoing deficit The projects at SSU that carry debt were paid for through CSU bonds They “generate their own revenue and pay their own debt,” Ahmed said He emphasized that no funds from state appropriations or tuition go to cover those expenses In addition to traditional university activities also runs a number of businesses that bring in income through space rentals The success of those endeavors is highly dependent on a critical mass of SSU students to rent rooms frequent stores and contribute fees that pay for some of the facilities who spent decades as a dean of social sciences and as a faculty member at SSU and serves as the vice president of the board of the Emeritus and Retired Faculty and Staff Association has been a longtime critic of the debt he watched grow at the university “I got to understand debt and became fearful that it could turn around” on the university With SSU’s enrollment now about two-thirds of what it once was and its future uncertain Karlsrud worries that moment of reckoning could be approaching “Something has to produce the money to pay for the financing If you don't have the enrollment or the dorm population to pay for the debt service then where is that money going to come from That's what I worry about on campus right now.” Envisioned as an affordable housing option to attract faculty and staff the $42 million project was introduced in 2019 and has yet to pan out as planned Less than 20% of its units are occupied by SSU employees Sixty units house tenants from the general public and 13 sit empty For comparison, SSU’s total budget is $233.5 million which contains funds like the housing program and parking services and nonprofit corporations like Associated Students Sonoma State Enterprises and the SSU Foundation Other income for the facilities comes through conferences events and rent paid by operators using space in the buildings Operational expenses and debt payments for the housing program are primarily covered by rent and supplemented by events that include residential accommodations Ahmed called debt for the campus a “nonissue.” CSU’s assistant vice chancellor of financing treasury and risk management echoed that sentiment and said SSU is exceeding debt coverage benchmarks “Sonoma is doing fine with respect to its debt service,” he said especially in comparison to other campuses “It had some challenges coming out of COVID and because of the enrollment but they've taken the necessary steps … There's not a concern there.” CSU takes a conservative approach when assessing project proposals and financials “so that in the event there are fluctuations in things like enrollment or if expenses are higher than expected or revenues are lower than expected for whatever reason then we built some cushion into the project,” Eaton said He added that individual projects under the CSU revenue bond program have felt financial stress in the past but the system hasn’t had to step in to cover a campus’s obligations CSU and other university systems lately have been ringing alarm bells that demographic trends and other factors are deterring higher education enrollment across the country Against that backdrop and facing its own additional headwinds “We have more capacity than we currently have use for so we’re not building any new buildings,” he said “We are maintaining existing infrastructure.” In December 2022, SSU’s first academic building on campus, Stevenson Hall, built in 1967, reopened after an eight-year $90-million renovation. The upgrades to the aging building were necessary and a more preferable and sustainable option than building from scratch “We do need modern buildings,” said Monir Ahmed “It really has worked out very well for us.” Unlike some of SSU’s other high-profile facilities which carry debt for the campus and are paid down with revenues generated by their use Stevenson Hall was paid for out of the California State University system’s operating budget because it is considered an academic project without income that’s handled centrally by the system and does not fall upon Sonoma State,” said Robert Eaton The portion of CSU’s operational budget dedicated to debt obligations — $440 million in 2024-2025 accounts for about 5% of the total budget That portion goes primarily for capital projects It has been a source of tension with faculty and other critics who are frustrated with rising student tuition and fees while many campuses are experiencing hiring freezes or layoffs and cuts to instructional budgets “It’s really part of a larger picture in which the CSU priorities are just not on students and instruction and it is really on their investments and their debts,” said Charles Toombs an San Diego State University professor and president of the California Faculty Association “It’s really frustrating because we work so hard to get the Legislature and the governor to put money into the system and then the CSU is not managing that money well.” Eaton said that CSU was put in a difficult position when funding structure for academic facilities shifted in 2014 from state-issued bonds and became the responsibility of the CSU Capital needs and a maintenance backlog have grown and CSU has foregone many necessary investments because of its primary priorities discussion centered on finding funding for a projected $31 billion for maintenance or building of academic and self-financing projects over the next five years Put a general obligation bond on the ballot secure an ongoing appropriation from the state or add a “capital facilities student fee.” SSU has been bringing its outstanding debt down in recent years That figure stood at $198.1 million in 2013-2014 and ticked down to $172.7 million until shooting back up in 2018-2019 to $203.3 million when it took on more debt to purchase the Marina Crossing apartments Much of that debt ties back to the tenure of former SSU President Ruben Armiñana who was president from 1992 to 2016 and led the transition from laid-back commuter campus to upper echelon institution That vision came with plush dorms and other facilities and an effective campaign to draw students from Southern California who would shell out for the updated accommodations Armiñana succeeded in many ways enrollment at SSU had grown to 9,408 students and the university had a reputation as a liberal arts bastion The term “jewel of the system” is still thrown around some at the time argued that the success of the new developments depended too much on students who could afford them and the focus on the university’s facelift took attention and resources away from investment in instruction who once co-wrote a 265-page criticism of the Armiñana administration and its growing debt burden acknowledged that Armiñana “needed to do some of what he did,” but “he just overstepped.“ While Karlsrud was “dead set against” the project it all changed because things change,” he added The student population has shifted closer to home “Nobody thought about preparing for where the enrollment might go down or there were changes to the image of the campus,” he said but the last thing you would do is build a big concert facility that's going to run a deficit for all the years it's been in place.” the Green Music Center carried $7.6 million in outstanding debt with an average annual bill of $705,476 to be paid through 2038 SSU is also paying off two other projects related to the Green Music Center which includes the Prelude restaurant and other meeting and dining areas and carries just under $3 million in outstanding debt Ahmed noted that universities are in a unique position in that they have a duty to provide some core services like below-market-rate housing and parking or a university bookstore “whether they make money or not,” although he underscored that there have “been no challenges in managing debt while maintaining full-scale programming.” Projects are also planned out over years and while there may now be less demand accommodations were necessary to attract and serve incoming students and “it's very difficult to say the decision to build housing or that much parking was wrong because it was needed at the time.” even if the Green Music Center has the capacity to support a larger population or more performances it offers unparalleled opportunities for students who remain to be alongside world-class performers and use state-of-the art spaces That pool of remaining students who benefit may dwindle further if the planned closure of the theater arts and dance department goes through described the interdependent relationship between the campus’s academic operations and self-sustaining businesses “They do complement each other,” Ahmed said Amid heavy criticism that SSU lacked a clear strategy to weather the impact of the major cuts announced, university leadership recently released its “Bridge to the Future” plan it describes new and redoubled recruitment efforts especially targeting regional high schools and community colleges a shift away from the campus’s core liberal arts identity in a stated effort to better meet local workforce needs Karlsrud remembers a shift in the 1980s where SSU leadership led a pivot toward a more “modern” image catering to burgeoning technology fields and programs the liberal arts and sciences came rushing back and we were heading in the wrong direction again,” Karlsrud said “how do you pursue ‘something else’ while at the same time you prepare for the future?” You can reach “In Your Corner” Columnist Marisa Endicott at 707-521-5470 or marisa.endicott@pressdemocrat.com On X (formerly Twitter) @InYourCornerTPD and Facebook @InYourCornerTPD The local impact of Avelo’s decision will become more evident starting in May Schulz-Sonoma County Airport gathers passenger statistics Lea el artículo en español aquí. As Avelo Airlines officially withdraws operations from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport on Thursday the budget carrier faces mounting national backlash — and local outrage — over what prompted the decision: its contract with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement to operate deportation flights But it might be some time before the local fallout becomes measurable it is too early to quantify any impacts on passengers flying Avelo with the recent changes,” Stout said “We will be able to start seeing if there are any changes with the April and May passenger statistics when they are received.” The airport’s April data is expected next month Despite ending its base operations at the airport Avelo will continue five routes from Sonoma County — Burbank Montana — the latter three available only seasonally Avelo announced April 8 it would shutter its base at the Sonoma County airport and discontinue service to Boise Outrage escalated over the following weeks and peaked this past weekend Criticism continues to build on a national level — though social media shows Avelo also has defenders Protests have erupted in cities where Avelo operates A Change.org petition urging a boycott of the Houston-based airline had garnered more than 36,000 signatures as of April 30 joined a protest of about 300 people outside the New Haven airport “You really stepped in it,” according to the outlet Even as criticism mounts, Avelo marked its fourth anniversary Monday with a celebratory post on its website. The airline’s first-ever flight — on April 28 2021 — departed from Burbank and landed in Sonoma County Avelo took flight with a simple but powerful purpose – to inspire travel,” CEO Andrew Levy said in the post we have fulfilled that mission for nearly seven million customers who have experienced our money-saving low fares and time-saving convenience “More airplanes and destinations are on the way and we look forward to welcoming aboard millions of new and returning customers in the years ahead.” the airline still listed Sonoma County as one of its eight national bases — a number set to drop to seven Thursday Cheryl Sarfaty covers tourism, hospitality, health care, aviation and employment. Reach her at cheryl.sarfaty@busjrnl.com or 707-521-4259 which lost its lucrative main contract to a local fire department said it is not able to sustain operations based on so-called interfacility transfers AMR has been in business locally since 1991 After three decades of dominating local 911 ambulance response American Medical Response — known locally as Sonoma Life Support — is shutting down its remaining Sonoma County operations a move that will affect more than 50 employees multimillion dollar ambulance contract to the Sonoma County Fire District has been making do with interfacility transports moving patients from one health care facility to another But Sonoma Life Support said revenue from hospital transfers alone is inadequate to sustain its local business despite every effort to sustain our presence continuing operations without the 911 contract is simply not financially viable,” the company said in an email statement to The Press Democrat Prior to losing the exclusive 911 ambulance contract Sonoma Life Support had a local workforce of 150 first responders The company said its decision to leave the county was a difficult one as the local “community has become part of our family.” just over 50 team members will be laid off,” the company said “We are committed to supporting these employees by offering opportunities to transfer to other AMR operations throughout Northern California for those willing and able to commute or relocate.” American Medical Response has been operating ambulances in Sonoma County since 1991 The company lost the county’s exclusive ambulance contract — worth $30 million annually for at least five years — to Sonoma County Fire District in a controversial competitive bidding process launched in late 2022 Days after county officials awarded the contract to the fire district in spring 2023, AMR lodged complaints that the bidding was tainted by favoritism and violated the competitive bidding process AMR also filed a lawsuit alleging that county actions leading up to the bidding process had essentially voided the exclusivity of AMR’s contract with the county The county later countersued AMR, accusing the ambulance provider of failing to meet response times and other performance metrics and for refusing to pay penalties for poor performance all legal disputes between AMR and the county were settled in partnership with Vallejo-based Medic Ambulance began dispatching ambulances in an exclusive territory that includes Santa Rosa County spokesman Matt Brown said county officials continue to work through a dispute with the district over how it tracks response-time data for low-urgency medical calls Brown said county officials were hopeful they can “bring a resolved set of agreements forward soon.” While Sonoma County Fire District maintains exclusive rights to 911 ambulance transports in the county’s urban core a number of ambulance companies currently do interfacility transports It’s not uncommon for ambulance companies to do such transports between hospitals in different counties have strict rules for companies that plan to lay off a large number of workers including providing employees with timely notification Under the state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act employers are required to give workers and local government officials at least 60 days notice before a mass layoff AMR sent out notices to about 50 workers last week letting them know that the layoffs would take place June 15 according to one employee who asked to remain anonymous A spokesperson with the state Employment Development Department said earlier this week that the agency had not received notice about the layoffs in a statement Friday applauded AMR’s long history of local ambulance service and emergency response “American Medical Response has had a long tenure providing lifesaving services to the people of Sonoma County and providing those services when they and their families were most afraid and most vulnerable,” Sullivan wrote “The Department of Health Services is grateful for their partnership through the years.” said the decision to leave the county was a difficult one “This is not a decision we take lightly,” the company said “We are grateful to our staff for their unwavering dedication and to the people of Sonoma County for their trust over the years.”