Aug  II 2026

“If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.”                                    Thomas Jefferson 

In Memoriam 

Dolly Parton, singer, actress, philanthropist passed away at 80 years of age.

Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors Coach, passed away at 86 years of age.

Nancy Kassebaum, United States Senator from Kansas, passed away at 94 years of age.

Hayden Panettiere, actress, passed away at 36 years of age.

Vincente Pastore, actor best known for The Sopranos, passed away at 80 years of age.

Bernie Album, bicycle and environmental activist in Petaluma, passed away at 90 years.

Joe Anderson, co-founder of Benovia Winery passed away at 76 years of age.

Bill Rasmussen, co-founder of ESPN, passed away at 93 years of age.

Shelley Fabares, singer and actor on The Donna Reed Show and Coach, died at 82 years.

Frank Beard, drummer for ZZ Top band, passed away at 77 years of age.

Tim Curry, actor in Rocky Horror Show and Spamalot, passed away at 80 years of age.

Another loss for Sonoma County 

After 94 years in business, Vella Cheese Company in Sonoma is closing. The company cited financial hardships, rising post-pandemic operating costs and sluggish sales growth as the reasons for the closure. The shop will remain open for a few more months while remaining inventory is sold. That could take up to five months. 

Vella Cheese Company started producing cheese in 1931. Tom Vella was asked by a group of dairymen to open his own fromagerie. Vella created the dry Monterey Jack cheese that remains the family-owned company’s signature product. 

There is a new Police Chief in Rohnert Park 

Ignacio Richard “Rick” Navarro has been appointed as the new Department of Public Safety director for the city of Rohnert Park. He is scheduled to start on September 22. Navarro is a 34 year resident of Rohnert Park. 

Navarro will lead one of two integrated public safety departments statewide where officers are dual trained in firefighting and police duties. He will oversee a staff of 108 and a budget of $26.7 Million. 

Navarro has been the chief of police in Mill Valley since 2021. Prior to that he had worked more than 31 years in the Marin County Sheriff’s office. Navarro’s contract is open-ended. His annual salary will be $255,661. He will also receive a stipend totaling 9% of his pay for maintaining a Peace Officers Standards and Training certification. The position also includes health and retirement benefits, paid time off and a city cellphone and vehicle.  

The new chief has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University and has also been adjunct faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College where he is an instructor in criminal justice, criminal law and ethics courses.

Nobody running? Cancel the election 

Because there were no competitive races for Calistoga City Council seats, the current Council voted to cancel the November 3 election. Instead, given the lack of competitive council races in this election the three nominees will be appointed to their desired seats. The three people who filed for the open seats will start their terms in January. 

Council member Kevin Eisenberg will begin a two year term as city mayor.

Council member Scott Cooper will begin a four year term on the council.

Lana Richardson will begin a four year term on the council. 

Canceling the election will save the city between $35,000 and $60,000 according to staff report.

“One of the things that happens when you get old is that what seems like news to others can look like a re-run of something you have already seen before. It is like watching an old movie for the fifth or sixth time.”                                                             Thomas Sowell

Elections, Elections, Elections 

The time is coming when citizens get to have a say in how they are governed. That’s right: we have elections in November. Remember if you don’t vote you basically have no right to complain. Also, if you don’t vote you are saying the status quo is just fine.

Cloverdale: There are three open seats on the Cloverdale City Council. This is the last election before the city switches to district-based contests. 

Chris Parker:                     Retired Cloverdale police chief

Will Carter:                       Cloverdale business owner

Steve Kawa:                      Small business owner

Andres Marquez:              Appointed incumbent council member

Jenn Neylon:                    Chief business officer

Kimberly Kern:                 Public School Superintendent

Marjorie Morgenstern:    Incumbent council member

Kelly Spagnola:               Community Volunteer

Colleen Shields:              Massage therapist/bookkeeper

Cotati: Two at-large seats are on the November ballot. City officials are considering canceling the election because the races are uncontested and there are no other local issues that will appear on the Cotati ballot.

Kimberlyn Moffet:              Planning Commissioner

Ryan Long:                         Planning Commissioner

Healdsburg:   In November, council members will be elected by district for the first time. Districts 2 and 4 will be electing representatives.

District 2:       

Matthew Lopez:                   Math Teacher

Alex Wood:                          Appointed Planning Commissioner

Scott Pratt:                          Commercial Advertising Producer

District 4:                              

Chris Herrod:                        Incumbent council member

Petaluma:      Petaluma will elect a mayor and three city council members.

Mayoral Contest

Kevin McDonnell                  Incumbent mayor

John Hanania                        Small Business owner

Shelina Moreda                     Businesswoman/farmer

District 1

Janet Cader Thompson        Incumbent council member

Alan W. LaPierre                  Property Manager

Nate Martin                           Retail Manager

District 2

John Shribbs                         Incumbent council member

Brent Newell                          Environmental Attorney

District 3

Karen Nau                              Incumbent council member

Eric Vazquez                          Affordable housing advocate

Rohnert Park 

District 2                               

Linda (Khoury) Tams             Business owner/realtor

Michael Desimone                 Healthcare director/realtor

Paul Carey                              Military operations instructor

District 5

Susan Hollingsworth Adams  Incumbent council member

Mauricio Barreto                  Retired peace officer

Arlene G. Linder                   Retired artist 

Santa Rosa                           Council Member Victoria Fleming is not running.

District 2

Mark Stapp                          Current Mayor

District 4

Terry Sanders                     Planning Commissioner/business person

Melanie Jones-Carter          Non-profit board member

District 6

Jeff Okrepkie                        Incumbent council member

Sebastopol                          There are three at-large seats.

Sandra Maurer                    Incumbent council member

Kyreen Jorgensen               SMART board clerk

Jill McLewis                         Incumbent council member

James Woodruff                   Welder/fabricator

Erin Mitchell                          Environmental planning student

Ian Hoff                                  Engineer/business owner

Brandie L. Solovay               Attorney/parent

Sonoma   Voters in Sonoma’s odd-numbered district 1, 3 and 5 will elect district-based representatives for the first time.

District 1

Michael L. Menefee               Retired firefighter/paramedic

Julian Mackie                         Nonprofit executive director

Peggy Hutton                         Business owner

District 3

John P. Gurney                       Incumbent council member

District 5       

Ron Wellander                        Incumbent council member

Windsor 

Mayor

Tanya Potter                           Incumbent council member/police sergeant

Rick Massell                            Retired educator

District 1

Evan Kubota                           Security Executive

Gina Fortino Dickson             Attorney/planning commissioner

District 4

Meredith Rennie                     Certified Public Accountant

“Better to fight for something than live for nothing.”          George S. Patton

Get the Moving Van. 

The Santa Rosa City Council has unanimously endorsed a proposal to relocate City Hall two blocks north of its existing campus. The council agreed to sell the city’s 7 acre headquarters comprising four properties at Santa Rosa Avenue and First Street to Museum on the Square LLC headed by local developer Hugh Futrell. 

The city will acquire Futrell’s five story, 100,000 square foot former AT&T switching station at 520 Third Street. Futrell and his partners renovated and reopened this property as offices in 2016.

The current City Hall space is plagued by seismic safety concerns, asbestos and other needs. The move would also open up the current site for redevelopment which is a move the city believes could revitalize the area and generate new revenue for Santa Rosa. 

Santa Rosa will pay $4.5 Million to purchase the new facility which is the difference between the negotiated price for the city properties and 520 Third Street. It is estimated that tenant improvements needed to get the building ready for city workers along with other moving costs are estimated at $17 to $20 Million. Funding for upfront costs are in the city budget and will be paid for through reserves. The move saves Santa Rosa $100 Million in updates and infrastructure.

Rohnert Park Library to close for renovation

The Rohnert Park Cotati Regional Library will close its doors for four months in September as the 23 year old branch undergoes renovations needed for updating the facility. The closure starts on September 1 and is expected to last through December 31. The goal is for the library to reopen in January 2027. Upgrades include a redesigned children’s area and new furniture. There is also going to be HVAC and other building improvements. 

“When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.”

                                                     Thomas Paine

Controversy in Glen Ellen 

The Sonoma Developmental Center campus stands as one of Sonoma Valley’s largest publicly owned properties. The Eldridge campus was one of California’s largest institutions for severely developmentally disabled people. There is a proposed transformation of the main campus for housing and other commercial development. This latest version would add 990 housing units,

130,000 square feet of commercial space and a 150 room hotel on the campus. 

Permit Sonoma, the county’s planning department, has the responsibility to oversee an environmental report assessing the potential impacts of the project. The state selected developers are Napa-based Rogal & Partners and The Grupe Company. 

There are a number of concerns about the project: evacuation routes during fires; noise pollution during development; the county’s stake on the proposal; “builder’s remedy” designation that is allowing greater density under state rules designed to spur more housing production.

 A two lane road leads to the Center from either Glen Ellen or from Arnold Drive. The amount of traffic that would be generated by the proposed development never seems to be addressed in all of the planning meetings. 

A suggestion has been made that a far better project for the center would be to build and market a sound stage. It could bring business to the area without adding hundreds and hundreds of residents. Many movies have been made in Sonoma County. 

Wait and see what happens. It is never dull.

Viking Mindset 

“Principles for courage in uncertain times.

Courage is a habit, not a moment. Prepare well, then trust the wind. Respect your crew. Keep your fire burning when cold sets in. Earn your place at the table. Leave something worth remembering.”