Morning Sonoma! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Aren't Reverse Mortgages a Scam? Learn the Facts at Free Webinar and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you get when you cross an angry cow with an angry sheep? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. New Route 40X bus service, connecting Sonoma Valley to SMART, now running (sonomanews.com) — Sonoma residents now have a dedicated Route 40X bus linking Sonoma Plaza to the SMART train station in Petaluma, with morning and evening runs timed for commuters. The streamlined service, part of a broader regional transit plan, offers low fares and synchronized transfers, aiming to boost ridership and improve access to jobs, schools, and medical care across the county.
2. Meet the Sonoma Valley advocate saving pollinators (pressdemocrat.com) — In Sonoma Valley, volunteer Cindy Lindh is rallying churches, schools, gardens, and local agencies to plant native species and create pollinator corridors that support monarchs and other insects. From Sonoma Garden Park's native nursery to school pollinator gardens and the city's Mayors' Monarch Pledge, her networking offers residents practical ways to transform yards and public spaces into thriving habitat.
3. After Almost a Century, Vella Has Emptied Their Last Vat of Cheese - San Francisco Bay Times (sfbaytimes.com) — Sonoma is losing a cornerstone of its food culture as Vella Cheese Company ends nearly a century of cheesemaking in town, including its iconic Dry Jack and Mezzo Secco cheeses. The article reflects on the family business's history, its influence on California's artisan cheese scene, and what this closure means for Sonoma's culinary identity and longtime cheese lovers.
4. California adopting more laid-back approach to wine tasting at farmers' markets (pressdemocrat.com) — Sonoma wineries will soon have more freedom to pour and sell wine at local certified farmers' markets thanks to a new California law taking effect in 2027. By dropping the estate-grown requirement and expanding tasting options, the change could bring more small producers into Sonoma markets, giving residents more local wine choices and closer connections with winemakers.
5. Sonoma County Agency Agrees to Reel in Drone Program After Privacy Violations (kqed.org) — Sonoma County's Permit Sonoma has agreed to scale back its controversial drone code-enforcement program after a lawsuit over alleged privacy violations, promising warrants or consent for future flights and public review of its policies. Local residents cited by drone surveillance will receive settlements, and the county will limit image retention and share flight logs, while the broader newscast also touches on statewide politics and regional environmental issues.
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Ok Sonoma! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: An animal that's in a baaaaad mooood! (Thank you Lisa A. for sending it in!)
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