The question is whether or not you choose to disturb the world around you, or if you choose to let it go on as if you had never arrived. -Ann Patchett, writer (b. 2 Dec 1963)

Thanks, Shepherd, for posting this. A few times I have posted here at Wacco my belief that we need to look at our own complicity in alcohol consumption as this is the driver for winery expansion in...

Following is a blazing letter to the editor in this week's Sonoma West, which allows comments. I like the "blood on their hands" part, but some of you may object to strong language that may alienate...

A Story from my past.<o:p></o:p>
What one perceives is based on knowledge, experience and wisdom.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
When I was about 10 yrs. old, my dad said he was taking us to church...

Sebastopol City Council and Residents
Unanimously Oppose Winery Proposal

By Shepherd Bliss

After the Sebastopol City Council heard from two-dozen residents on...

NOTE FROM BARRY: Since there are so many posts over the last day on several threads, I have suppressed a few of the conversational posts from today's digests. The posts are still on the website and...

Dian has suggested a site check this Sunday for the winery proposed for 5150 Sebastopol Rd., which is Highway 12, slightly East of Llano Road. I would be available and suggest we meet there at 2:30,...

Industrial wineries and vineyards--with their monocrop--threaten humans, other critters, and the environment in many ways. Human, animal, and plant life NEED the basics, such as water, food, and...

Barry,

I have sent you a private email with the risks and weaknesses with the SWMC plan as I see them and suggest to Jim that he sends to you as well. Then, you can judge if each of us has made a...

I think you are on to something there, David!

I'd love to see a pair of posts by Jim and Dan taking some version of the other's point of view. That is for Dan to post a critical, perhaps even...

Carl Jung observed that the more light you shine on something, the more shadow you create.
At Walt Disney studios in the fifties you could only critique if you had an alternative solution. I think...

You and Rollie seem to be the only ones still voicing "serious questions" about the plan. Neither of you need to "shut up".

Re-opening the hospital as the Sonoma West Medical Center is now what...

Jim,

I understood and appreciated your critical analysis of Palm Drive's situation and prospects during the campaign and election for the Palm Drive Health Care District.

But why are you still...

Jim,

In college, statistics was a required course and one of the texts was 'How to Lie With Statistics.'
One of the things you learn from this little book is that how you select and display the...

The intellectual dishonesty of Jim Horn, like the Sonoma West and Ernie Carpenter, speaks to me of the absence of rational counter-arguments to reopening. As well as the moral bankruptcy of...

In yet another shot at the Open Our Hospital campaign, Jim Horn and Rollie have teamed up here:
...

Today at 3:00 PM the dusty hamlet of Sebastopol was graced with the presence of Those Who Shall Not Be Named, as their majestic tour bus, windows blackened, ambled slowly down Main Street to the awe...

​Hi Wacco! I recently joined Progressive Sebastopol, a small group of Sebastopol/West Sonoma county community members who are interested in helping to create a sustainable and forward-moving future...

Last night I drove over to Palm Drive Hospital to join the candle light vigil protesting its closure by its elected Board of Directors. Even though it was 11:30 on a Sunday night it looked to me...

Yesterday's memorial service for Terry was very moving. I did not know him well, but I felt good about him and enjoyed being around him. He made genuine and deep connections. Each person who spoke...

Does anyone know if there will be a memorial for Terry? Send prayers for his son and family. May he rest in peace!

To add to Chris Adrian's Feb. 27 PD editorial: Don't Hide Details of Carrillo Case


THE POWER TO LIE

There's a big difference between how the letter of the law applies to you and how it...

We had two weird experiences with Graton cops recently. The first time we were pulled over for no reason other than that we were pulling out across from the Underwood on a weekend night in a very...

I have recently had two disturbing interactions w/ Sonoma law authorities and I can say that something strange is going on with the cops. Both instances were very strange. In the first instance I...

On the contrary, rather than censor this, I recommend you watch the Chris Rock video below! Funny and useful! I highly recommend that you be very cooperative with any officer that approaches you no...

I personally think that we could easily reduce the number of police in Sebastopol. I'm more afraid of them than I am of driving in Oakland. Due to their numbers and budget, my perception is that they...

The realist-satirist Chris Rock wrote a cynical, public service sketch video, "Be Polite." I post it knowing it will also be misunderstood; Barry might censor. It's not for everyone, but it's a...

This board is full of accounts of Sebastopol police being over the top in their vehicle code enforcement. I presume that since you were arrested, you failed a field sobriety test, which presumably...

By Norman Solomon

The facts all point to this "inconvenient truth" -- the time has come to shut down California's two nuclear power plants as part of a swift transition to an energy policy...