Advertise on podcast: Hello Sonoma!

Rebecca Hermosillo takes community seriously. As the ED of the Teen Center, she took it upon herself to make dinner every night with the teens as a way to make them feel part of something bigger. Growing up on a farm in Sonoma, she saw how her big family brought people together for tamales, and understood what it meant to have Mexican heritage. And now, as a representative for Congressman Mike Thompson, she sees what representation in the national American community looks like. In this episode, we talk about Rebecca's role as a local mentor and the people she looks up to, we discuss what Sonomans can expect from their federal representatives, and we learn about how to see the world around you as full of potential friends. To learn more about Rebecca, you can visit: https://www.votehermosillo.com/ To listen to more episodes or learn about Hello Sonoma, please go to hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

What is Washington D.C. like as a Congressman? How does a member of Congress balance living in Washington and their district? What should community members know about the type of partnerships necessary for an idea to become a law? How do members of Congress spend their free (if they have any) time? Having served our community for over 25 years, Congressman Mike Thompson is an excellent candidate to answer these questions and more. In this episode, we talk about the ins and outs of congressional life, as well as Mr. Thompson's own journey including his time in Vietnam and visits back to the country, the importance of partnership in national leadership, and his love of cycling in our district. While we don't talk too much about the Congressman's voting record, you can learn all about his political history by visiting: https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page https://justfacts.votesmart.org/ https://www.c-span.org/person/?57872/MikeThompson If you want to learn more about the Congressman, you can visit https://mikethompson.house.gov/ To listen to more episodes and learn more about Hello Sonoma, please go to HelloSonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Rev. Dalton brings people together. Literally. He has conducted hundreds of marriages over the course of his life as a catholic priest, and even now as a reverend at St. Leo's and through his own private business. He attended seminary in Ireland, following a path he felt called to, and for 18 years, Rev. Dalton spoke from the pulpit at a Catholic Church in Mobile, Alabama. Eventually, he realized *he* wanted to get married, and with permission from the local Archbishop, set off on his own journey to find a partner. Peadar and Margarita have been married now for 23 years. In this episode we talk about that path, about what called Rev. Dalton to the cloth, about his time in Alabama, and the things learned from his congregation and from teaching religion in schools. This online exclusive includes extra moments about his time in Alabama, his relationship to Ireland, and questions asks when talking with a couple who's engaged. To learn more about Rev. Dalton and Margarita's business, visit: http://yourceremonymatters.com To hear more episodes or to learn more about Hello Sonoma, please go to Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

At first, Morgan Momsen didn't want to follow in the family footsteps. Both her mother and her grandmother are local teachers, so Morgan chose to blaze her own trail in the photography world. But when the idea of teaching came knocking again, she went for it, and has since found an incredible talent. Plus, her photography background and artistic sensibilities have made her an asset to the culture and fine arts commission, where she tries to bring more art not only to her kids but to the community as a whole. In this episode we talk more about her journey into teaching, her reflections on her own learning experience, and how photography, art and teaching all fit together. If you want to: Listen to more Sade, you can go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzgC6jSwWhc Learn more about Hello Sonoma, please visit Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Over the past three years, Dan Kahn has helped serve over 150,000 free meals to the most vulnerable in our community. His work as the food program manager for Sonoma Overnight Support shaped the vision, and his role as head chef shaped the menu. But above either of these, his attitude as a friend, a father, and a Sonoman, shaped the way people feel when they receive a hot, nutritious meal from one his kitchen. In this episode, we talk about how Dan came to this role and his philosophy as head of one of Sonoma's busiest kitchens. We talk about his time living at SOS's then shelter, his struggles as a young adult, and his challenges with homelessness. We also discuss his hopes for the future, his positive effect on volunteers, and the incredible contribution he's made to make this community a little bit better for everyone who lives here. If you want to: Learn more about Sonoma Overnight Support, visit sonomaovernightsupport.org To learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Gina Cuclis' journey as an administrator was as winding as the rivers she once defended and rafted down. Though parenthood brought education to the fore of her attention, her own teachers, parents and classmates shaped the way she sees the field of education from a public administration level and her desire to leave an important impact. In this episode we talk about her experience as President of the California County Boards of Education, her perspectives on school districts throughout the state, and her desire to make things better for the next generation. We discuss her own educational path, her early days defending the Stanislau river, and some tips from her time leading her own PR firm. If you want to: Learn more about the California County Board of Education, go to: http://theccbe.org/ Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Sonoma's 4th of July parade is one of our town's gems. Of course there are the trucks, the tractors, the floats, but then there are the thousands of locals who line the streets to clap, cheer, and sometimes get sprayed by the firefighters. This bonus episode takes a peek behind the curtain at some of the people behind making this event possible, including interviews with 14 of the parade entries and one of the organizers. I hope you enjoy. If you want to: Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

George Webber is a dedicated Sonoma Historian. He has spent the last 20 years bringing our history to life through animated portrayals of Sonoma icons like General Vallejo and Agostin Haraszthy, and the inimitable Mark Twain. Though it's George doing the talking, he completely embodies these characters, not shying away from the nuances that made them less than ideal personalities. It's that dedication to finding the truth that gives us a better appreciation for each one's historical significance. Alongside that passion for true storytelling, he has created and written a long-time radio melodrama, Radio Theatre of the Wild West which features characters like Wild West Willie and Old Cougar Face – a far cry from his previous career as an options trader. In this episode, we talk about the genesis of his now famous Sonoma Historical Walking Tours, the inspirations for his radio program, his other wonderful characters like Luigi the Italian Chef and Professor Vine, his upbringing in Des Moines and wine expertise, as well as some of the lessons he has learned along the way. If you want to: Learn more about George Webber, visit Georgewebber.com To listen to more episodes, check out Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Meg Beeler's journey as a teacher taught her how to learn. How to listen to her students as much as they listened to her. So when, many decades later, she met a new teacher, she was ready to listen in a new way. What followed was an unexpected journey to reconnect with nature through traditional indigenous practices in the Andes. She studied with the Q'ero people, and has since continued learning and begun teaching some of their perspectives on the natural world and the energy coursing all around us. In this episode we talk about what shamanism is, what it means to be a shamanic guide, and the ways in which we are already connecting with animals, plants, and mountains in our neighborhood. If you want to: Learn more about Meg at her website: https://megbeeler.com/about-meg-beeler Listen to more Hello Sonoma episodes at Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Hello Sonoma! This is a bonus episode – a break from regular programming – and an on-the-ground reporting of Adobe Drugs' new opening in June of 2023. This 10 minute segment originally aired on the Thursday morning show at KSVY, but I thought you all might enjoy hearing it as well as a tribute to the incredible accomplishment of re-opening the shuttered pharmacy as an independent drugstore.

As a painter and a photographer, Pat Meier-Johnson sees Sonoma through a unique lens. Her artwork conveys an understanding of her surroundings beyond day-to-day observations, capturing everything from road-side barns on sunny afternoons to golden hills with grazing cows. As Sonoma's 2022 Treasure Artist, she's used her talents to involve the community in her work and to encourage us to be as inspired as she is by our valley, connecting people to what makes Sonoma what she calls her "greatest inspiration." In this episode we talk about the sources of her inspiration, her many Sonoma involvements, as well as her travels and her life in PR before the Sonoma art world. If you want to: Learn more about Pat Meier-Johnson and her work, go to: https://www.patmeierjohnson.com/about Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Arthur Dawson is as much detective as he is an historian, as much a naturalist as he is a storyteller. His life and work has given him a deep knowledge and appreciation for our local land, the people who currently care for it, and their ancestors have been doing so for millennia. As a historical ecologist, he uses science to better understand everything from water drainages to fire patterns. As an oral historian, he takes time to listen to the stories of people who have lived here long before he moved many years ago. And as an author and poet, he has captured the feelings associated with these histories both past and present. Having lived through (and lost his house to) the 2017 fires, his connection to nature is personal and meaningful, and yet he aims to continue connecting people to the natural world all around us. In this episode, we talk about the indigenous concept of fire as a member of our community, some of the history of Sonoma Valley, the beauty and majesty of Sonoma Mountain, even Arthur's travels around the world before he settled in Sonoma and his journey through it all. If you want to: Read more about Arthur Dawson, visit https://baselineconsult.com/ Learn more about Sonoma Mountain and to purchase the book visit https://sonomamountain.org/ Listen to more Hello Sonoma episodes, visit Hellosonoma.org Thank you, as always, for tuning in. And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!