Congratulations to these West County
Stars of the (Tourism) Industry! | | Claudia Vecchio, President & CEO, Sonoma County Tourism
Photo: Sonoma County Tourism | | The Fifth District took home six of the thirteen publicly judged awards at Sonoma County Tourism's Stars of the Industry celebration in June. Congratulations to the following people, organizations and businesses who exemplify the spirit of the West County tourism industry! | | |
Heart of the House – Manager
Heather Bishop, Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary
Environmental Stewardship
Gravenstein Apple Fair
Community Enrichment
Rainbow Cattle Company
Champion of the Industry
Margaret Grahame, Timber Cove Resort
Visitor Center Program of the Year
Russian River Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
Lodging Property of the Year
Inn at Occidental
| | Share your Perspective:
Community Needs around Aging | | The Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is conducting its Community Needs Assessment, and they want to hear from you. Your input helps guide funding, programs, and services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers across the county. The survey takes about 5-10 minutes and is completely anonymous. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences. | | Help Shape Public Transit | | | | |
Sonoma County Transit (SCT), in partnership with the Sonoma County Transportation & Climate Authorities (SCTCA), Santa Rosa CityBus, and Petaluma Transit, has launched a comprehensive Strategic Transit Plan designed to guide transit improvements over the next five years. This effort will evaluate today’s transit network, engage the community, and create a roadmap for delivering a more reliable, accessible, and connected mobility system for riders across the county.
Virtual or in-person
Drop in at a community workshop
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High Street
Thursday July 23 from 5:30 - 7 PM
or attend a Zoom webinar on Tuesday July 14
5:30-6:30 PM
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Burn Ban
In coordination with CAL FIRE, Permit Sonoma's Fire Prevention Division has suspended outdoor burning in the unincorporated county effective June 15,2026. The suspension applies to all open burning and helps reduce wildfire risk as Sonoma County enters the peak of fire season.
Chipper Program
Reducing wildfire risk starts at home. Residents are encouraged to maintain defensible space, remove excess vegetation, and follow local fire safety regulations throughout the summer. Sonoma County's free Chipper Program can help property owners dispose of woody vegetation and reduce hazardous fuels at no cost. The program provides a convenient way to clear brush and maintain defensible space while helping protect homes and communities.
Home Hardening Assessments
If you live in the Guerneville area, you may also qualify for no-cost wildfire risk reduction assessments through SoCo Adapts. These assessments can help identify practical steps to improve your property's resilience to wildfire.
| Work continues on General Plan Sonoma, the comprehensive update to Sonoma County's General Plan. An informational Board of Supervisors workshop is scheduled for September 15, 2026, and will include the Draft Community Engagement Framework, Draft Vision and Guiding Principles, and the Existing Conditions and Trends Report. Community workshops and engagement opportunities will pick back up this fall as staff seeks public input on these documents and project next steps. | | Be the Mentor You Wish You Had | | County of Sonoma Mentors and Interns, June 2026 Photo: CTE Foundation. | | A meaningful career often begins with someone willing to open a door. Through the Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation's Path to Purpose program, employers are helping high school students discover what's possible through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world experience. | | |
The Fifth District hosted a Path to Purpose intern during the program's inaugural 2026 pilot, joining several County departments and employers across the county partnering with students as they explore real-world possibilities.
Building on the momentum of the inaugural pilot, the CTE Foundation is now welcoming employers interested in participating in the 2027 program.
Whether you're considering hosting an intern for the first time or participated in this year's pilot and want a preview of what's ahead, the CTE Foundation is inviting employers to attend one of its remaining virtual Employer Information Sessions and Internship Design Workshops on August 14 or September 11. Each session includes an overview of the 2027 program, followed by a hands-on workshop to help employers design meaningful internship experiences and develop job descriptions.
Whether your organization can offer a paid internship, an unpaid experience, or something in between, becoming a host is an opportunity to inspire a young person while strengthening Sonoma County's future workforce. As one of the participating employers, the County chose to make its internship opportunities paid, reflecting a commitment to ensuring financial barriers don't stand in the way of exploring careers in public service.
Register with the CTE Foundation through the link below & learn more about becoming a Path to Purpose mentor.
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The County currently has nearly 30 job openings posted on its website. How can you improve your chances of landing one?
Sign up for the next Start Here! class, which provides an overview of the County of Sonoma’s job application, examination and selection processes.
The free class is intended for the public, whether you are looking for a new position now or planning for a future employment opportunity. Participants will learn how to submit a thorough application, best practices for the interview and examination, and much more.
Contact Human Resources at careers@sonomacounty.gov sign up for the mailing list to be notified of future classes.
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Lazy Bear Week, Guerneville
July 27 through August 3
With up to 500 attendees per day and parking for up to 200 vehicles at some locations, residents and visitors should anticipate increased traffic and limited parking, especially during evening events (9pm–1am) and weekend gatherings. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained at all times. Please note that this donor‑based event does not sell tickets.
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Big Event BBQ
Bodega Volunteer Fire Department
17184 Bodega Hwy, Bodega
August 2
10 AM to 6 PM
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Private Outdoor Concert and Benefit for LandPaths
6101 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental
Sunday August 16, 11 AM - 10 PM
Up to 370 participants are anticipated, including staff and volunteers.
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Private Event: Reggae to the Rescue, fundraiser for Goatlandia
1567 Cunningham Rd, Sebastopol
August 22, 1 - 5 PM
Up to 235 participants are anticipated, including staff and volunteers
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Forestville: Hwy 116 at Jones Creek Bridge (near Packing House Rd)
One-way traffic control lights while bridge railings are replaced. The one-way traffic control will be in place until late October 2026, when permits allowing construction work adjacent to waterways expire. The traffic controls will be implemented again in June 2027, when Caltrans is once again permitted to work alongside creeks during the dry season. (Caltrans)
Forestville: Hwy 116 at 7525 Hwy 116
Occasional one-way flag control as Canyon Rock rebuilds its Highway 116 driveway to improve safety and traffic flow, adding a covered entrance with sight‑distance improvements and tire‑washing equipment to prevent track‑out.
Sebastopol: Hwy 116 at Blucher Creek Bridge (near Stony Point Rd).
One-way traffic control lights while bridge railings are replaced. The one-way traffic control will be in place until late October 2026, when permits allowing construction work adjacent to waterways expire. The traffic controls will be implemented again in June 2027, when Caltrans is once again permitted to work alongside creeks during the dry season. (Caltrans)
Sebastopol: Bodega Ave between Pleasant Hill Rd. and Golden Ridge Ave. PG&E will be doing work in the area this week and beginning next week, a hillside will be cut back in the same block and supported with a retaining wall.
Traffic impacts are anticipated to continue through the end of August 2026. (via City of Sebastopol)
Guerneville / East Monte Rio: Hwy 116 (ongoing Caltrans - completion expected September 2026)
West of Monte Rio: Hwy 116 (ongoing Caltrans)
Wohler Bridge: The bridge will remain closed to all traffic through October, 2026. See fishing access detour information here.
| | Upcoming Meetings & Events | | | | |
Community Coffee / Cafecito Comunitario
Monday, July 20, 9:00 - 10:00 AM
West County Services Center
16390 Main Street, Suite B, Guerneville
District 5 invites you to visit our "Cafecito" drop-in office hours on the third Monday of each month.
Everyone is welcome; we look forward to seeing you!
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Sonoma County Coast Municipal Advisory Council
Thursday, July 23
Bodega Bay Grange
1370 Bodega Ave, Bodega Bay
5:30 PM
Main Topics: Tourism / Short Term Vacation Rentals and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
Coast MAC Meetings are hybrid - attend in person or via Zoom. Public comment may be made in either format. Agendas are published on the Coast MAC Meeting Calendar page no later than 72 hours before the meeting.
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Watson School open house and art making
Saturday,August 1, 2026
14550 Bodega Highway, Bodega
10 AM - 2 PM Open House
3 PM - 5 PM Art Workshop
Tour the normally closed interior of the historic 1856 Watson School during a free open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., then get creative at a junk journaling workshop from 3 to 5 p.m. using collage, found materials and nature-inspired keepsakes.
Open house: free; no registration required.
Workshop: registration required & fee.
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Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council
August 13, 2026
West County Services Center
16390 Main Street, Suite B
Guerneville
5:30 PM
Main Topic: Update from Sonoma Water regarding Russian River Sanitation District
River MAC Meetings are hybrid - attend in person or via Zoom. Public comment may be made in either format. Agendas are published on the Coast MAC Meeting Calendar page no later than 72 hours before the meeting.
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Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins | County of Sonoma | 707-565-2241
Lynda.Hopkins@sonomacounty.gov
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