SoCo Correspondent delivers the latest news from the County of Sonoma, twice a month, to your email inbox. Subscribe in English or Spanish and share with your friends and neighbors. | | Sonoma County Fair returns August 7-16 | | |
The sweet aroma of kettle corn. Laughter spilling from the carnival midway. Prize-winning gardens bursting with color. The roar of monster trucks. Rodeo riders chasing glory. A child’s delight at meeting a lamb up close for the very first time. These are just some of the moments that make the Sonoma County Fair one of the county’s favorite summertime traditions.
The fair returns Friday, Aug. 7 for 10 days of exhibits, entertainment and family fun. This year's theme – Festivals, Fiestas & Fun! – celebrates cultures from around the world while preserving the hometown traditions that keep families coming back year after year.
New this year is Cirque Ma’Ceo, an equestrian spectacular that blends horsemanship with acrobatics, aerial artistry and theatrical performance. Visitors can also stroll through the Hall of Flowers, the West Coast's largest flower show, cheer on competitors at the World Championship Grape Stomp, enjoy live music, browse local vendors and savor all the classic fair food favorites.
Families won’t want to miss the World's Ugliest Dog Contest on Aug. 14, where lovable four-legged contestants prove that personality always wins over perfection.
The Sonoma County Fair also celebrates the region’s agricultural heritage, giving visitors an opportunity to meet local farmers and ranchers, see prize-winning livestock, and experience the work of 4-H and Future Farmers of America members who help carry those traditions into the future.
Whether you’re reliving childhood memories or creating new ones, the Sonoma County Fair offers something for every generation. Find tickets and a complete lineup of events at sonomacountyfair.com. Insider tip: Skip the lines by purchasing your tickets online ahead of time.
| | New soccer field will expand year-round play at Tom Schopflin Fields | | |
For local soccer players, finding an available field can be nearly as challenging as the game itself. A new all-weather field at Tom Schopflin Fields Regional Park will create more opportunities to practice and compete throughout the year.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors, acting as the Sonoma County Ag + Open Space Board of Directors, approved a $993,342 grant to help build an all-weather soccer field at the park north of Santa Rosa. Atlético Santa Rosa, a nonprofit soccer club, will be leading the project and contributing more than $506,000 in matching funds toward its completion.
The new field will complete the park’s master plan. Developed in phases over nearly three decades, the 21-acre regional park currently features a multi-use baseball field, two all-weather soccer fields, a walking trail, picnic areas, restored wetlands and open space. It is named for former County Administrator Tom Schopflin, who championed youth sports before his death in 2000.
The project is supported by the Community Spaces Matching Grant Program, an Ag + Open Space initiative that helps cities, nonprofits and other partners create and improve parks, trails, community gardens and other public gathering places. The program is financed by a quarter-cent sales tax first approved by voters in 1990 and reauthorized in 2006.
“Soccer brings people and families together across Sonoma County,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Board of Supervisors and Ag + Open Space Board of Directors. “This investment creates more opportunities for young people to play year-round while giving families another place to gather, connect and build community.”
| | State recognizes Sonoma County for helping families put children first | | Staff with the Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services gather April 27 to launch its new mobile office, designed to bring services directly into communities. | | |
By helping parents work together instead of going to court, Sonoma County has become one of California’s top-performing child support agencies.
The Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services was recently recognized by the state for its performance in helping parents reach voluntary agreements, establishing child support orders and delivering first payments to families quickly.
The department helped parents voluntarily resolve 59.4% of cases without contested court proceedings, the highest rate among counties of any size in California. It also established child support orders in 95.3% of cases and delivered the first child support payment to families an average of 202 days after opening a case, both the best among California’s 14 mid-sized counties, according to the California Department of Child Support Services.
“These achievements reflect the County’s commitment to helping families resolve child support matters in ways that reduce conflict and put children’s needs first,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
The department serves as a neutral third party that helps parents establish parentage, locate noncustodial parents, obtain and enforce child support orders, and ensure children receive the financial support and medical care to which they are entitled. All services are provided at no cost.
In 2025, the department managed nearly 9,000 child support cases and distributed $31 million in support to Sonoma County families.
“Our goal is to make the child support process more accessible, supportive and responsive to the unique needs of each family,” said Gigi Mertle, director of the Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services. “We’re proud to be recognized for work that has a meaningful impact on children’s lives.”
The recognition comes during Child Support Awareness Month, when California is encouraging parents to learn about free child support services and recent improvements that make it easier for parents to establish or modify support orders.
| | Help shape the future of aging and disability services in Sonoma County | | |
What do older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers need to thrive in the years ahead? The County wants your input.
The Area Agency on Aging is inviting community members to complete a confidential survey by Sept. 30. The results will help guide funding and services that support older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers throughout Sonoma County over the next four years.
The Community Needs Assessment asks about everyday issues that affect quality of life, including housing, transportation, food access, caregiving, emergency preparedness and access to community resources.
The survey, available in English and Spanish, takes about five to 10 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. Participants who complete the survey may enter a drawing to win a $120 gift card.
The Area Agency on Aging leads Sonoma County’s efforts to plan, fund and advocate for programs that help older adults remain independent while supporting adults with disabilities and family caregivers.
Whether you currently use the agency’s services or not, your voice matters. Every response to the survey helps build a clearer picture of our community’s needs and ensures future resources are directed where they can make the greatest difference.
| | New bus route improves connections between Sonoma Valley and SMART | | |
When SMART expanded train service this spring, Sonoma Valley riders shared a common request: make it easier to connect. Starting Monday (Aug. 10), Sonoma County Transit will answer that call with Route 40X, with schedules timed to meet trains at the Petaluma SMART Station during peak weekday commute hours.
The redesigned schedule was created in response to rider feedback requesting better connections to SMART trains, making it easier for commuters to travel between Sonoma Valley and destinations throughout the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system.
“You asked, we listened,” said Emily Betts, Sonoma County Transit manager. “The new Route 40X is a direct response to the community’s request for better connections to SMART. This pilot will help us understand whether demand exists for this type of commuter-focused service so we can continue improving our transit network to meet our riders’ needs.”
Route 40X is part of a broader regional effort to coordinate local bus service with SMART along the Highway 101 corridor. Sonoma County Transit and four other North Bay transit agencies are working with SMART to align schedules and improve transfers, creating a more seamless transit network across the region. Additional service improvements are planned through the Marin-Sonoma Coordinated Transit Service (MASCOTS) initiative.
Sonoma County Transit has already seen encouraging results from earlier service changes. After Route 20 was adjusted to serve the downtown Santa Rosa SMART Station this spring, ridership increased 5%, demonstrating the value of better bus and rail connections.
Route 40X replaces the current Route 40. As a pilot program, the new route will be evaluated using ridership data and customer feedback to help shape future transit improvements. Riders can view schedules and trip planning information at sctransit.com.
| | Find room to grow with a County job | | |
The County currently has more than 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 next two-hour class will be held Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. on Zoom.
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 us at careers@sonomacounty.gov to register for the Aug. 11 class or sign up for our mailing list to be notified of future classes.
| | Adopt the pet of the week | | |
My name is Gordo. I’m a 6-year-old pit bull terrier who was brought to the shelter in January as a stray. I’m very sure of myself and know exactly what I want: treats and attention. I prefer sunbathing to long walks and a cookie over running around. I would do best in a home without any children. Will you bring me into your family?
Gordo is one of dozens of cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals at Sonoma County Animal Services in need of adoption.
Animal Services helps match pets and families through an adoption process designed to support your lifestyle and the animal’s needs. Shelter staff are ready to assist with applications, answer questions and share details about each animal’s health, temperament and care. All animals adopted through the shelter go home spayed or neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccinations, giving your new companion the healthiest start possible in your home.
| | Get involved with County government | | |
Government is only as good as the people who step forward to serve. There are many opportunities available now to support the community by serving on County boards, commissions and committees. Here are just three examples:
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Sonoma County Coast Municipal Advisory Council – Advises the Board of Supervisors on planning and management issues affecting the Sonoma Coast while providing a forum for community input and communication between residents, businesses and County leaders.
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Local Task Force on Integrated Waste Management – Advises the Sonoma County Zero Waste Agency and the Board of Supervisors on waste reduction, recycling, composting and disposal issues.
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Workforce Investment Board – Develops regional and local workforce plans and helps guide job training, employment and youth workforce programs under federal workforce law.
Check out the full list of vacancies and discover how you can help shape the future of Sonoma County.
| | Volunteer and employment opportunities | | |
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