A new professional development opportunity for Sonoma’s Young Professionals (members of the business community ages 21-40) kicks off on June 7 with the first of four SYP “Power Lunch” meetings scheduled for the coming year.   

Power Lunches are an opportunity for young professionals to connect, network, and learn from local business leaders of all ages.

The June 7 session will be held at the Swiss Hotel from noon – 1:30, and the featured speaker will be Aug Sebastiani.  Aug, a fourth-generation member of one of California’s pioneer wine families, is president of The Other Guys, Inc. and a past councilmember and mayor pro-tem of the City of Sonoma.

Speakers featured at future Power Lunch meetings include Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway, and Sondra Bernstein, proprietor/CEO of the girl & the fig, the fig café, and ESTATE.

Power Lunches require advance registration of $30 per session (or $100 for the four-session series) for employees of Chamber member businesses, and $45 ($140 series) for non-members.  Call the Chamber at 996-1033 to reserve your spot and follow SYP at facebook.com/sonomasyoungprofessionals.

May 6 to 12 is National Public Service Recognition Week. The Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce would like to take this oppportunity to recognize City of Sonoma staff for the outstanding services provided to the businesses and residents of Sonoma. 

The 29 staff members at City Hall, Plaza/Parks, finance and the City corporation yard on Eighth Street East are often unsung heroes, quietly working to keep Sonoma running.  City administrative staff and department heads are consistently open to working with the Chamber to address specific business issues and to promote awareness of and recognition for local businesses.

City employees are responsible for ensuring that our downtown and public spaces are well maintained, including things we often don't even think about, such as garbage cans, street lights, and free public parking lots.  These employees keep our neighborhood parks, sidewalks, gutters and streets clean and safe.  They take care of the Plaza, dog parks, open spaces and cemeteries.

As a community known for its high quality of life, and as a world-class destination for visitors, the city's employess are essential partners in stewarding our economy.  

Thank you.

-Chip Allen
President
Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce 

• The negative finacial impact that the State's elimination of redevelopment, resulting in a monthly budget shortfall of $85,000 that the City's reserve accounts to continue the current level public services provided to local businesses, residents and support of community organizations
  
• The importance of these services, including police and fire protection, road and park maintenance, and graffiti abatement, to our tourism-based economy and to the quality of life that is a key driver of business creation, expansion, and retention
  
• The fact that all revenues from the half-cent sales tax would go to fund local services in Sonoma.

What is really happening at Sonoma Valley High School? Just  ask the students that have been there… the Chamber’s “Business & Education” Breakfast Forum on Friday, April 27 at the Sonoma Golf Club will feature a program led by a team of 14+ Sonoma Valley High School students offering first hand accounts of what SVHS has prepared them for life after graduation. 

From academics, agriculture, performing & visual arts, work experience, technical education and athletic achievement- this student led event will inspire business and community leaders to break out their Black & Green and show pride in our hometown school!

Louann Carlomagno, Superintendent, Sonoma Valley Unified School District will provide a “State of the Schools” report and SVHS Principal & Vice Principal Dino Battaglini and Andrew Ryan will speak to collaborative programs and partnerships including the new Engineering, Design and Technology Pathway.  Dorrs open at 7 a.m. and the forum runs from 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Registration is $40 per person for Chamber members/$55 non-members. A limited number of reserved tables of 10 are available for $500.  Click here for the reservation form or contact the Chamber at 996-1033 or kathy@sonomachamber.com.  

The City of Sonoma's Working Group on Permit Streamlining is gathering feedback from businesses that have gone through the City's permitting processes in recent years.  The goal is to use this information to continue to improve the permitting process wherever possible.

An online survey was created to collect input from business owners with a location within City limits.  Commercial property owners and building industry professionals who have gone through the City's permit process in the past few years are also invited to participate.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.  A link to the survey can be found on the home page of the City, www.sonomacity.org (see Permit Streamlining Survey) or you can go directly to the survey here.

Questions regarding the survey may be directed to Laurie Decker, Economic Development Program Manager, at 327-7338 or Linda Kelly, City Manager, at 933-2215.

Congrats to all the Chamber businesses recognized by the Sun's "Best of Sonoma Valley" readers' poll!  Winning multiple recognitions (first place or runner up) were:  Sonoma Market (grocery, place to buy wine), Whole Foods (grocery, senior deal, place to buy organic), The Lodge (local lodging, spa experience), Murphy's (nightspot, beer pub), MacArthur Place/Saddles (local lodging, cocktails), Swiss Hotel (cocktails, nightspot), Mary's Pizza (family restaurant, pizza), and Red Grape (pizza, family restaurant).

Also recognized by readers as favorites were the Barking Dog (free wi-fi spot), Harvest Moon's Nick Demarest (chef), Boys & Girls Club (summer camp), Elaine Bell (caterer), Sunflower Caffe (patio dining), Sonoma Valley Museum (art gallery), Arts Guild of Sonoma (art gallery), Baksheesh (place to buy a gift), Train Town (place to take kids), Benziger (winery tour), Sebastiani (winery tour), Massage Envy (spa experience), Yoga Community (yoga), Parkpoint (workout), Arroyo Vet Hospital (animal care), Vintage House (senior deal), Basque Boulangerie (bakery), and Larson Family Winery (tasting room).

Cheers to all these local favorites!