Kathleen Hill and Beth Hadley from The Sonoma Valley Democrats were proud and honored to attend the Sonoma Valley High School Awards Assembly on May 20, 2013. Regina Mellinger and Stefan Fynn-Garcia were selected by their teachers to receive the Gerald Hill Memorial Scholarship. Gerald Hill was an esteemed Sonoma historian, ardent political activist, loyal member of the Sonoma Valley Democrats, and a dear friend to many. Thank you to all those were able to donate to the memorial fund and make these awards possible.

As part of the Sonoma Valley Democrats’ 2013 theme of “Community Unity,” we spent a lovely afternoon on May 4th at the La Luz Center’s Community Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in Boyes Hot Springs. Many thanks to La Luz for including us and to our Board Member, Andy Radolf for all his work on the “Food Committee,” the numerous local stores and restaurants who donated, and the several hundred attendees who peacefully celebrated this traditional Mexican-American holiday together.

SV Dems present The Healthcare Movie on May 20.

Concerned about the state of health care in California? Nel Benningshof from Health Care for All – California  (HCA) will present a short documentary, The Healthcare Movie, and lead a discussion about health care in California at the Sonoma Valley Democrats’ next General Meeting, on Mon., May 20, 6:30 p.m., Seven Flags Club House, 300 International Boulevard, in the Seven Flags Mobile Home Park, 1400-1600 Watmaugh Drive, Sonoma. HCA is a statewide, non-partisan organization of volunteers who work actively to get single payer legislation passed in California. Please bring a potluck snack to share. For more information contact Beth Hadley at bethh@sonic.net.

More than 50 local voters attended the Sonoma Valley Democrats’ March 2013 General Meeting. Many thanks to those who were able to attend. Good company, interesting conversation and great food were enjoyed by all. Special thanks to Susan Gorin for being our keynote speaker and to our Special Events Committee for all their work.

Everyone is invited to join the Sonoma Valley Democrats for a State of the Union Watch Party on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 5:30pm, at Round Table Pizza, 201 West Napa Street, Sonoma.

This will be a great opportunity to meet local voters, talk politics and share some pizza (“no-host” food and beverages). For more information, please contact Beth at bethh@sonic.net.

Watch the Presidential Inauguration and help FISH too.

Watch President Obama’s second inauguration with the Sonoma Valley Democrats on Monday, Jan. 21 8:30am at the Black Bear Diner, 201 W. Napa St. Breakfast will be available for purchase from the diner’s menu. In honor of Martin Luther King Day, SVD is asking that you bring a donation of non-perishable food in support of Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH). A barrel for donating food items (canned goods, pasta, rice etc. but no ramen products) will be at the Black Bear Diner from Friday, Jan 18th through Sunday, Jan. 21st. For more information please contact Beth at bethh@sonic.net.