On Thursday evening, Oct. 8, the Sonoma Valley Unified School District board voted 3–2 to adopt a new flag policy for district schools, including Sonoma Valley High School. Trustees Bell, Landry, and Lehman voted yes. Trustees Ching and Guzman voted no.

Some background: the Pride flag was raised at the high school in 2019 after a student-led effort. It came down in January, went back up four days later, and the board took up the broader question of flag practices again this summer and on Oct. 8.

What the board adopted. The policy requires the U.S. and California flags to fly on school days at every district school, and schools may also fly their own school flags. Any other symbolic flag or banner needs board approval and may be displayed only during specified awareness months. The coverage we read doesn't list which months would qualify. At Sonoma Valley High, the Sonoma Valley Sun reports, that means only the U.S. and California flags will fly. After the vote, some trustees also talked about flying the Pride flag for one month during the school year. No decision on that has been reported.

When it starts. The change was set to take effect Monday, Oct. 12. The Sun reports that Friday, Oct. 9 was the last day the Pride flag greeted students at the school entrance.

What's next. Students plan a walkout at the high school on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 11:50 a.m. Community supporters plan to gather across the street on Broadway starting at 11:30 a.m. and are asked to stay off school grounds during school hours. The Sun reports the school's Gay-Straight Alliance is organizing the walkout and a flag planting on the front lawn on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:45 a.m. We haven't seen a statement from the district about either event.

People in this community hold strong and differing views on this one. Our job is to lay out what happened so you can follow it for yourself.

Sonoma Valley Sun: the board vote →
Sonoma Valley Sun: the planned walkout →
Hoodline: the policy and the walkout →
Patch: the policy →
Press Democrat coverage →

• Fridays, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market at Arnold Field, 241 First Street West. Every Friday, year-round.
• Fridays, noon–3 p.m. — Native Plant Sale at Sonoma Garden Park.
• Tue, Oct. 13, 6–7:30 p.m. — Compost Kraut workshop at the Sonoma Community Center, part of Zero Waste Week. Sam Paone of Golden State Pickle Works shows how kitchen scraps become kraut, and you take a jar home. Free. Zero Waste Week →
• Thu, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. — A screening of “Thy Neighbor” with a Q&A with the filmmaker, at the Sebastiani Theatre.
• Fri, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. — “Haunted Wine Country” at the Sebastiani. Doors open at 6:30.
• Sat and Sun, Oct. 17–18 and Oct. 24–25, 1 p.m. — The Witchie Poo Halloween Extravaganza at the Sebastiani. Event info →

The Sebastiani is dressed up for Halloween. If you're headed to a show this month, check out the decorations.

• Sat, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. — “Magic and Murder,” a one-man interactive magic show with dark themes, at the Sebastiani. Recommended for mature audiences. Doors open at 6:30.
• Thu and Fri, Oct. 22–23, 7:30 p.m. — “The Last Spy,” a documentary about CIA spymaster Peter Sichel, followed by a live Q&A with his daughter, Bettina Sichel, who lives in Sonoma Valley. At the Sebastiani.
• Sat, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. — Puppet Art Theater presents “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” at the Sonoma Community Center. $12.
• Sat, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. — “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” screening and costume contest, with a full shadow cast, at the Sebastiani.

• Through Nov. 1 — “Home Again, Home Again,” an exhibit by Richard Lang and Judith Selby Lang, in Gallery 212 at the Sonoma Community Center. Free.
• Through Nov. 6 — Día de Muertos ofrendas at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen. The community ofrenda welcomes photos and names of beloved pets. Event info →

Sebastiani Theatre calendar →
Sonoma Community Center events →
Sonoma Valley events calendar →

• Mondays, 7 p.m. — Open mic at Murphy's Irish Pub. Sign-ups start at 6:30. Murphy's →
• Fridays, 5:30–7:30 p.m. — Friday jazz at Gehricke Winery, 32 Patten St., no cover. Oct. 16: Randy Vincent & Ben Prentice Duo, with the Lasagna Con Amore food truck. Oct. 23: David Stanek 4tet with Estella Zea, Chip Boaz, and Zach Mondlick. Sonoma Valley Jazz Society →
• Fri, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. — Cellist Christian Dupree and pianist Barrett Wilber play Bach, Debussy, Popper, and more in Andrews Hall at the Sonoma Community Center. Doors open at 5:30. $45. Recital info →
• Sat, Oct. 24, 2:30–9:30 p.m. — American Roots Mini-Fest at Murphy's Irish Pub, with Hattie Craven, Back PorchEstra, and The Wild Premonitions.
• Sun, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. — The Kingston Trio at the Sebastiani Theatre. Doors open at 7. Sebastiani calendar →
• Sat, Oct. 31 — Valley of the Moon Halloween Party at Lily's Outpost, the new Hawaiian-inspired bar at 19380 Highway 12. Ages 21+, costumes encouraged, DJ Bhuge from 9 p.m. $20 online, $25 at the door. Tickets →

Know of a regular music night we should be listing, like an open mic or a tasting room with live music? Hit reply and tell us.

Every October, Earth passes through a trail of dust and debris left behind by Halley's Comet. The bits burn up in our sky as the Orionid meteor shower. This year it peaks around Oct. 21–23. Sources disagree on the exact night, so plan on the whole stretch.

The catch this year is the moon. A bright, roughly 80% full waxing moon will wash out the fainter meteors in the evening. Your best window is after the moon sets and before first light, especially the predawn hours of Oct. 22. Expect something like 10 to 20 meteors an hour.

You don't need a telescope. Find a dark spot, give your eyes a few minutes to adjust, and look toward Orion.

Sonoma Valley Sun →
EarthSky: Orionid meteor shower guide →

Last issue we said we'd tell you where to find it. Black Cod Week starts this Saturday. From Oct. 17 to 25, restaurants across Sonoma County will put a black cod dish on the menu, and local markets will sell fresh black cod for home cooks. Black cod, also called sablefish, is a buttery, flaky fish caught by local boats out of Bodega Bay. The week is meant to support Sonoma County's fishing community.

The county's participant list has 38 listings, including Sonoma and Glen Ellen. Two near us: Layla at MacArthur Place (29 E. MacArthur St.) and Santé at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn (100 Boyes Blvd.).

Worth knowing: menus, prices, and hours are up to each restaurant, so check the participant list and confirm with the restaurant before you go.

Want to make a game of it? The Black Cod Trail lets you check in at participating restaurants in the Sonoma County app as you try the dishes.

See the participating restaurants →
Follow the Black Cod Trail →

Pets Lifeline runs a Pet Food Pantry. If you have unopened, sealed pet food to share, you can drop it off at 19686 Eighth St. East. If you're having trouble keeping your own pet fed, call 707-996-4577 for assistance.

While you're there, the shelter's adoption hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pet Food Pantry info →
Meet the dogs →

Take a look next time you pass the corner of First Street East and East Napa Street. Cycles 3, a 96-inch Corten steel sculpture by local artist Peter Hassen, was installed on the Plaza on Oct. 1. Hassen donated the piece to the city.

It's made of three intersecting circles, with bees, birds, and frogs in the design to speak to biodiversity. It's also the first piece the city has acquired under its new Public Art Policy.

Read more →

• Register to vote by Oct. 19. The Nov. 3 City Council election is by district, and District 1 is the only district with more than one candidate. Election info →
• Historic Context Statement: the city's draft is open for public comment through Oct. 19. Read the draft →
• Trustee candidate forum, Mon, Oct. 19: Sonoma Valley Unified School District hosts a forum for the Area 1 trustee seat, 5:30–7 p.m. in the Little Theater at Sonoma Valley High School, 20000 Broadway. KSVY is facilitating, and Spanish translation will be available. District announcement →
• City Council meets Wed, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 177 First Street West. Council info →
• Rotary community grants: the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley opens its fall grants cycle Oct. 15, with applications due Nov. 3. The grants are for local nonprofit and education organizations. Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley →
• Gundlach Bundschu update: the winery is still open. A legal news site tracking the bankruptcy case reports a creditors' meeting on Oct. 26 and a status conference before Judge Lafferty on Nov. 18. No investor has been named publicly. Case summary →

From a Sonoma Kitchen: What's on Your Holiday Table?

Sonoma Food Beat is gathering holiday recipes from our neighbors' kitchens. Is there a dish your family makes every year? We'd love to hear about it.

Email reply@sonomabeat.com with your recipe and your name, plus a photo of the dish if you have one. Recipes are due Friday, Nov. 6.

Submitting a recipe means it may appear in a future community collection with your name, unless you note otherwise.

Sonoma-Made: A Holiday Guide to Local Gifts

This November, Sonoma Beat is putting together a guide to gifts grown, made, and sold right here in Sonoma Valley. If you run a local business or make something here, being included is free. Email reply@sonomabeat.com by Friday, Oct. 30 with your business name, one or two gift ideas with prices, how people can buy, and a photo we have your permission to use. Space is limited, so we may not be able to include everyone.

Not a business owner? Tell us about a local maker you love. We'd like to know who we're missing.

Know something Sonoma should know about? A new business, a neighbor doing good work, an event we missed? Just hit reply. This newsletter is built with the community, not just sent to it.

Got a Sonoma question? Send it in, and we might answer it in a future issue.

Want your business in front of Sonoma locals? Reply to this email and let's talk.

Stay local. Stay connected.
— Michelle, Sonoma Beat