WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS
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Inside: Soap Cauldron • Tech Talk • Only In Marin Santé • Vine Wise • Press Democrat sale
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Left to right: Tanya Bruno, Reyna Jackson, Barbie Simpson, Nancy Simpson, Katie Tognozzi, Kendall Richardson, Nancy Taylor, Sara Young, and Nikki Crocker
The Ladies of Simpson Sheet Metal Celebrate Women in the Construction Industry For Three Generations
S impson Sheet Metal has been a family-owned business in Sonoma County for the past 44 years. Bill and Nancy Simpson worked side-by-side in creating an incredible place of business that has always supported women in the trades. Bill and Nancy’s daughter, Barbie, grew up in the family business, working after school at the age of 16. Through the support and guidance of her father, Barbie now owns and operates the business. Having been raised in an environment that encourages and supports women in the trades, Barbie created a space where men and women equally share in the duties of the day-to-day operations of the business. Barbie’s daughter, Nancy, represents the third generation of women in the business.
As the Simpson team moves forward, they’re proud to be designated as a Woman-Owned Business, having been accredited with the WBENC and WBE certification in 2018. This certification allows Simpson Sheet Metal opportunities in the awarding of projects bid. The Simpson family would like to express their thanks to all of their customers and employees for their ongoing loyalty to Simpson Sheet Metal. They look forward to the continued support and involvement of women in the trades and will always maintain an environment that honors this ideal. “We do this in honor of a great man and mentor, Bill Simpson”. — Barbie Simpson
Left to right: Nancy Taylor, Barbie Simpson, seated is Nancy Simpson
707-576-1500 • www.simpsonsheetmetal.com • 2833 Dowd Drive #C • Santa Rosa, CA 95407
SOLD! Senator Mike McGuire serves as YWCA’s energetic auctioneer.
2025 Honorary Woman in Wine Julie Pedroncelli St. John with YWCA CEO Madeleine O’Connell.
YWCA Sonoma County, our community’s vital and singular provider of domestic violence services held their 18 th Annual fundraiser, “Gather Sonoma” a celebration of women, wine, chefs and cheese on May 9 th . Thanks to honorees, prominent women in wine, local chefs, sponsors and donors, over $400,000 was raised for programming to keep local families safe from harm.
Ame Van Dyke of E.R. Sawyer Jewelers presents the Hearts on Fire Diamond Ring to the lucky winner!
2025 Honorary Chef Cristina Topham of Spread Kitchen with YWCA CEO Madeleine O’Connell.
Chefs Tracey Shepos Cenami of Jackson Family Wines, Chef Honoree Cristina Topham, Liza Hinman of The Spinster Sisters and Sheana Davis of The Epicurean Connection.
Guests enjoy the Persimmon Carpet Paparazzi Photo Op!
Learn more at ywcasc.org Than Yo!
Show me your blinky ring!
Bubbles and Bites reception on the lawn of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn.
2025 Prominent Women in Wine represent local Sonoma County wineries.
PHOTOS BY WILL BUCQUOY
June 2025 • Volume 50 • Number 7 CONTENTS
50 YEARS OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
22
LEAD STORY 22 LOVE Wine Project Jean Saylor Doppenberg
FEATURE STORIES 18 Big Media Takeover Jason Walsh
Press Democrat sale to cost-cutting hedge fund shakes up North Bay media landscape
Acclaimed artist Alexandra Grant brings her support for women and the arts to wine country
20 Waiting on a Friend Jason Walsh Marin tops nation in birth moms over 40 28 Working Herself Into a Lather Janet Perry Penngrove soap maker Emma Mann has her finger in many dishes 34 Industry Watchdog Judith M. Wilson Tiburon’s Kathleen Defever takes on insurers on behalf of fire victims
WORK/LIFE 15 Women 16 Office
June 2025
NorthBaybiz 5
55
46
48
51
DEPARTMENTS 12 The 707
COLUMNS 11
Publisher’s Forum Lawrence Amaturo The ‘future’ of SSU? Bill Meagher Trump tariffs reverberate at Restoration Hardware Only In Marin Econ 101 Robert Eyler Tariffs’ effects on tourism and wine industry Napa Insider Christina Julian Tea and scones? A visit to Ian’s Bakeshop and Napa Valley Tea Company
The latest news from Sonoma and Napa counties
13
21
The 415 The latest news from Marin County
17
27
The Month In Numbers A look at the key figures shaping life in the North Bay
46
31
Great Tastes Alexandra Russell Chenoweth Wines in Sebastopol
48
Dine Wise Jason Walsh Santé, a taste of the Mission Inn in Sonoma
43
Tech Talk
Michael E. Duffy
A Waymo test drive
50
On the Move Comings and goings in the business community
45
Vine Wise Adam Lee What happened to the ‘romance’ of California pinot?
51
What’s Happening Upcoming North Bay events
50
In the Kitchen John Ash Strawberries, the taste of summer
55
Biz Scene Celebrating the Best of the North Bay! Beyond the Boardroom Rosie Padilla Dawn Weisz, CEO of MCE
58
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@northbaybiz
NorthBay biz (ISSN No. 1542-3549: USPS 097-770) is owned and published monthly (plus three bonus issues annually) by North Bay Media Group, LLC. Editorial offices are at 3392 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403 USA: (707) 528-4434. Sub- scription price is $35 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid at Santa Rosa, CA 95402 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2022, NorthBay biz. Reproduction of this issue in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without written permission by the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NorthBay biz, 3392 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403 USA.
Printed by Publication Printers Corp., an FSC Certified printer. Please recycle this magazine.
6 NorthBaybiz
June 2025
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Celebrating 50 Years
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Editor-in-Chief
Jason Walsh
Associate Editor
Rosie Padilla
Contributing Editor
Bill Meagher
Design Director
Anne Schenk
Administrative Assistant
Jodi Pasquini
Marketing Consultant
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Writers Janet Perry Jason Walsh Jean Saylor Doppenberg Judith M. Wilson Rosie Padilla
Why Choose Waterdrop Digital: • Innovation: We stay current with digital trends to offer cutting-edge solutions. • Results: Our data-driven approach maximizes your ROI. • Dedication: Our passionate team is committed to your success. • Client-Centric: We tailor strategies to your unique goals and audience. Choose Waterdrop Digital. Your partner in digital success.
Columnists Adam Lee Alexandra Russell Bill Meagher Christina Julian Jason Walsh Lawrence Amaturo John Ash Michael E. Duffy Robert Eyler
Photographers Will Bucquoy
We specialize in SEO, PPC advertising, content marketing, email marketing, web design and more. Our results-driven team combines innovation and strategy to keep you ahead of the competition.
Correction Our April feature highlighting the popular Country Summer music festival in Santa Rosa carried an incorrect byline. The excellent story was by longtime NorthBay biz writer Bo Kearns.
Helping grow your business isn’t just something we do .... it’s all we do!
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8 NorthBaybiz
June 2025
FOOD & BEVERAGES BEVERAGES LIVE MUSIC • FIREWORKS • PILLOW FIGHTS
Join us for an unforgettable celebration filled with excitement, laughter, and community pride as we host the largest fireworks display in the area. This day is not just about the sky lighting up with dazzling colors; it’s about coming together as a community to celebrate our freedom and the joy of summer. Families can dive into the fun with our unique World Championship Pillow Fights, where friendly competition and laughter reign supreme! Enjoy lively performances from local bands that will get your toes tapping and your heart singing. And don’t forget to indulge in the mouthwatering local food and refreshing beverages that will tantalize your taste buds. Get ready to spark your spirit with some “Fired up Freedom” this 4th of July at the Sonoma County Fair!
This is a celebration for everyone, so gather your loved ones and create lasting memories at this cherished local tradition! Event access only $10 per person (includes parking and event access) day of sales only, gates open @ 1:00 pm, Fireworks at 9:30 pm.
Books ArePortable Magic Remember being read to as a child? M y mother read aloud to me, and one of my favorite books was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. But what I remember most was the sound of her voice, the rhythm of the words and what it felt like leaning into her, while she read aloud to me. The pages of those books she read transported us to faraway places—real and imaginary—and taught me about life and oPened my mitnd to all the possibilities. So when I became a mother, I began reading to my kids. And now I’m reading to my grandchildren every chance I get. As for my mom, now a great-grandmother, she still takes great joy in reading to the kids whenever she visits. Remember to take time every chance you get—eat, play, read. Reading helps build language and thinking skills, develops a child’s imagination and empathy for others, achieve better in school, and it’s a great way to spend time together. And best of all, reading aloud to your child makes memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. That’s what my mother was doing years ago when she took the time to read aloud to me.
“For more than 40 years, we’ve protected people from the elements. Now it’s time to help our kids in the community.” — Barbie Simpson, Owner and President
Read on Sonoma!
Celebrating more than 40 years as a family owned business. Our team is here to meet all of your HVAC needs.
Put Your Trust In Us
707-576-150 • www.simpsonsheetmetal.com • Santa Rosa, CA
Publisher’s Forum
Sonoma State University’s future
By Lawrence Amaturo
I s now the time to get your act together, SSU? As you’ve likely read in these pages over the last few months, Sonoma State University’s “sudden” financial dilemmas have led to the elimination of critical education departments such as economics, geology and philosophy as well as the termination of all its NCAA Division II sports programs. These decisions, championed by its Interim President Emily Cutrer, still feel so heavy handed. They kick-in this fall, but I know firsthand how nearly every student athlete has already placed him and herself into the NCAA “portal” to be whisked away to another school where they can be challenged intellectually and physically. The university Vice President for Strategic Employment Ed Mills projects next year’s enrollment will slide another 1,200 students (from fall of 2024). Twelve hundred students fewer to fill classrooms, occupy dormitories, spend money on campus and in the towns that have always supported them. As I’ve noted previously, and we all know in our hearts, when an organization guts itself of its vitality and dynamism as SSU seems to be doing, it begins a “death cycle” that will be difficult to slow. Yet my inside sources tell me that neither Cutrer nor the university chancellors will be changing their minds anytime soon. I keep telling myself there is more to this story—more to these decisions—than the public is being told. Please, SSU, find the path you need to survive and once again, thrive. And Now For Something Completely Different Boy, this “empty nesting” life I share with my wife is even better than I’d heard! Yes, I was very nervous when our daughters flew the coop a few years ago… Who and what would fill our days while our kids were living it up at college? (C’mon, fellow husbands, you were nervous, too!) But as you will notice from the recent photo booth candids, my Susan and I want to enjoy our lives as a couple in ways less possible when our kids’ schedules overrode our own. So, when our dear friends Kathy and Miles invited us to dust off our formal wear and attend their son’s wedding, we jumped at the chance. Here are a few tips we’ve picked up along the way. Swap out “Taco Tuesday” for Taqueria Tuesday. We choose a different Mexican restaurant each week in place of the at-home meals we’d once made for our kids. La Vera in Healdsburg, El Molino in Sonoma, Santa Rosa’s Los Molcajete Bar (Mendocino Avenue location), and Cocina Antiqua in Petaluma would be great places to begin your own traditions. If you squint your eyes a bit, here in the North Bay there are some excellent tribute bands that will have you flash back to your high school days. I was a bit too awkward and immature in those days to have fully appreciated this time in my life, but it didn’t stop us from enjoying a recent Friday at Petaluma’s Mystic Theatre. My neighborhood hang, Matt and Stacy, Johnnie and Kellie—and the
notorious Jimmy Forni and his ever-patient Mary Anne—joined us to see AZ/DZ sing like Bon Scott and jam like Angus Young. Incredible musicality and energy brought me right back to my childhood. Highly recommended! And finally, let me recommend you keep your dogs off your bed. I’d like to tell you I’ve been incredibly successful on this front. But alas, I have not. ‘Nuff said. g
But maybe I've got this all wrong!?! Share your points of view with me at LAmaturo@ MySonomaMedia.com
June 2025
NorthBaybiz 11
The 707
Coppola Too shuts down production Francis Ford Coppola Winery is the latest notable local wine producer to downsize operations. The brand, owned by Delicato since 2021, closed its Francis Ford Coppola Winery Too production facility in Geyserville, effective May 15, letting go 15 wine-production employees. The closure and layoffs were first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle . Production will be moved from the Chianti Road facility to the original Francis Ford Coppola Winery on Via Archimedes, according to the Chronicle . The Coppola Too location was formerly the Virginia Dare Winery, and before that the home of Geyser Peak Winery. Coppola purchased Virginia Dare in 2014. Following the sale of his namesake brand, Coppola retained an equity stake in Delicato, but reportedly borrowed $200 million against it to fund his cinematic passion project Megalopolis , the 2024 sci-fi epic which struggled to find an audience and reportedly lost north of $110 million.— JW
County lowers cannabis-cultivation tax rate Sonoma County cannabis growers will see some relief at the pocketbook, as the Board of Supervisors on April 15 approved a reduction in local tax rates for cultivation in unincorporated areas. The amended Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance will lower cannabis-grow rates equivalent to 2.5% of gross receipts, converted to a square footage rate, according to county officials. The amendment follows an annual review of market changes and data reported by local operators; local cannabis tax rates for retail and manufacturing operations in unincorporated areas will remain the same. The revised rates for cultivation in unincorporated areas are as follows:
• $0.36 per square foot for outdoor cultivation • $1.15 per square foot for mixed-light cultivation • $3 per square foot for indoor cultivation
Measure A, which established the Cannabis Business Tax, was passed by voters on March 7, 2017, with 71% voter approval. To gather data to conduct the annual cannabis tax rate review, county staff sent a questionnaire to all 66 permitted cannabis cultivation operators. Participation in the questionnaire was voluntary; 13 responses were received representing 20% of the total number of cultivation businesses in the unincorporated county cannabis industry, the county reported.
Cannabis program costs are funded by cannabis business tax revenue. “Due to declining revenue, the program has had to use fund balance to maintain program operations,” county officials said in a statement. According to the county, the overall cost of managing the cannabis program is projected to be $1.7 million for the next two fiscal years. Cannabis business tax revenue in fiscal year 2025-26 is projected to be $700,000. The amended Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance, which will go before the Board of Supervisors for final approval on May 6, 2025, will be effective July 1.— JW
Sebastopol parts ways with city manager The City of Sebastopol is looking for a new city manager.
That was the news from an April 15 closed-session meeting, in which city officials announced the council and City Manager Don Schwartz “have mutually agreed to end their professional relationship, effective immediately.” Schwartz had been city manager since January of 2024, with an annual salary of $245,000. No details were offered as to the parting of the ways. The closed session was held following the council’s regular Tuesday public meeting. Schwartz was not in attendance. The council voted 3-2 to break with Schwartz, with members Sandra Maurer and Neysa Hinton dissenting. Following the vote, Mayor Stephen Zollman said in a statement, “Mr. Schwartz has served our community with professionalism and care. We are grateful for his service and the contributions he has made to Sebastopol.” Zollman went on to credit Schwartz with his work in negotiating an agreement to consolidate the city’s fire department and working to solve the city’s financial challenges. According to a statement from the council, an interim city manager will be appointed as the city begins the process of selecting a new permanent city manager.— NBb
12 NorthBaybiz
June 2025
The 415
New carpool lane restrictions worry traffic officials The carpool lane scenario in the North Bay is about to get way better, or way worse—depending on whether you drive solo during commute hours. Caltrans recently approved changes to Marin and Sonoma counties’ HOV time limits, a move necessary to standardize the counties’ lane hours once work completes on the years-long highway widening project along the 101 corridor from Novato to Petaluma, aka “the narrows.” The 52-mile stretch from the Mill Valley to Windsor will conform to the same carpool lane hours used by the seven Bay Area bridges: 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays in both directions. The new times are a notable increase in lane restrictions—carpool enforcement jumps by three hours per morning in Marin and four hours per morning in Sonoma County. The afternoon restrictions increase by 90 minutes in Marin and 30 minutes in Sonoma. While the Transportation Authority of Marin approved the changes, Marin traffic officials raised concerns about the potential effect the
new hours will have on traffic, predicting additional delays to general-purpose lane users, as well as transit services which use those lanes. The revised carpool lane hours will go into effect once construction is completed on “the narrows” sometime this summer.— JW
Marin nonprofit wins housing discrimination settlement A Marin-based fair-housing nonprofit recently reached a settlement on behalf of an Oakland couple who claimed a home appraiser undervalued their property by nearly a quarter of its worth because of their race. Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California (FHANC), a San Rafael-based agency which supports alleged victims of housing discrimination, and Ronald and Dominique Curtis in November settled a case for $90,000 with appraiser Mehdi Mehdipour- Mossafer. Filed with the California Civil Rights Department, the complaint detailed how the Curtises in December 2020 applied to refinance their home, which had been appraised the preceding April at $1.15 million. Ronald Curtis, who is black, and Dominique Curtis, who is Latina, had purchased the North Oakland property in 2019 and had since made “significant renovations,” according to FHANC.
But when they hoped to take advantage of the low interest rates offered at the close of 2020, the Curtises were “shocked,” as FHANC described, to receive a valuation from Mehdipour-Mossafer for $900,000—about $250,000 less than what they were expecting. Ronald Curtis, a real estate agent, and Dominique Curtis, herself an appraiser, believed racial bias was the reason for the low valuation, and the couple appealed. But Mehdipour-Mossafer wouldn’t change the appraisal—and the Curtises were unable to secure the refinance loan. “After this experience, the Curtises made the difficult decision to sell their home,” FHANC said in a statement following the settlement. “In preparing their home for sale, they removed all their belongings, including family photos and other items indicating their race and ethnicity, and hired a real estate agency to stage their home with neutral furnishings and show it to potential buyers,” the statement continued. In October 2021, the house sold for $1.2 million, nearly $300,000 more than Mehdipour-Mossafer’s valuation. Working with the Curtises, FHANC filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Department on behalf of the couple. In a statement about the settlement, Julia Howard-Gibbon, FHANC’s supervising attorney, said research shows appraisers contribute to the undervaluation of Black and Latinx neighborhoods in a variety of ways, including: Considering a neighborhood’s racial and ethnic composition in their determination of the market area from which to choose comparable sales, allowing biased assumptions about the race or ethnicity of the homeowner to influence valuation; relying on the unfounded assumption that a typical buyer is white and that white people want to live in predominately white neighborhoods; and by valuing homes based on recent local sales, which recycles home values that were initially determined under racist appraisal criteria. — JW
County of Marin budget jumps 6% The County of Marin increased its budget for the coming year by 6%—bringing the total for 2025-26 to $865.8 million. The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved the all-funds budget May 21. According to county officials, the budget maintains current levels of services to the community and includes $10.4 million in one-time funds allocated toward one-time enhancements and pilot initiatives such as the expansion of 24/7 mental health mobile crisis support and investment in wildfire response, including the addition of eight full-time positions at the Marin County Fire Department. Board President and District 1 Supervisor Mary Sackett applauded the budget’s inclusion of $20.4 million toward affordable housing. She also said the budget was approved with awareness that changes in funding for counties could be on the horizon. For more info, visit marincounty.gov. —JW
June 2025
NorthBaybiz 13
Work/Life/ Women
Stepping over the ‘broken rung’ Women in the workplace still at a disadvantage for advancement
D espite gender-equity lower pay and discrimination. According to a survey by workplace-consulting firm Wellable, for every 100 men promoted to their first management position, 89 white women and 81 women of color achieve the same advancement. The disparity in promotion achievement has been referred to as the “broken rung,” progress in recent years, women in the workplace continue to face barriers to advancement—stymied by underrepresentation, an obstacle for women with an eye on climbing the corporate ladder. The challenges are compounded for women of color, the study shows. For instance, women in 2024 held 29% of executive- level roles overall, while women of color held 7% such roles. While both numbers are on an uptick—a 17% and 4% increase since 2015, respectively—white women aren’t projected to reach parity with men in corporate roles until 2046, and women of color aren’t projected for parity until 2072. One way women can get past the broken rung is through the concept By Jason Walsh
of “experience capital”—a term championed by leadership consultants Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee and María del Mar Martínez in their recently published book, The Broken Rung . “Fifty percent of a woman’s lifetime earnings come from something called experience capital, which is what they learn on the job,” Yee told Forbes. com . She urges women to pursue highly visible roles in their companies— despite the fact that women aren’t often encouraged to do so—and not be discouraged by alleged qualifications for a promotion. In their book, the authors present research showing women typically believe they should meet 100% of the qualifications called for in a position, while men will apply for an opportunity when they meet just 60% of the qualifications. Believe in yourself is Yee’s message. Make “big, bold moves.”
Here are 4 ways companies can repair the ‘broken rung’ • Bias training in performance evaluations and hiring practices • Greater transparency in promotion criteria and decision-making processes • Structured mentorship and sponsorship for women of color • Accountability mechanisms for diversity goals (for example, setting measurable targets and reporting progress quarterly
and annually) Source: Wellable
June 2025
NorthBaybiz 15
Work Life Office
Revenge of the seething When quiet quitting doesn’t work, employees turn to ‘revenge quitting’
By Jason Walsh
F or some, quitting That’s the sentiment behind what’s being called “revenge quitting”—the growing concept of how workplace frustrations and a perception of underappreciation are leading more and more employees to resign as an act of opposition, rather than as a judicious career decision. one’s job isn’t simply a matter of a work-life- balance shift or seeking new opportunities—it’s a take-this-job-and- shove-it statement that would do Johnny Paycheck proud. Stagnant wages and return-to- office mandates are two major culprits contributing to “revenge quitting” becoming one of the more talked about workplace trends of 2025. Other factors leading to revenge quitting include lack of professional growth opportunities, workplace conflicts and feelings of purposelessness, according to forbes.com. Results from a study conducted by tech company Software Finder showed that entry-level employees, Gen X employees and remote workers are among the most likely to have revenge quit this past year. Looking ahead, the study predicted the most likely
to revenge quit in 2025 include managers, marketers and ad-sales staff, those working in IT and media. Revenge quitting might be a natural outgrowth of the “quiet quitting” trend of the post- pandemic years, when employee dissatisfaction manifested in workers quietly doing the bare minimum to maintain their positions and collect a paycheck. As quiet quitting, by its nature, allows discontent to linger, frustrations fester, and emotions may take over. Before revenge quitting, however, an unhappy employee might be wise to seriously consider their situation. Don’t be driven by emotions, career coach Emily Button-Lynham stressed recently in Harper’s Bazaar magazine. “I always advise my clients to spend time assessing if leaving their job is the only option,” she said. “The key advice is not to make any snap decisions.” About 4% of full-time employees plan to revenge quit this year, according to the survey, viewable at softwarefinder.com.
Here’s a list of employees’ top frustrations with their current role: Low salary/lack of raises 48% Feeling undervalued 34% Lack of career growth opportunities 33% Poor management 27% Lack of appreciation 27% Inadequate work-life balance 24% Limited paid time off 22% Toxic workplace culture 19% Source: Software Finder survey data Motives for revenge quitting
16 NorthBaybiz
June 2025
The Month In Numbers
Sonoma County
1,700 Number of county employees expected to be staffed at the new facilities once the project is completed circa 2030. Source: County of Sonoma
New digs?
$434 million
Estimated total cost for the County of Sonoma to modernize its administration buildings, a project that includes the purchase of three buildings near the county airport and the rebuilding of the 70-year-old facilities at its current government center at 575 Administration Drive.
Napa County
18 Number of additional staff members required to run Napa’s new jail, which will operate with an emphasis on rehabilitation, safety and community partnerships, according to Corrections Director Dina Jose. Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Jailhouse rock
$133 million Price of construction of Napa’s new city correctional facility, hailed by city leaders as a 21st century jail with modern amenities.
2 miles Long division
59% Portion of students at Vintage High who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, according to data showing eligibility for low-cost meals on campus.
Distance between Napa High and Vintage, the two public high schools serving the City of Napa.
76.4% Portion of students at Napa High who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, according to data showing eligibility for low-cost meals on campus. Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat, in a May 1 story highlighting recent demographic shifts between the two schools.
Marin County
3 Number of additional hours the new morning restrictions place on Marin carpool lanes, which are currently from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. The change to 5 to 10 a.m. will increase “queue length and duration of congestion” for general purpose lane users, according to the Transportation Authority of Marin. Source: Caltrans, TAM
Stop and go…
10 a.m. The new extended hour for morning carpool lane restrictions, aligning Marin and Sonoma counties with HOV lane hours on Bay Area bridges.
June 2025
NorthBaybiz 17
Extra! Extra! Press Democrat Local investors hand over community newspapers to New York hedge-fund
T he Santa Rosa Press Democrat in May was sold to MediaNews Group, the company which also has a majority stake in the San Rafael-based Marin Independent Journal , another North Bay-focused daily newspaper located less than 40 miles away. The new parent corporation for both publications has a reputation for buying up regional newspapers and quickly cutting costs through consolidation of resources and eliminating positions. As part of the deal, MediaNews Group acquired the print and digital portfolio of Sonoma Media Investments, the Press Democrat’s former parent company, which also includes Sonoma magazine, the Sonoma Index-Tribune , the Petaluma Argus-Courier, the Sonoma County Gazette and the North Bay Business Journal . Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though earlier reports suggested SMI was seeking a buyer in the low-eight-figure range. According to the company’s website, MediaNews Group’s network publishes 77 daily and more than 150 weekly publications throughout the United States. Its publications include the Chicago Tribune , the Denver Post , the San Jose Mercury News , the Orange County Register, the Boston Herald and the San Diego Union-Tribune . Established in 2012, Sonoma Media Investments had been led by Managing Partner Darius Anderson, a real estate developer and lobbyist. Local investors in SMI included former Citigroup CEO Sandy Weill, former Dolby Sound CEO Bill Jasper, former Congressman Doug Bosco, retired Intel executive Les Vadasz, and Jean Schulz, wife of the late Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. In a media statement about the sale, SMI majority owner Anderson stressed his belief that an independent press is “vital to our North Bay community.” “We believe that the newspaper, its staff and most importantly the public will be best served under the stewardship of MediaNews Group, with the newspaper By Jason Walsh
expertise and financial resources necessary to carry on our mission of delivering the highest-caliber local journalism for future North Bay generations,” said Anderson. MediaNews Group is a subsidiary of Alden Global Capital, a New York-based hedge fund known for buying up newspapers, slashing budgets and gutting staff. The Press Democrat will be MediaNews Group’s second connection to a daily newspaper in the North Bay. The Marin Independent Journal is published by the California Newspaper Partnership, whose majority owner is MediaNews Group. Frank Pine, executive editor of MediaNews Group, said in the media statement he was honored to bring the PD into the MediaNews portfolio. “We appreciate the importance of local news and information to the communities where we publish and are proud to expand our commitment to Northern California in the North Bay,” Pine said. A potential sale of the PD has been whispered about for months; earlier reports connected it to a deal being worked out with the Hearst Corp., which publishes the San Francisco Chronicle. If a sale of the PD to Hearst seemed at least somewhat palatable to members of the Santa Rosa newsroom, the May 1 announcement of the MediaNews acquisition was met with complete dismay. “Stunned” was how PD reporter Phil Barber described it to KQED. A former sports editor of the IJ , commenting on Facebook, predicted: “Here comes the North Bay Journal when the IJ and PD merge. Think East Bay Times and the six papers that were consolidated [when acquired by Alden Global Capital].” The new ownership’s attempts to trim overhead at the PD started almost immediately. On May 13, newsroom staffs at the Press Democrat and its affiliated publications received an email from MediaNews offering buyouts, as part of a “voluntary separation plan.” The offer for full-time employees included a week’s pay for each year of employment, maxing out at 15 weeks. Employees were given to May 23 to decide.
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat was founded in 1897 by the merger of the Evening Press and Sonoma Democrat.
18 NorthBaybiz
June 2025
sold to MediaNews Group
NorthBaybiz 19 NorthBaybiz 19
June 2025
Ladies in waiting Marin tops nation in birth moms over 40
It takes a village of cash The cost to raise a small child in the U.S. is about $29,500 per year, according to lendingtree.com—a 35.7% jump from 2023. Here’s the breakdown:
Rent Food
$1,128 $4,216 $17,836
Day care Apparel
$247
Transportation
$4,383 $3,609 -$2,000
Health insurance Federal tax credit
By Jason Walsh W hen it comes to baby wipes, toddler leashes and the monthly purchase of onesies, Marin women are pressing pause. That was the finding in new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, which reported that the U.S. county with the highest percentage of women who gave birth over age 40 was none other than Marin. According to the CDC, 11.4% of Marin women giving birth in 2023 were 40-somethings—tops in the nation. Second was San Francisco, at 10.9%. Meanwhile, the average age of a woman giving birth in San Francisco is 33.6 years; in Marin it’s 33.5 years. The average age nationally is 29.6. Outside the Top 10, Sonoma County checked in at 35 in the rankings, or 6.5% of its births to women who’ve celebrated the Big 4-0. Solano County finished 68, and Napa County was 73 on the list. Only counties with populations of at least
100,000 were included in the rankings. Reasons for putting off starting, or adding to a family include establishing a career, the prioritizing of life pursuits such as travel, and advances in reproductive technology. The average of age of birth mothers has been growing across all age demographics in the United States for decades. Overall in the U.S., 4.1% of births in 2023 were to women over 40, besting the 4.0% of teen births—for the first time ever. (Since 1990, teen births have dropped 73%; meanwhile, births by women over 40 in that time have jumped 193%, according to the CDC.) Given the rising cost of living, older parents are also more likely to be able to afford to have children than those under 30. The cost to
raise a child through age 17 for a household of four on a mid-level income is $310,000, according to Brookings Institution numbers from 2022. g
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May 2025
Only In Marin
Trump tariffs, Restoration Hardware and Tesla angst By Bill Meagher
“ Oh sh*t! ” That is a direct quote from an investor call by RH CEO Gary Friedman as his company’s stock went south as a result of President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs. The Corte Madera-based company formerly known as Restoration Hardware trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker RH. It imports much of its product from overseas and so it will have to pay tariffs and decide just how much of those increased costs will be passed along to customers wishing to add Resto luxury furnishings to their cribs. Friedman has always been an
Shares of RH closed Friday, April 27 at $185.49. Over the last year, shares have ranged from a high of $457.26 to a low of $123.03. Because of the movement of the stock as well as Trump’s tariffs, RH has drawn the attention of a number of law firms that make a living off class action lawsuits tied to large moves in stocks, alleging the jumps or decrease in share prices are brought on by fraud. Such lawsuits are standard equipment in uncertain markets. Your Marin Moment Mill Valley got a little ink in the New York Times not long ago. Heather Knight, a reporter well
Whether tariffs cause shock effects for high-end retail remains to be seen.
versed in the North Bay, checked in with a dispatch regarding the existential question of the day—how do denizens of Mill Valley balance their love of the environment with their dislike of Elon Musk and political proclivities? A casual drive around the town reveals no shortage of Teslas from the parking lots of Whole Foods to residential streets and commercial driveways. And the angst is far easier to find than EV charging stations. While California leads the nation in number of EVs on the road, Teslas became more than just a car that was better for Mom Earth. It was bit more stylish and faster than a Prius (but then, a multi-speed mountain bike laps a Prius as well), but it was more than that. It was a status symbol that not only said you were green, but that you had green. But now, with the first 100 days of the Trump regime in the past, and Musk helping himself to government data and contracts, Tesla owners are faced not only navigating traffic, they must traverse their own feelings of self-loathing. Not long ago, buying a Tesla was a statement. But now, selling one is just as much a proclamation of not only one’s political beliefs, but one’s willingness to come out underwater on the sale. Alas, life in the land of organic milk and small batch honey is not always easy. g
expressive exec, so his verbal reaction was not a shock. But RH perhaps more than any other Marin business looks to be impacted by Trump's love of tariffs. According to securities filings, about 90% of its total dollar volume was generated by products that are imported. That number includes 72% from Asia and 10% from the EU. Though RH does have a factory in the United States that produces upholstered products (and has recently been renovated for expansion), only 10% of its revenues come from sale of products produced domestically. In theory, tariffs could make life tough for RH. Indeed, its stock took a 40% hit after Trump announced his plan to raise tariffs. He has picked a trade war on the belief that U.S. trading partners have taken unfair advantage. Economic experts of every political stripe have said the tariffs will only increase costs for U.S. consumers as companies pass along the increased costs caused by the higher tariffs. This is to say nothing of macro-economic impacts that are likely to affect sectors that include housing and health care. For a retail company like RH, which sells its products to those shopping for upper-end furnishings, the increased costs may not take a massive bite out of RH’s bottom line; its customers may not be put off by higher prices. Moreover, RH has the option of accepting smaller margins and eating some of the increased tariffs rather than jumping the costs of its own goods. But RH has more to worry about than just the tariffs. The domestic housing market has also stumbled on increased interest rates and houses staying on the market for longer periods of time. For a company like RH, that can spell slower sales and increased inventory costs. On the investor call looking at the company’s fourth-quarter financials, Friedman said the company was already sitting on U.S.-based inventory valued at $200 million to $300 million, inventory not subject to the whims of Trump’s appetite for trade warfare.
Bill Meagher is a contributing editor at NBb and a senior reporter at The Deal, a Manhattan-based digital financial news outlet. At this writing in late April, the Gigantes lead the West, and I’m convinced the Big Guy Upstairs has dropped everything else to support the folks operating out of the best ballpark in baseball.
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The first label in the LOVE Wine project was created by New York-based artist Genevieve Gaignard.
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A Label of LOVE
J Vineyards and renowned artist Alexandra Grant team up to support wine, women and the arts By Jean Saylor Doppenberg F ine art has graced the labels of premium wine many times over, but the latest local collaboration is designed to empower women and creativity in the art and wine worlds. J Vineyards & Winery has teamed with grantLOVE, a project developed by artist and philanthropist Alexandra Grant, to produce a limited-release brut cuvée called LOVE Wine. The inaugural vintage was introduced in early February in the winery’s Healdsburg tasting room, with a label created by New York-based multidisciplinary artist Genevieve Gaignard.
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Each new bottling of LOVE Wine will feature a label created by a female artist chosen by Alexandra Grant, turning ‘every bottle into a canvas.’
As each new bottling of LOVE Wine is rolled out, it will feature a unique label made in partnership with a female-identified artist hand-picked by Grant. “This will turn every bottle into a canvas that celebrates artistic expression,” says Caroline Shaw, senior director of marketing, communications and partnerships at J Vineyards. “This partnership seeks to amplify voices that are often marginalized, while also transforming the act of enjoying wine into an experience that connects culture, creativity and community. Supporting J and grantLOVE’s shared mission of empowering women and creativity in wine and the arts, the LOVE Wine project also invites guests to connect by engaging with wine.” LOVE Wine is available exclusively from the winery, selling for $50 per bottle. The grapes were sourced from cool-climate vineyards across California, including the Russian River Valley and Monterey and Mendocino counties. About half of the 500 cases of the initial bottling were sold in the first 60 days after the launch. A portion of the sales is earmarked for the grantLOVE project. “This is a bright, crisp sparkling wine created exclusively with internationally acclaimed artist Alexandra Grant and her grantLOVE project,” adds Shaw. Finding a partner According to her official biography, Grant spent many years of her childhood and adolescence living in France, Spain and Mexico. She earned a master of fine arts degree in 2000 from the California College of Arts and Crafts in San Francisco. Now based in Los Angeles, she works in several media, including painting, drawing, sculpting, photography and film. She has collaborated extensively with other artists and writers, including actor Keanu Reeves, her partner. The two of them created at least one book together, Ode to Happiness , and they co-founded X Artists’ Books in 2017, a small publisher of artist-centered books. Grant’s artwork has been exhibited in numerous galleries around the world.
Joe Bartolomei, proprietor of the Farmhouse Inn near Forestville, met Grant and Reeves several years ago while the couple was vacationing at the inn. “Alexandra and some of her girlfriends had been hiking at Armstrong Woods, and I picked them up. In the car on the ride back to the inn, we discovered she and I had a lot in common.” At that time, Bartolomei was under contract to produce a Sonoma-focused book with Cameron + Company publishers based in Petaluma, he says, and Grant had just created a book for the publisher about her philanthropic project grantLOVE in support of women in art. “She shared with me her dream of doing a wine project under her LOVE brand, and I told her I knew people that might be interested,” he says. “I knew that Gallo was a winery that had supported women and diversity through its Shifting the Lens and Issa Rae projects, so I helped connect her with Gallo. [Shifting the Lens showcases guest chefs from diverse backgrounds at J Vineyards, while renowned actress Rae— Barbie, American Fiction —is associated with Gallo’s Viarae Prosecco label.] Ultimately Alexandra was able to find a path forward for her project with J Vineyards.” Right now, many wineries in Sonoma County are struggling to connect with a younger demographic, says Bartolomei. “So Alexandra’s LOVE Wine project seemed to be something that might attract a younger audience.” Nicole Hitchcock, J Vineyards’ estate director and head winemaker, says the winery was thrilled to partner with Grant and the grantLOVE initiative on such a meaningful project. “Wine, like art, has the power to bring people together, spark conversation and inspire change.” ‘Perfect’ collaborators Grant founded the grantLOVE initiative in 2008 to raise funds to support art, artists and nonprofit organizations through art and merchandise featuring Grant’s trademarked LOVE symbol. The initiative also uses the direct sales of LOVE artwork and
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LOVE Wine is available exclusively from J Vineyards.
merchandise to help pay for materials and production costs, and it supports collaborating artists directly through stipends. Grant has also personally donated more than $300,000 in artworks and funds to art projects and nonprofits since the initiative began.
The LOVE Wine project came together over several years, as Grant met with different wine producers for more than a decade to find the best partner. Shaw says Grant then met with her, winemaker Hitchcock and Stephanie Gallo [chief marketing officer
THE BEST IN WINE COUNTRY GOLF t
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out from the walls. As of mid-April, the two-story wall was still in place and “has become a favorite for Instagram photos,” she says. “This unifies J’s three tasting spaces with splashes of vintage wallpaper used by Genevieve in her work, as well as colorful floral arrangements.” Gaignard’s work “elicits dialogue around class, race and cultural identity,” according to her website. Raise a glass “There are so many ways to appreciate LOVE Wine,” Grant told NorthBay biz . “It’s an exceptional sparkling California wine that you can drink with any food or alone as a toast. It has layers of history as part of J Vineyards and as
for E&J Gallo Winery] and realized she had found her “perfect collaborators”— working with women, who still only represent a small margin of winemakers and individuals in the wine industry. “It was important to Alexandra to work with a family, and the Gallo family resonated with Alexandra.” At the J Vineyards tasting room in February, a pop-up event was held in conjunction with the LOVE Wine launch, featuring special merchandise from grantLOVE and other collaborators. These included The Rad Black Kids, a purveyor of clothing, shoes and accessories; Amber Sakai, who produces home decor and sells a collection of candles available in a brass LOVE holder in support of the arts; Faribault Mill, one of the last woolen mills
Alexandra Grant works in several media, including painting, sculpting, photography and film. [Photo courtesy J Vineyards]
a collaboration with artists with a philanthropic cause. And the distinctive green label by Genevieve catches the eye across the room.” She says the LOVE Wine project was a passion she had for many year—“to find a woman-led vineyard to collaborate with artists who are interested in supporting the curiosity and creativity of others. Let’s raise a glass to that." g
in America, which creates blankets, throws and scarves; a-morir, a maker of luxury eyewear and related accessories; and Mustard Beetle, a producer of nature-inspired prints on paper and fabrics. “The most popular pieces were the LOVE tote bag with the label on it and LOVE sweatshirts,” says Shaw. “The merchandise was well received, as was seeing the original pieces of art by Alexandra and Genevieve on display.” At the event, inspired by the label art, guests were welcomed with a soaring two-story garden wall layering lush tropical greenery and bright orange butterflies, explains Shaw, together with bottles of LOVE Wine in vintage coupe glasses popping
Please email comments to jwalsh@NorthBaybiz.com
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