March 2025

Photo of the Season!

Quinton Martins, of Living with Lions, caught this spectacular photo of a local bobcat on it's hunting rounds. The presence of small predators like this indicates a healthy ecosystem. Keep your eyes peeled – you might just spot one yourself!

Meet our New Supervisor!

Rebecca Hermosillo made history as Sonoma County’s first Latina 1st District Supervisor in 2025. A lifelong Sonoma Valley resident, she brings deep community ties, a passion for service, and a commitment to equity in housing, mental health, immigration issues and climate action. Rebecca says she's excited to work with Bennett Valley residents on issues that effect our lives.

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Give the Government a Call

Need to reach the Government? Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo has created this contact sheet in both English and Spanish to help Sonoma County residents understand how to contact their representatives.

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Sorry, the March 13th Jim Codington event is cancelled due to medical issues—we will reschedule as soon as Jim is feeling better!

Can SDC Evacuate Efficiently?

New S.A.F.E. Traffic Study for Sonoma Developmental Center in Glen Ellen

A new study by a Sonoma Valley citizen’s group warns that wildfire evacuation data used in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) are unrealistic, significantly understating the effect of adding 1,000 new homes on evacuation times. Evacuation woes have a ripple effect in Bennett Valley.

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BVCA now able to accept donations of Stock

BVCA is pleased to announce that stock donations are now possible. Some residents inquired about this at the end of last year, and we made it happen! There are distinct benefits for both parties…

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Controversy: Lafferty Ranch on Sonoma Mountain

Is it a good idea to place a city park on rural Sonoma Mountain? Neighbors weigh in on the controversy, citing fire danger, and question a city’s ability to respond to emergencies…

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Upcoming Community Events at the Grange - please save the dates!

Wednesday, May 14th, 6pm - 7:30pm

Emergency Preparedness Town Hall at Bennett Valley Grange

A BVCA/Grange Partnership Event

This is a must-attend event to keep our valley safe! Come out to learn latest about your most important community resources in the event of an emergency, meet and mingle with our great first responders and your neighbors. The Grange Hall will welcome Calfire, Sheriff, CHP, SCFD, PG&E, Sonoma County Emergency Management, The Halter Project, SC Amateur Radio Operators, and more for an evening of meet, greet and sharing information. This is a great opportunity to ask questions of our front line first responders for Bennett Valley, and provide your suggestions on keeping Bennett Valley safe. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Sunday, June 1st, 11:30am - 3:00pm

152nd annual Founders Day BBQ/Picnic 

A Bennett Valley tradition! Don't miss the fun, food, and farm animals! Come out to enjoy the highlight of the Bennett Valley Grange events of the year, with fun for the whole family. Enjoy great barbecue under the majestic oaks, live music, games, adorable farm animals, great prizes & silent auction, all while supporting the very worthy cause of the continued preservation of our historic Grange building. All proceeds go towards our building fund.

Farm Animal Petting Zoo sponsored by BVCA and Grange Members

Why Is Homeowners Insurance Getting So Expensive?

It’s easy to understand why insurance in some places, like wildfire-prone areas, is getting expensive or unavailable. But the broader trend of rising insurance costs can be observed in essentially every state.

Here’s the link to the article

100 years ago this month…

(some things never change)

Sunday March 29, 1925: Bennett Farm Center fights debris dumps.

Condemning the practice of "certain residents within the city of Santa Rosa” and of hauling rubbish out of the city limits and dumping it by the roadside in the rural districts, the Bennett Valley Farm Center has adopted a resolution calling on the Sonoma County Board of supervisors to post notices warning against the practice and asking the board to take measuress to prevent it. E.R. Deffenbaugh is director of the Center, which has 40 members. The resolution follows:

WHEREAS it is apparently the practice for certain residents within the city of Santa Rosa to haul rubbish, tin cans, and other debris into the rural districts and dump the same on roadsides, and

WHEREAS, this practice neither aids to the beauty of the landscape nor properly disposes of the debris, and,

WHEREAS there are ordinances Standing on the statute books of Sonoma County, declaring such practice a misdemeanor, and providing penalties, therefore,

THEREFORE, we the members of the Bennett Valley Farm Center do hereby request the honorable Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County to post signs on the locations on the roads leading to our valley, where this practice has been carried on, warning against such dumping and to use such means as they may deem necessary to cause its discontinuance.

Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

The Bennett Valley Community Association, founded in 1970, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. (Federal Tax ID: 94-2198044).  We are entirely volunteer-based and we use donations to fund events and programs that are designed to benefit the community.

You can reach us at info@bennettvalley.org or just reply to this email.