Archives for “Latest News”

Staff Spotlight: Carly Cabrera, Community Relations Assistant

Carly Cabrera with her dog

Help us welcome one of our new Community Relations Assistants, Carly Cabrera! Carly will be focused on our online communications, leading work on our website, social media, eNews, and more. Carly has worked for the County of Sonoma for 12 years, with stints at Sonoma Water, the Department of Emergency …

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Continuing to grow our Public Outings + Youth Education program

People on a hike

 “These field trips were absolutely amazing! All the staff knew so much about the ecosystems they were in and were able to answer questions while in the field… After the first lesson my students were already asking about when we would be having more! – 7th grade science teacher, Santa …

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Staff Spotlight: Irma Cuevas (she/her/ella), Community Relations Assistant

A selfie of Irma Cuevas, where she is standing in front of coastal rocks and blue Pacific Ocean. She is wearing a black baseball camp, and large dark sunglasses, and smiling at the camera.

Join us in welcoming one of our new Community Relations Assistants, Irma Cuevas. Irma comes to us from the City of Santa Rosa, but spent most of the last two decades at Sonoma County Regional Parks in various roles ranging from Park Ranger Assistant to Environmental Educator to Community Engagement …

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Staff Spotlight: Jen Kuszmar, Acquisition Manager

Jen Kuszmar

This month we get to hear from Jen Kuszmar, our Acquisition Manager! Jen was raised in Georgia and after attending college at the University of Georgia for two years, transferred to Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry. Jen has had the …

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OUT in the Wild at Sonoma County Pride

Ag + Open Space staff pose at the Sonoma County Pride festival. They are smiling at the camera, holding signs with rainbow background that say Out in the Wild and have the Ag + Open Space logo.

This year we had the exciting honor of joining Sonoma County’s Pride Parade and Festival as a sponsor. We were thrilled to show our solidarity and contribute to this joyful celebration of our queer community.  The Pride theme this year is COMMUNITY! and these celebrations are, in the words of …

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Staff Spotlight: Michelle Nozzari (she/her/ella), Administrative Aide

Michelle Nozzari

This month we heard from Michelle Nozzari, our new Administrative Aide. Before joining Ag + Open Space, she worked for the UC Cooperative Extension as an Administrative Aide, and in the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s office as a Program Assistant. Michelle is a great addition to our administrative team, all of …

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Helping the land flourish at Hayfork Ranch

View of a green field with a wooden fence running through it. This is post-wildfire so there are burned trees interspersed with green trees on a hill in the background.

“In the springtime it’s so roaring that it can sound like someone with a power-saw, but it’s the birds chirping in masses,” says Alma O’Brien, owner of Hayfork Ranch just northeast of Santa Rosa.  Hayfork is a 216-acre ranch nestled next to our Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve, and both …

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Staff Spotlight: Kendall Gutt (she/her), Stewardship Technician

Kendall looking at the camera, while resting her chin on her palm, while lying in the grass next to her dog.

This month, we got a chance to check in with Kendall Gutt, one of our awesome new Stewardship Technicians. Prior to working with us, Kendall worked for both Regional Parks and Sonoma Land Trust, where she focused on land stewardship and environmental education – including Park Preview Days on some …

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Balanced land management at Paula Lane Open Space Preserve

Landscape view of a green sloping hillside, with trees and house in the background.

Paula Lane Open Space Preserve, an 11-acre grassland in northwestern Petaluma, and is one of several community open space preserves protected by Ag + Open Space through our Matching Grant Program. In 2012, we partnered with the City of Petaluma, who at the time was working with the Paula Lane …

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Staff Spotlight: Lukas Steinrueck, Stewardship Technician

Lukas on a hike

In this month’s staff spotlight we welcome Lukas Steinrueck (he/him), who recently joined our team as a Stewardship Technician. Lukas moved to Sonoma County after graduating from Humboldt State University with a degree in Wildlife Conservation. Since moving here, Lukas has spent time working for the California Department of Fish …

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