News + Features

group of people hiking to the ocean

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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Staff Spotlight: Raquel Guevara-Bolanos, Stewardship Technician

woman standing in front of fire

In this month’s Staff Spotlight we welcome Raquel Guevara-Bolanos, who recently joined our team as a Stewardship Technician. Raquel most recently worked at Sonoma Water, where she led workshops on riparian habitat, salmon, and the role of land management.  She has also worked for Circuit Rider doing fire management, stream …

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Staff Spotlight: Lauren Alpert, Community Relations Specialist

Lauren and partner at the beach

This month we’re hearing from Lauren Alpert, our Community Relations Specialist. Recently promoted from Community Relations Assistant, Lauren’s focus is on engaging Sonoma County community members in the work of Ag + Open Space and our land conservation community at-large. Lauren attended Chico State, in her much loved hometown, and …

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Sonoma Mag: Public Lands Preservationist, Misti Arias

Misti Arias

Originally published in January 2023 print issue of Sonoma Magazine In 1996, fresh out of Sonoma State University with a degree in environmental studies, Misti Arias joined the relatively new Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Last May, 25 years after she began with the organization, she was …

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Our accomplishments from 2022: A year in review

El Recreo photo

Over the last 30+ years, Ag + Open Space has conserved over 12% of our county’s natural and working lands. As we look back on 2022, we’re proud of the work we’ve done to increase the scale, pace, and equity of land conservation by putting our Vital Lands Initiative into …

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Staff Spotlight: Pamela Swan, Grants Coordinator

Pamelas family

In this month’s Staff Spotlight, we’re excited to welcome Pamela Swan as our Grants Coordinator – a new role that oversees our Matching Grant Program and coordinates our grant-seeking efforts. Pamela holds a Bachelor’s in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC Berkeley, as well as a Master’s in Community Development …

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