Weekly Roundup for December 15, 2023

Today’s digest provides helpful and important updates on the following:

1. Winter Celebration December 16 at Andy’s Unity Park
2. How to know when and where warming centers will open
3. Give the gift of emergency preparedness this year
4. Other Sonoma County news of note

Winter Celebration at Andy’s Unity Park December 16

Get into the holiday spirit at the Winter Celebration this Saturday, December 16 at Andy’s Unity Park, 3399 Moorland Ave., Santa Rosa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to games, fun family activities, face painting and music, there will be free tamales, pan dulce, coffee and hot chocolate.

This event is hosted by Sonoma County Ag & Open Space, Regional Parks and LandPaths.

For more information, please visit:
https://secure.sonomacountyparks.org/registration/winter-celebrationcelebracion-de-invierno

How to know when and where warming centers open

Sonoma County works with municipalities and homeless providers to ensure that additional resources are available to provide relief to unsheltered individuals and families exposed to extreme cold.

Warming centers are activated when a single or combination of the below conditions are met:

• A forecast of overnight temperatures dropping below 28 degrees for two consecutive days, or 32 degrees for three consecutive days, or a low of 37 degrees for two consecutive days with accompanying hazardous conditions.
• The National Weather Service issues a Frost Advisory or Freeze Watch, or the Sonoma County Department of Health Services issues a Cold or Freeze Alert, or low overnight temperatures accompanied by daytime temperatures of 40 degrees or lower.

No warming centers are currently activated. However, for locations of warming centers that will be opened when conditions have been met, please visit:
https://socoemergency.org/emergency/warming-centers/

Give the gift of emergency preparedness this year

Don’t just wrap gifts this year, wrap your loved ones in emergency preparedness with one of the 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas from Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management.

This year, consider giving:

• A multitool that fits right in your wallet — it can open, pull, rule, wrench and more.
• Reusable, rechargeable and compact LED road flares — make this holiday (and a possible roadside emergency) brighter.
• Portable fire extinguishers — fits in your Go Bag or vehicle.

Empower yourself with information and be prepared for the next emergency by visiting: https://socoemergency.org/get-ready

Other Sonoma County news of note

Memorial to honor lives lost in Sonoma County’s unhoused community
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/memorial-to-honor-lives-lost-in-sonoma-countys-unhoused-community

Sonoma County kicks off General Plan update
https://permitsonoma.org/sonomacountykicksoffgeneralplanupdate

Sonoma County’s Living Wage increases to $18.10 an hour
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/sonoma-countys-living-wage-increases-to-1810-an-hour

Sonoma County increases transit discount for low-income adults through Bay Area’s Clipper START program
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/sonoma-county-increases-transit-discount-for-low-income-adults-through-bay-areas-clipper-start-program

Mobile Crisis Units to expand countywide by year’s end
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/mobile-crisis-units-to-expand-countywide-by-years-end

Nomination period extended for select offices up for election in March 2024
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/nomination-period-extended-for-select-offices-up-for-election-in-march-2024