Sonoma County
See Spot run!
91%
Comprehension level of students enrolled in the Read On, Sonoma—a literacy program which works in partnership with local school districts—in the 2023-24 school year, an increase in 18% from when the program launched in 2022.
120%
Increase in Sonoma County students enrolled in Read On, Sonoma this school year over last.
41%
Portion of Sonoma County third graders who met state literacy standards in 2023-24 school year. The state average is 43%.
380,135
Number of words per year read by third-grade Read On, Sonoma participants—nearly two and a half times the national average
Source: Read On Sonoma!, a nonprofit founded by chef Guy Fieri and businessman Lawrence Amaturo, publisher of NorthBay biz magazine.
Marin County
Sundance into the sunset
$4.65 million
Purchase price in 2024 for Robert Redford’s Tiburon home. The legendary actor and his wife Sibylle Szaggar relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico following the death of Redford’s son, James, a longtime Fairfax resident.
4
Years Redford lived in Tiburon, where he was known to walk nearby trails, enjoy local restaurants and as an overall unassuming and friendly neighbor. Redford died Sept. 16; he was 89.
Napa County
No such thing as a free lunch
$10,000
Estimated amount Kylie Jean Kirkpatrick allegedly fraudulently raised in 2019 to fund Napa Valley Unified School District’s school lunch program. None of the gifts or monetary contributions were ever passed along to the lunch program, leading to her arrest on March 2020. Kirkpatrick on Sept. 17 2025 accepted a diversion agreement in Napa County Superior Court, which may mean she avoids jail time.
$78.80
Amount Kirkpatrick claimed at the time her 9-year-old son had given the school district out of his own pocket to cover outstanding debts of families enrolled in the lunch program. The money was actually raised by others through online fundraising services. The story of her son’s alleged generosity gained national attention, resulting in gifts, cash prizes and tickets to the Super Bowl.
Source: Napa Police Department, Napa Valley Register
