Sarah Stierch

I'm a journalist, opinionist, photographer and polymath based in northern California. I am currently seeking freelance opportunities in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake Counties in Northern California. I am currently a contributor on breaking news, arts/culture and food/drink for The Mendocino Voice.

I write about wildfires, food, beverage, travel, history and the local culture of regions in Northern California. I also photograph a lot of these subjects.

I am the former Food & Wine Editor of the Sonoma Valley Sun and beverage and travel writer for Sonoma Magazine. I have contributed to North Bay Woman,the Press-Democrat, the North Bay Bohemian, Huffington Post, Wine Enthusiast, the Sonoma Index-Tribune, and NorthBay Biz.

My wildfire work was called "groundbreaking" by KQED Forum's Michael Krasny in 2017. In my wildfire coverage, I have appeared on KQED Forum, WNYC's The Takeway, the Weather Channel, KPFA, KSVY, KSRO and in the Washington Post, St. Helena Star, SF Gate, San Francisco Chronicle and ABC Weekend Nightly News.

My photography has been published by The Washington Post, Utne Reader, Motorburn, Nature World News, the Christian Post, Buzzfeed, KNPR, KQED, Thrillist, Frommers, Lonely Planet, the Financial Observer, Country Queer, ROAR, WAMU, the National Park Service, California State Parks, the NBA, Joie de Vivre Hotels, PETA, Hilton and more.

You can contact me at sarahstierch at gmail.com and find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

How to create a basic emergency go bag

MENDOCINO CO., 8/30/23 – Emergencies don’t happen on a timetable. No matter day or night, when sleeping or awake, it’s critical that you’re prepared to respond in a timely, safe manner, which may include evacuating. One vital yet simple way to prepare is by building a go bag: a bag full of emergency preparedness items that will enable you to evacuate quickly with the necessities you need.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino Flavors: Restaurant openings & closings; new food trucks; foodie fundraisers for Maui and more tasty news

MENDOCINO Co., 8/31/23 — In last week’s column, I discussed how to-go cups from coffee shops are not recyclable or compostable and how chain and locally owned coffee shops are making the effort to combat waste by offering reusable cups or encouraging customers to bring their own clean cups. Those shops include the GoodLife Cafe in Mendocino and Schat’s and Black Oak Coffee in Ukiah.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

No red flag warning issued in Mendocino County; excessive heat warning remains in place

MENDOCINO Co., 8/16/23 – No red flag warning has been issued for any part of Mendocino County as of 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 16. The County of Mendocino issued a news release stating at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday that there was a red flag warning in place until 9 p.m. There is no warning in place. A red flag warning is in place for parts of Humboldt and Trinity counties. An excessive heat warning is currently in place for inland Mendocino County until 11 p.m. Wednesday, August 16. The warning cove
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Cal Fire confirms lightning strikes started thirteen fires in Covelo area

MENDOCINO CO., 8/15/23 – Cal Fire Mendocino Unit (Cal Fire MEU) announced today that thirteen small fires started as a result of lightning strikes on Monday, August 14 and Tuesday, August 15. The lightning strikes were part of a weather system of thunderstorms that traveled westerly across northern Mendocino County. The weather system is the result of Tropical Storm Eugene, which is just off the coast of Tijuana, Mexico.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

The ultimate guide to dog-friendly dining in Mendocino County

Mendocino County is famously dog-friendly, and dining out with your furry friend is possible across the county. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a meal with your McNab or happy hour with your Husky, here’s a round-up of where to dine with your dog! Are we missing a dog-friendly restaurant? Leave a comment below or email [email protected]! Disco Ranch Wine Bar & Specialty Market – Enjoy a wine flight or a glass and Spanish-style tapas with your dog on the shaded patio at Disco Ranch. Don’t forge
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Excessive heat warning issued with 106+ degree temps forecast for inland Mendocino County (updated 8:54 a.m.)

This is a developing situation and information may change. We’ll update this article as more information becomes available. The most recent information will be updated at the top of the article, with the earlier reports below. 8/13/23 9:12 a.m. — The heat advisory that is in effect for inland areas of Mendocino County will become an excessive heat warning starting at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 14. The areas under the warning include Hopland, Ukiah, Redwood Valley, Willits, Potter Valley, Laytonv
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Sen. McGuire announces millions in funding for Mendocino County fire departments and wildfire prevention

MENDOCINO Co., 8/10/23 — State Senator Mark McGuire announced in a press conference on Wednesday that nearly $5.9 million in state funding has been secured to support fire departments, fire districts and wildfire prevention organizations in north Mendocino and south Humboldt counties. The funding for Mendocino County comes from two pots of money: the first is allocated from the state budget and the second from a state grant program. The first, $2 million, was secured by McGuire through a state
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino Flavors: Winery news, vegetarian Indian pop-up in Willits, Boonville pepper producer on PBS and more tasty news

MENDOCINO Co., 8/3/23 — Summer is flying by, and in the world of wine, harvest is right around the corner. Wineries throughout Mendocino County are reporting veraison, the process in which green wine grapes start to change color, signifying the beginning of the ripening process. Red wine grapes, like pinot noir and cabernet, will shift from green to purple and white wine grapes, like chardonnay and riesling, will turn translucent. Harvest could start between 30 and 70 days depending on the wine...
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

10 best Mendocino County rosés to sip this summer

The dog days of summer have arrived in Mendocino County, which for wine enthusiasts should probably be renamed the “rosé days of summer.” When an adult beverage is called for during pool parties, beach picnics or lazy river days — it’s gotta be rosé. The number of rosés produced by Mendocino County wineries is growing, and stopping by a local grocery to pick up a few bottles can turn into an overwhelming experience. To make that task a little less daunting, we tasted over 40 Mendocino County ro
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino Flavors: Crab season ends, brewery and restaurant openings and closings, and more tasty news bites

MENDOCINO Co., 7/21/23 — Dungeness crab season officially ends on July 30. According to State Senator Mike McGuire, 21 million pounds of Dungeness crab was harvested along the California coast this season with an estimated value of $54.4 million. While fresh crab may not be available now, plenty of tasty dishes are still available at predominately coastal restaurants featuring flash-frozen Dungeness crab.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Three Mendocino County restaurants gain coveted Wine Spectator Restaurant Award

What the Michelin star is to food in the dining world, the Wine Spectator Restaurant Award is to wine, and three local restaurants can now claim to be winners of this coveted award: Boonville’s Disco Ranch, Mendocino’s Ravens at the Stanford Inn and Fort Bragg’s HarborView Bistro & Bar. Wine Spectator, the world’s most prestigious wine magazine, has been recognizing restaurant wine lists with the Restaurant Award for decades. There are three tiers for the award: the Award of Excellence, Best of
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Wildfire smoke from Oregon creating unhealthy air conditions across Mendocino County

MENDOCINO Co., 7/17/23 – The air quality in Mendocino County declined rapidly today, Mon. July 17, due to smoke from an active wildfire in southwestern Oregon. The smoke has decreased visibility in parts of both Mendocino and Lake counties and created hazy conditions that are unhealthy for sensitive groups. According to the National Weather Service Eureka (NWS Eureka), the entire county – from Westport to Willits, Covelo to Boonville — can anticipate patchy smoke and hazy conditions through the
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

The Mendocino Setlist: July 10-16 offers folk, hip hop and the start of the Mendocino Music Festival

MENDOCINO Co., 7/10/22 – This week’s Setlist features a little bit of everything, from hip hop to folk rock. In addition to the great local musicians that dot the weekly musical landscape, Willits Community Theater will host Black Susie on Fri. July 14. Black Susie is Philadelphia born and cultivated her musical talents in New Orleans. Now, she lives in Northern California and plays folksy blues, soul and punk inspired folk. Local musician Shovelman will also perform. This week is also the star
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

The Mendocino Setlist: July 3-9 offers Independence Day concerts, clubbing on the Coast, blues, surf-punk and more!

MENDOCINO Co., 7/3/22 – The Fourth of July holiday week is here, and there are plenty of options for live music fans throughout the county. If you find yourself attending the rodeo in Willits as part of Frontier Days on Mon. July 3, stay put at Jack Tharp Arena for a dance-worthy evening of country music by the Boondock Boys. While based in Oregon, much of the band is from Louisiana. They pull inspiration from Southern rock and gritty modern country. Celebrate the Fourth of July at Miss Saigon’
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