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 •

Mendocino Pride returns with joy, inclusivity, music, food and fun in Hopland

HOPLAND CA., 5/25/23 – This past weekend, hundreds of LGBTQI+ folks and their allies flocked to Hopland for a day filled with community and fun. Hopland’s close knit community of LGBTQI+ residents rallied together to throw a joyous party with the theme of “love, inclusivity and equality.” The event took place at Hopland Tap, the bar and restaurant that serves as the social hub of Hopland. Proceeds benefited the Ford Street Project’s food bank. In addition to Hopland Tap, sponsors included Hopla
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino County Museum receives $500,000 donation from the Trust of William L. Bittenbender

WILLITS CA., 5/19/22 – In the world of nonprofit donations, the rarest of all is the general operating donation. That’s a donation in which the receiving organization can use the monies for whatever it wishes: staffing, overhead, programming, capital or perhaps creating an endowment to further bolster its financial stability. This past week, one county organization was the recipient of such a generous type of donation: the Mendocino County Museum.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino Flavors: Chef Ryan Seal joins Elk’s Greenwood Restaurant and soon-to-open Elk House; McCarty’s Bar expanding and more tasty news bites

MENDOCINO Co., 5/11/23 – It’s going to feel more like summer in Mendocino County this weekend, especially inland where temperatures will hit the nineties in Ukiah and Hopland. The hot weather is a great excuse to visit air-conditioned establishments like a local museum or movie theater, or head out to the coast for a little ocean breeze and fish and chips at Noyo Harbor. After the usual weekend tasks of cleaning house and laundry this weekend, I’m looking forward to enjoying an ice-cold beverage
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Fest online wine auction and tasting to benefit skatepark project and local fire department

This year marks Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association’s 24th annual Pinot Noir Festival. The festival, which takes place May 19-21, showcases wines from throughout Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties crafted with Anderson Valley’s legendary pinot noir grapes. Wine drinkers from across the country flock to the valley to swirl and sip pinot, dine at local farm-to-table restaurants and mix and mingle with winemakers.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

May First Friday showcases new murals, animal ceramics, dramatic portraits, and student photography in Fort Bragg and Ukiah

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA, 5/3/22 – First Friday art walks are held in historic downtown Ukiah and Fort Bragg the evening of the first Friday of each month, in this case May 5. Galleries and museums open their doors to the public for free, often offering live music, beer and wine, and special activities to complement the art works presented. Here are our picks for what not to miss during May’s First Friday tour.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino Flavors: Sip Wine Bar teams up with Cucina Verona, Point Arena pasta fundraiser a success, new Slam Dunk Pizza location and more tasty news

MENDOCINO Co., 4/28/23 – Spring is a fabulous time to be a foodie in Mendocino County. Vegetable gardens are being planted, farm stands have reopened, and festivals filled with food trucks are back. If you’re a beer lover, you might be heading off to the annual Boonville Beer Festival on Saturday. Wine enthusiasts, it’s a great time to crack open a bottle of sauvignon blanc and swirl and sip on the patio. Even better, enjoy that glass while reading the latest food and drink news in Mendocino Cou
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino County’s 2022 crush crushed records — tonnage up nearly a third despite a challenging year

Earlier this year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its 2022 Preliminary Grape Crush Report for Mendocino County. After challenging years of drought and heat waves, Mendocino County’s grape tonnage was up 31.1% at 61,479 tons compared to 49,909 tons in 2021. This is above average compared to the state of California, which in 2022 reported a 6.7% decrease at 3.62 million tons of grapes down from 3.88 million tons in 2021.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino Flavors: Delicious tacos and meatballs in Ukiah, new chef at Inn at Newport Ranch, Sage House opens in Redwood Valley and more food and drink news.

MENDOCINO Co., 4/20/23 – After a miserable winter it’s so exciting to see spring in full effect across Mendocino County. I recently enjoyed a sunny 70 degree afternoon in Ukiah with a friend, where we enjoyed lunch at Super Chavez Market (1420 S. State St., (707) 468-1625). Sitting in the sun at picnic tables out front of the market’s taqueria, located in an old pool hall, we chowed down on carnitas and carne asada on handmade tacos topped with spicy salsa verde and rich guacamole. Exceptional i
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Boomer’s Saloon and Grill in Laytonville opens for family-friendly dining, proudly locally owned

For the first time in its 92-year-old history, Boomer’s Saloon and Grill in Laytonville is now open for family-friendly dining, says owner Kay Kuykendall. Since its inception, Boomer’s has been for the 21 and over crowd. The establishment was approved in mid-March to welcome guests of all ages to dine in its expansive dining room. “This is a huge change for the business,” Kuykendall said in an email.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino Flavors: Point Arena’s Izakaya Gama celebrates one year; Columbi’s in Fort Bragg to reopen; new Anderson Valley beer benefits coastal restoration, and more foodie news

MENDOCINO Co., 3/28/23 – This past week’s springlike weather reminded me of what’s to come soon: outdoor barbecues, happy hour on the patio, and the fact that we’re one step closer towards fresh spring veggies on our plates. While just now sunny weather may elude us, there are plenty of restaurants to enjoy and food events to distract us from our weather woes.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Mendocino Flavors: Where to find St. Patrick’s Day food in Mendocino County and other tasty news bites

MENDOCINO Co., 3/16/23 – One of the biggest foodie holidays is on Friday, Mar. 17: St. Patrick’s Day! Scores of Mendocino County residents will flock to pubs and pop-ups to sip green beer, dance the jig, and score a plate of corned beef and hash. But is corned beef and cabbage really Irish? According to the New York Times, corned beef and cabbage has a few possible origin stories. All of them have one thing in common: it’s a dish born in America.
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Celebrate gray whale migration with Mendocino County Whale Festival fun

Every March, gray whales make their 12,000-mile migration from their birthing grounds in Baja California to their feeding grounds off the coast of Alaska. And while the whale pods journey up the Mendocino Coast, locals and tourists alike flock to the region to observe these gentle giants, often with calves, as they make their journey. This also means the return of Whale Festival, a two-week-long coastal community-wide series of events that celebrate, educate and showcase the gray whale. Whale F
The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA •

Winter storm return this weekend to Mendocino County bringing up to 2 feet of snow inland and wet snow to the coast (updated 3:30 p.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. Editor’s note: For the most current storm coverage for March 4, 2023, read our article here. 3/3/23 3:30 p.m. — National Weather Service Eureka (NWS Eureka) has issued a winter storm advisory for the entire Mendocino Coast from 4 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 4 through 4 p.m. Sund
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