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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Local News Matters •

Public warned of phone scam with callers posing as Mendocino sheriff’s office staff - Local News Matters

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam circulating in the county in which the caller claims to be an employee of the Sheriff’s Office.    Sheriff’s officials reported Thursday that they received multiple reports from residents who received phone calls from a person claiming to work for the Sheriff’s Office. The caller claims that the call recipient missed jury duty and that they must pay a fine.   “Do not release personal identifying information to anyone o...
Local News Matters •

Saddle up for music, rodeo and fun as 98th Willits Frontier Days heads to Mendocino

The 98th annual Willits Frontier Days continues in Willits this Friday through July 6. The event, which features the longest-running continuous rodeo in California, celebrates American Western traditions and ranching in Mendocino County. What kicked off with the Hometown Celebration street party last Friday will continue over the next week with carnivals, tractor pulls, dances, rodeo, live music and more. The carnival is open on Friday evening and continues nightly through July 6. Also on Fri
Local News Matters •

PG&E Foundation awards $900K in grants to support independent restaurants, caterers

The PG&E Foundation has announced that it will contribute $900,000 to the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, which will provide grants of $5,000 to 154 independently owned restaurants and commercial caterers in PG&E’s service area. The fund was started in 2021 to support restaurants impacted economically by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the California Restaurant Foundation, which manages the program, 1,325 grants have been awarded. This is the first year that catering companies have been i
CBS San Francisco •

Wild Thang wins world's ugliest dog contest in Petaluma

PETALUMA -- "Glugly" is the word that Ann Lewis uses to describe Wild Thang, her 8-year-old Pekingese from Coos Bay, Oregon. "It's glam meets ugly," Lewis said before she and her excessively hairy gray-black pup waltzed down the red carpet and across the stage with the hopes of Wild Thang being declared the World's Ugliest Dog at the Sonoma-Marin Fair on Friday. "This is our fifth year in the competition, this could be our year!" Lewis declared. And it was indeed, the year, when Gadi Schwartz
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