It is with sadness that the family of Jonie Sciaini announces her passing on August 11, 2026, at Hidden Valley Lake. Jonie was born to Robert and Janice Sciaini of Cloverdale on April 10, 1958. She was welcomed to the family by her sisters, Cathy, Barbara and Mary Ann.
Jonie lived in Cloverdale all her life and made many lifelong friends. She attended Cloverdale schools and spent much of her childhood riding horses. Her love of horses led her, in later life, to create a business she called Jonie’s Ponies, where she offered birthday parties for children and gave them horseback rides around her ranch.
Jonie raised two daughters, Christie and Kaysha, on her River Road property outside of Cloverdale.
During her life, Jonie owned and operated Jonie’s Upholstery in Cloverdale for over 25 years. She also managed the Grapevine Bar and bartended at the Dante for many years. For several years after she retired from the upholstery business, she worked at River Rock Casino where she made many lasting friends.
Later in her life she owned, managed and worked a vineyard on River Road. She taught herself how to care for the vines, hire employees and negotiate contracts
with wineries.
A hard worker, Jonie was a strong woman, physically and mentally, and made the best of any situation. Loyal and straightforward, she was always there to help and support her friends and family. She was multi-talented, inventive and faced her challenges head on. When she found out that she had cancer, she fought it for nearly two years with the strength she had shown throughout her life. In the end she lost that final battle.
Jonie is survived by her two loving daughters, Christie and husband James Derenia, and Kaysha and partner Jared Zucker. She also is survived by four grandchildren, Wyatt and Logan Derenia and Pierce and Kya Zucker and her sisters Cathy Sciaini, Barbara Holmes and Mary Ann Hoffman, stepsister Denaire and husband Mike Nixon and her stepmother Sydney Sciaini.
Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Jonie’s life at the Cloverdale City Park on September 26 from 11 am to 3 pm.
Donations in her memory can be made to Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch.

by David Maciel
Sponsored by Ray’s Food Place, Furber Plaza 
September is the start of autumn. Shorter days and cooler nights. It’s also the start of belly warming comfort foods for me. This veggie and rice-based soup is perfect for an evening meal. ​

Ingredients
• 6 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock)
• 1 cup uncooked wild rice
• 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 1 large (about 1 pound) sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 small white onion, peeled and diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 ½ tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 large handfuls of kale, roughly chopped with thick stems removed
• fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper

Instructions
Sauté the veggies. Heat (an extra) 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.

Add base ingredients. Add in the vegetable stock, wild rice, mushrooms, carrots, celery, sweet potato, bay leaf and Old Bay seasoning. Stir to combine.

Simmer. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until the rice is tender, stirring occasionally.

Add final ingredients. Add the coconut milk and kale to the soup and stir gently until combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper (plus any extra Old Bay seasoning, if you would like) as needed.

by David Maciel
Sponsored by Ray’s Food Place, Furber Plaza 
In August the fruits & vegetables are at the peak of the season. And if you are like me, I get tired of preparing them the same way. Here’s a wonderful recipe using zucchini that I have made countless times. It’s always a hit at our
dinner table.

Ingredients
• 3 large zucchini
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon garlic herb seasoning divided
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 lb. deveined raw shrimp with the shell, tail removed
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• ½ cup grated parmesan.

Instructions
Slice 3 zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out the center to create a well and form the boats. Roughly chop and reserve all of the scooped zucchini for later.

Brush the zucchini boats with 1 teaspoon olive oil, sprinkle them with ½ teaspoon of 1 tablespoon garlic herb seasoning.

Heat the grill to medium-high heat and place the zucchini boats cut side down. Grill them for about 5 minutes without turning them. Alternatively, you can bake them in the oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit on a parchment-lined baking sheet for about 8 minutes. Remove the zucchini from the heat and set aside.

Melt 2 tablespoons of the 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a medium-skilet over medium-high heat.

Add 1 pound deveined raw shrimp with the shell and tail removed to the skillet.

Add the remaining 2 ½ teaspoons of garlic herb seasonings and 1 tablespoon lemon juice and stir until combined. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the bottom sides start to turn golden brown. Flip the shrimp over and cook for another minute or two before transferring them to a bowl. Set aside.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet. Add the reserved scooped zucchini and ¼ cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the zucchini softens. Add 3 teaspoons minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.

Place grilled zucchini boats cut-side up on a parchment or aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Fill the wells of the zucchinis with the cooked zucchini and artichokes.

Chop each shrimp into small pieces and top the zucchini with them. Top with ½ cup grated parmesan cheese.
Heat the zucchinis under the broiler on high until cheese turns golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Serve warm.

June Lorraine Ehrman, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2026, at the age of 95.

Born on June 8, 1931, in Healdsburg, California, June spent the latter part of her childhood in Hopland, where she often shared fond memories of attending high school in the small town. She loved reminiscing about adventures with friends, including climbing Duncan’s Peak, and those early years remained some of her favorite stories to tell.

June married Carl “Bob” Ehrman, and together they welcomed two daughters. After moving several times during the early years of their marriage, they eventually settled in Cloverdale in the early 1950s. Widowed in her early 30s, June demonstrated remarkable strength and determination as she raised her family on her own. Cloverdale remained her home for the rest of
her life.

She spent many years working at MGM Brakes, balancing the demands of work with the devotion she had for her family. Outside of work, June found her greatest joy outdoors. An avid gardener, she took pride in growing beautiful tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, zucchini, squash, asparagus and more, all in an effort to bring family together to share fresh food. Even in the later years of her life, as memory decline became part of her daily journey, she would often smile and say, “I’m really not a house person. I don’t like being in at all.”

The community is saddened with the recent death of Elizabeth Trent.
“Elizabeth was well known in the community, the tall woman with long white hair who walked all over town. You might have chatted with her while walking your dog as she patted your dog. She always knew your dog’s name. You might have conversed with her at Plank, or as she served you a drink at the Performing Arts Center. She might have walked your dog for you or pet sat for you when you went on vacation.

“Elizabeth was a kind, caring woman who had many interesting stories to tell if you were willing to listen to her. She loved living in Cloverdale and the friendly people.

“Your many kindnesses meant a lot to her. Whether it was giving her a pet sitting job so she could supplement her meager income, or buying her a cup of coffee, or just a kind word, it meant a lot to her.

“Our family kind of absorbed her into our fold 14 or 15 years ago. She was sister and aunt to us. We will miss her very much. I believe there are many of you who will miss her as well.”

Our thanks to Holly Werner

The family of Elaine Ahders is saddened to share the news that Elaine has left this earthly plain to join her husband, Alvin. Elaine was born in 1926 in Iowa and passed away in 2026 – just 3 months before her 100th birthday.

Al and Elaine married in 1946 and went on to have 3 children, Robert (Bob). Roger and Peggy. They were a farming family for many years in Iowa before moving to California. Elaine lived many years in Cloverdale, California and died there peacefully with loving family nearby.

Elaine was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church. Her memorial service was held in her honor at Grace Lutheran in Cloverdale on July 25. Memorial gifts can be provided in Elaine’s name to Grace Lutheran Church in Cloverdale.

William “Bill” Mayo Tierney passed away peacefully on June 25, 2026, at the age of 80.

Born in Great Falls, Montana, on November 19, 1945, Bill moved to San Anselmo, California, in 1952 and graduated from Drake High School. He earned a master’s degree from San Jose State University and devoted his career to education, serving Sonoma County as a school psychologist, principal, and Special Education Program Director. After moving to Cloverdale in 1985, and following his education career, he also managed the local ACE Hardware, where he became a familiar and trusted face in the community.

Bill was a longtime member of the Cloverdale Druids, serving in numerous leadership roles including Noble Arch and Director of the Temple Society. He was especially known for preparing and cooking the Druids’ monthly steak nights for many years.

An avid reader, cook, woodworker, traveler, wine enthusiast, and beer maker, Bill was known for his quick wit, memorable “Billisms,” and remarkable knowledge of computers, music and life. Above all, he cherished his family.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Renée; his children Bridgette, David, Nathan, Dustin, Pierrette, and Byron; 15 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and his loyal Yorkie, Kiwi.

Bill’s family would like to sincerely thank the Vine Ridge Senior Living staff and his assisted living friends for the loving care and laughter he enjoyed while residing there for the past year and a half.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

Celebration of Life, August 2 from 12:00–3:00 PM at the Cloverdale Druids Hall.
Donations in his memory can be made to Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch.