Helped The Community - Omnipresent, but Small - Maya Herron
Maya’s Sonoma Journey
This is the third of three stories about Maya’s relationship with Sonoma Valley.
🟩 Born and Raised in Sonoma Valley — Chapter 1
Maya grows up in Glen Ellen, attends local schools and forms friendships that continue into the next generation.
🟥 Why Would I Leave? — Chapter 2
Maya builds her adult life in Sonoma Valley, where friendship, family, work and the community’s response to the 2017 wildfires strengthen her sense of belonging.
🟦 Omnipresent, but Small — Chapter 3 (You are reading this story.)
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Maya’s contribution to Sonoma Valley is built from small, consistent acts: teaching children, joining local traditions, supporting a historic Plaza shop and repairing possessions that might otherwise be discarded. Her story shows how everyday presence helps sustain a community.
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My involvement in the Sonoma community is hard to summarize because “community involvement” is such a broad term.
I have been in local parades many times. When I was growing up, my neighbor owned Sonoma Women’s Auto Tow. She gave women a discount on towing services and was this super-badass lady named Christine.
She entered her tow trucks in the parades. When I was a child, I wore these big foam grape outfits that she made out of what seemed like old packing material. I also spent time at the car junkyard she owned. It was fun as a kid.
Teaching karate was another way I became involved. The dojo did a lot of community activities. We held car washes and participated in parades, farmers markets and other events.
Every once in a while, I meet one of the children I taught. I was pretty young when I was teaching them, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they are adults now. Still, in my head, they are nine years old.
Then I see that they’re taller than I am, attending college, getting married or having children. That doesn’t sound right to me. They’re still children in my memory.
More often, their parents recognize me. Someone will say, “You taught my son karate over by the library.” Once they tell me the child’s name, I usually remember.
I have done nearly all my work in Sonoma. The catering job sometimes took us farther out, but the catering organization and cooking school were based here.
I stay at jobs for a long time. I taught karate, worked at Baskin-Robbins and CVS, and then spent about five years at Ramekins. I worked at the movie theater for about two years before it closed.
I have now worked at Candlestick for about four years. The store itself has been on the Plaza since 1957.
I have known my friend Kristen for about twenty years. Her parents, Jim and Sandy, were neighbors and family friends of the store’s previous owner. He had watched Kristen grow up.
When he was ready to retire and considering closing the store, Kristen asked why he didn’t let her take a crack at it. She worked with him for a while and then bought the business.
After the movie theater closed, Kristen needed help. I didn’t have anything else going on, so I offered to come in. After a while, she asked if I wanted to be hired and work there. Of course I said yes.
A lot of my community involvement now happens in the store simply through talking to people.
Residents come in because they know the store has been here forever. Tourists come in because they need information. People also visit because they are looking for something they think we can find.
Someone might need a candle or candleholder in a very specific size. They may be searching for some particular decorative object. We can usually source it for them.
That is not a normal interaction in every store, but I love it. I love solving people’s small problems.
We sell elaborate electronic snow globes that light up and keep the snow moving so you don’t have to shake them. Every once in a while, one breaks and someone brings it back. I can usually fix it so that we don’t have to replace it.
I have done that enough times that people now bring me other things to repair. They might say, “I bought this somewhere else, but you fixed my electric candle. Do you think you could look at this?”
I almost always can.
My true passion is probably fixing things that would otherwise be thrown away. I love solving a problem. I love repairing something that would otherwise be replaced. I hate how replaceable everything has become.
My daughter’s school is another part of my connection to the community. Because Kenwood is somewhat isolated, its school community is incredibly strong.
The school participates in local parades and sponsors the children’s area at Glen Ellen’s Fourth of July celebration. It holds auctions, social nights and movie nights. The parents know one another, and everybody looks out for the children.
If I had to summarize my involvement in Sonoma, I would say it is omnipresent, but small. I’m always here, and I’m always doing something with somebody.
I’m always talking with neighbors, helping someone in the store or exchanging zucchini. I may not be making the biggest impact, but I am proud to be part of my community, and I’m happy to be here.
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Contribution Through Presence
Maya’s story broadens the meaning of community service. Her contribution comes through long-term presence, relationships and a willingness to help with ordinary needs.
Teaching the Next Generation
By teaching karate as a teenager, Maya became part of the childhood memories of local families. Encounters with her former students show how those early connections have endured.
Preserving a Plaza Institution
Her work at Candlestick helps sustain a business that has occupied a place on the Sonoma Plaza since 1957. The shop connects longtime residents, visitors and multiple generations of local ownership.
Repair as a Community Value
Maya’s commitment to fixing broken objects resists a culture of disposability. It also reflects a larger impulse to preserve useful things—including relationships, skills and local institutions.
Small Acts Build a Town
Parades, school events, customer conversations, shared zucchini and practical favors may not attract broad attention, but they create the trust and familiarity on which a strong community depends.
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This story was created from an interview with Maya Herron conducted by Don Lundgren. Maya’s words have been edited for length and clarity while preserving her voice, experiences and meaning.
