Columns

I lost my wallet. What a pain in the wallet toting area.

On Monday, October 9, 2017, many local Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa County residents woke to falling ash, intense winds, and a red glow in the distance. Five wildfires broke out in these three counties within hours of each other: Redwood Fire in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County; the Pocket Fire, Tubbs Fire, and Nuns Fire in Sonoma County; and the Atlas Fire in Napa County.

The culture in Sonoma County agriculture is how Jessica Felix described the music we were about to hear for the 20th anniversary Healdsburg Jazz Festival. She then introduced Bill Frisell and Julian Lage.

The summer season is upon us, bringing warmer, drier weather to the area as well as increased fire danger. Grasses have grown tall with the winter rains and even a small ember can start a fire. As a result, on June 18, the seasonal burn ban took effect to restrict open burning in the North Bay.

The following snippets of history are drawn from the pages of the Healdsburg Tribune, the Healdsburg Enterprise and the Sotoyome Scimitar, and are prepared by the volunteers at the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society. Admission is always free at the museum, open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Here's what's happening at the senior center this week: 

I have led a charmed life. Sure, I’ve had my challenges — we all have — but for the most part I feel blessed. But I learned early on in life that there is no free lunch. There is a balance in life that keeps the yin and yang “yinning” and “yanging.”

I was sitting at my desk at the county on Thursday when I found out about the shooting at The Capital Gazette, a newspaper in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, an area similar in population and size to Sonoma County. I exclaimed, “Oh no!”

Sonoma County is home to just over 25,000 babies, age six and younger. That includes 5,000 babies who were born here last year with almost half (42 percent) being Latino or non-Anglo. Some other babies were brought here last year after being born in other places. Most came with their parents and most, but not all, were “documented.” Some others were adopted and a few were part of very unique stories.

Several Windsor churches have moved forward in faith through a series of transitions designed to make them stronger and better able to fulfill missions focused on loving God, loving others unconditionally and serving the community.