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Bean Affair. What does that mean? Sounds a little like a Mexican restaurant, yes? But it’s a coffee shop in Healdsburg. Does it imply that you should have a romantic affair with your coffee beans? Can I just say, “Yuck?”

For as long as I can remember, my dad has always had a fixer upper in the garage. He has always had an affinity for vintage European cars and motorcycles. When he retired from his corporate job, he and my mom moved to the country and he started to fix up these beautiful old treasures full time.

Summertime means longer days, warmer temperatures and an increase in outdoor activities. If you are a dog or cat owner or come in contact with pets, you know that summertime brings more pests, especially fleas and ticks. Why are these pesky pests a cause for concern? What should we consider before using pet pesticides and are there alternatives we can use to protect our pets, ourselves and our environment?

When my French husband and I arrived in Sonoma County 38 years ago, it was unimaginable that our humble Sonoma State University would become the nucleus for the California wine business and global world of wine.

Lots of us have been attending high school graduations lately, while many more of us have not. Still, whether very new or faded into sepia by time, we all share cherished graduation memories.

Here’s what’s happening at the Senior Center this month:

Last summer, I befriended a woman from Laos who worked on a Sonoma County marijuana plantation. Three other Laotians worked with her. All of them belonged to the Hmong, an ethnic group that has lived for thousands of years in the highlands of Southeast Asia.

Reading Takes You Everywhere!” is the inspirational theme of 2018’s Summer Reading Program. Reading enables you to travel in time — and no matter the destination, it’s a new way of seeing things. When you mix up your summer with the library’s special activities, your voyage can be one of discovery. Start with the kick-off party and its special guests on June 5; have fun and look forward to your travels!

May 1 is an important date in our family. That is the date that the pool opens, and which – more importantly – the date that the hot tub opens. We are at the gate, pool key in hand, most weekend mornings the minute the gate opens. (It’s on an electric timer, so if you try at 8:57, it won’t open. We’ve tried.)

The Mark West Citizens Advisory Council (MWCAC) is releasing the Neighborhood Improvement Funding Program (NIFP) in June. It supports neighborhood improvement projects in the communities serviced by Cal Am Water — Mark West, Larkfield, Wikiup and parts of Fulton.