Columns

Considering that Kathryn Hecht co-owns Cloverdale’s throwback Clover Theater and runs the nonprofit Alexander Valley Film Society, you’d think by now she’s grown accustomed to Hollywood endings.

The fire stories are extraordinary. The courage, determination and compassion shown by the North Bay — and beyond — has been heartwarming.

100 years ago – October 25, 1917

I can use a diversion. How about some Halloween stories?

At this writing, we’re into our second week of some of the most horrendous fires in the history of Northern California. They are still burning and the air is more than a little smoky.

This morning, among all the amazing writing which has emerged from the ashes of the past week, I have to add one small page. It is not my choice to write, as I really have nothing to report of any dramatic nature, since, by sheer luck of the wind Healdsburg and Alexander Valley coughed a bit but didn’t burn. However, deadlines are deadlines, and it is Country Roads time.

The smoke has cleared from the skies overhead but tons of ashes still remain where homes and whole neighborhoods once stood just two weeks ago before the northern California wildfires struck on Oct. 8. The skies may be clear, but our futures are not. Our county just suffered an historic natural disaster, the most destructive wildfire ever in California. We are facing questions and impacts that no one has ever been challenged with before.

Stress, scones and sewing

Rising from the Ashes

“How did Windsor get its name?” This question probably crosses the mind of most every inhabitant of our town at one point or another. However, the historical narrative of the town’s name is often unknown to Windsorites, and some people who think they know the story have some misconceptions. Most people are familiar with the name “Hiram Lewis” (think Hiram Lewis Park), but are in the dark regarding his history and the origins of our town’s name.