Columns

This is always an exciting time of the year as we get ready to welcome our new kindergarten students. Kindergarten will be your child’s first step in school and it is a privilege to be a parat of that journey. At Mattie Washburn, we are committed to ensuring that all students receive a challenging academic program as they begin their school career. We have a balanced curriculum that combines hands-on, real life experiences with the basic skills needed for success. Our focus is on early literacy with the goal that all students will be fluent readers as they leave first grade.

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year here in Sonoma County. The air is crisp, days warm and nights cool.

“The Time Has Come Today”. A song from the 60’s with the words meaning even more today. Time is no longer on our side, so I ask for three actions: 1) Commit, 2) Protect 3) Preserve.

As residents who are being profoundly impacted by one of the corporations profiled in the lead article in last week’s “Cannabis in Sonoma County” special report, we would like to take this opportunity to share additional information and insights with your readers.

A developer's dream if I ever saw one. At [the Feb. 15] Windsor Council meeting it was decided development impact fees for sewer and water would be decreased from $19,500 to $13,200 per new dwelling unit with granny or auxiliary units fees for these services reduced to -0-. This is basically a 1/3 reduction. Significant work went into the analysis and the reductions have their benefits to the Town in terms reducing certain limitations on how the impact fees may be spent. I failed to support the new methodology and reduction as Council was advised our capital reserves for our sewer treatment is very minimal at $171,000. I am alarmed that these reductions go into effect on the verge of 800 to 1,000 new units coming forward and the demands of new housing on our current system will be unfairly passed on to you, the existing rate payers. I understand Windsor's reclaimed water needs include storage ponds and recycled water connection to the Airport Business Center among others. I cannot see how these infrastructure needs can be met with these reductions.

The diverse community of faith in Windsor has been broadened with the arrival of the Hallel Fellowship in early December. Hallel is part of the modern Messianic Judaism religious movement that combines the fundamentals of Christianity—belief and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, creator, savior and the only way to eternal life—with elements of Judaism.  

Here in the newsroom at Sonoma West Publishers we often joke, in that black way that most journalists have, about our “extensive staff.” By which we mean each of our four newspapers has a single editor, who is responsible for not only all the management-type stuff, but we also write the majority of the articles and take the majority of photos you see in your paper every week.

There’s a saying meant to convey ultimate respect, which is, “They don’t make them like that anymore.” We use this phrase about great people, old cars, favorite pets and even songs. Today we are expressing our esteem for John S. McCain III, the war hero and U.S. Congressional leader who died last Saturday at age 81.

You know a family that lives up the block. You aren’t personal friends but when you see each other you exchange pleasantries. They have small children and appear to be as normal as anyone else. They are dark skinned and you assume they are...