Columns

From family separation to arguments over border walls, matters of immigration are never far from the national spotlight these days. Many of these debates seem centered on far-away places and people. But they have serious impacts for Sonoma County families, children and schools.

Last Monday was Duffy’s day for Read to a Dog. As a little boy was poring over a book about trains and other tykes were petting my pup, we could hear bursts of high-spirited laughter erupting from the Forum Room next door. Ah—“The noblest art is that of making others happy.” (P.T. Barnum) And the magician was doing just that, by enchanting kids and adults alike!

If the rain put a damper on your early-April urge to get out and plant your spring garden, you’re not alone. But take heart: technically it’s still too early to plant your spring garden anyway. Frost season isn’t over in Windsor until mid-April. Local gardeners...

Whatever the date, summer arrives for most of us when summer fruit appears in its true ripeness. This means that apricots are soft and coral, lip-smacking in flavor. Peaches wake up your mouth and dribble down your chin. Berries are perfectly soft, chubby, deeply colored and ready to dive into a piecrust.

Looking for a lost pet or a new four-legged friend? See the list of incoming strays and the selection of cats and dogs available for adoption from the Healdsburg Center for Animals.