Columns

Thanksgiving and other holidays that are centered around a table full of family, friends and festive foods are a most welcome time for sociable conversations. And, boy, could we all use plenty of that right now. We have lots of catching up to do with post-fire and post-outage and pre-holidays. We don’t suppose everyone could leave their smart phones behind and drop any impulses to interject political chatter at the holiday table, could we?

Last November, the world watched with horror as residents of Paradise tried to escape from an oncoming wildfire on clogged roads, some so desperate that they abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot. Government can reduce the risk from wildfires. Our county government should properly enforce the state’s “fire safe” road regulations to stop new development in fire-prone areas and better enable emergency access and evacuation.

Anyone who has ventured out around town over the past days knows that these are desperate times for many small businesses, the life blood of our community. Dire times demand bold measures and strong leadership from our city council and officials. During past crises, floods and fires, the city has acted decisively. Its leadership during the Kincade Fire avoided a devastating scenario for the community. However, now, with the double threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn, the city should immediately start relief efforts and plan for a strong economic recovery. The citizens group Healdsburg 2040 encourages the city to use some its financial bolster of approximately $49.4 million in invested reserves and over $3.3 million in cash reserves for disaster relief. 

Looking for a lost pet or a new four-legged friend? See the list of incoming strays and the slideshow (above) of cats and dogs available for adoption from the Sonoma Humane Society, Healdsburg Center.

I am not watching the Super Bowl. It has become a corporate spectacle.

There are 500,000 people living in Sonoma County and each of us has our own “sense of place” depending on many things, including when and how we got here. We all tend to think of the place where we live by our first impressions, our early school years or first homes, first jobs or first dates. We think of physical landmarks that by now may only exist in our personal memories.

Walk into Healdsburg Elementary School these days and you’ll be greeted by a mural that is sure to make you smile.

Last week the first rebuilt home was completed and occupied following the October 2017 wildfires. A happy ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park neighborhood, the epicenter of the greatest housing losses.