Columns

For months I’ve been thinking about community-powered journalism, even more now since Rollie’s announcement last week describing the newspaper’s direct public offer. Grateful for local journalists, I’ve depended upon them as my partners for many decades, weaving story after story about the wine business.

In the early '90s a book was published called “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.” The author called it “a practical guide for improving communication and getting what you want out of your relationship.” I never gave it much thought (I was a teenager during its first publication) until I happened upon a copy in a used bookstore while I was out Christmas shopping.

News from 100, 75 and 50 years ago in Healdsburg, including the fact that two television sets will be in operation as part of the extensive program of entertainment planned for St. John’s County Fair to be held over the July Fourth weekend...

Though it was only a few months ago, it seems like a lifetime since the city council developed their five-year strategic plan. It was a plan based upon a reality which is no longer relevant, thanks to COVID-19. Epidemiologists suggest that an effective vaccination for COVID-19 will not be available before 2021. Economists, in turn, suggest that the national and international economies will be in a recessionary status throughout this period and beyond. Until we move through this coming period of economic and social uncertainty, we will be subject to outbreaks, spikes and continued disruption to our economy. Some businesses may never reopen and others may go through several cycles of open/close/re-open, dampening tourism. The possibility of another major fire this season is high with the consequent damage to the Healdsburg economy. The confluence of these factors will continue to have a negative impact on the two main sources of city revenues: the Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) and sales tax.

In the aftermath of the worst firestorm in Sonoma County history last week, local chefs snapped into action doing what they do best: They cooked. They cooked for first responders and the people they saved. They cooked for evacuees. They cooked for volunteers who were helping at local evacuation shelters. The resulting meals included homemade sausages, steak and lasagna. They were adorned with fresh vegetables from local farms, fresh bread from local bakeries and lots of love.

100 years ago – March 22, 1923 Style Show Scores a Hit  The fashion show staged by Rosenberg & Bush in their big West Street store was well received by Healdsburgers and visiting out-of-town people Friday evening and Saturday. The house was packed during the periods...

We’ve all played versions of the good guys vs. the bad guys game when we were growing up. We played cops and robbers and cowboys and Indians. Some of us played soldier games or just “skins” versus “shirts.”

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

This Week in H’burg is a weekly column featuring photos and fun facts from local photographer Pierre Ratté. Each week we’ll feature a new photo from Ratté along with a fact about the subject matter of the photo.