Columns

In news from 1949, Healdsburg has been invited to hold a two-day try-out camp for the New York Giants. In a letter to Art McCaffrey, Mickey Shader, San Francisco scout for the New York ball club, promised this city nation-wide publicity as well as to “give some kids a chance to get started in baseball.’’ ...

50 years ago this week: A 17-year-old Healdsburg High School student was arrested early Friday night after leading police on a streaking jaunt through the Healdsburg Safeway store.

In my last column I wrote about how I was responding to stress by sewing. I guess the current totals can attest to my method being a) soothing, b) proactive, and c) extremely productive: in four weeks I have started and completed one quilt (for a Christmas present), two dog blankets, two flannel comfort blankets for teens who lost their homes — and started another two — and I’m halfway through another comfort quilt for a friend who lost her home. I’m in rhythms of cutting, pinning, sewing, and it’s incredibly meditative.

Healdsburg is facing a crisis unique to the economic engine that has brought us notoriety and acclaim. Most of the Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) is the result of our success as a tourist destination, and, in the coming 12 to 18 months, a 67% shortfall of TOT is expected. In the midst of this calamity, our city manager has accepted a new position and will leave July 3. Finding a new city manager is job number one for our city council. What qualities should they be looking for?

Senior year is supposed to be a lot of things. All the perks that come with being a senior such as prom, senior night, senior week, graduation and Project Graduation are supposed to be fun events that celebrate what you have accomplished.

Summer is here, a time of harvest and abundance, and Sonoma County truly shines during this season. Go to any open-air farmers market, and beautiful fruits and vegetables abound, in all their color, freshness and glory. 

I was driving by the Luther Burbank Center and an upcoming show caught my eye: An Electric Christmas.

I have led a charmed life. Sure, I’ve had my challenges — we all have — but for the most part I feel blessed. But I learned early on in life that there is no free lunch. There is a balance in life that keeps the yin and yang “yinning” and “yanging.”