Columns

How much has Fitch Mountain grown in the last twenty-odd years? If some old timer can tell us that, we’ll have the correct measurement of the little mound that overlooks Healdsburg like a somnabulent sentinel.

For years our beautiful and majestic dogwood tree stood silent. When we first bought the farm 20 years ago, it was like clockwork, and every spring our dogwood would bloom gorgeous white flowers, right in the front of the house. Cars stopped on Yoakim Bridge to photograph it. I think it is the most beautiful tree on our property, and maybe even in the Dry Creek Valley, though others would argue that. Perfect is the shape, shocking white is the bloom. Every spring we would marvel at this gem, and it was always a trigger, for when the dogwood blooms, we know we need to begin thinning our peach trees. 

Seeing teachers last week picketing in downtown Sebastopol and other teachers filling seats in front of school board meetings in Windsor, Cloverdale and Healdsburg reminds us we are beginning another school budget cycle. And this being Valentine’s Day also reminds us that our most cherished sweethearts are our children. There’s no better treat we could give our children and their teachers than more support for local education.

Many people in this community know Michael and Lynette from Cricklewood. I know so many of us can identify with the loss of their home in the fire. Just imagine the loss of your business, thereby your income at the same time.

The Nov. 3 ballot includes a handful of local tax measures and a pitifully perplexing question about California’s infamous Prop. 13, first passed by voters in 1978 and now trying to be amended by this year’s Prop. 15. California has been in need of major tax reforms for decades. Unfortunately, this election is taking another pass on our Prop. 13 tax problem that everybody likes to complain about but nobody has the political guts to attack it. So it goes.

This month, I have a few updates to offer on library services that you already know and love. We are always glad to hear your questions and concerns, and we're hoping that our upcoming plans will help with our community's information needs. 

This summer, Sonoma County Library is bringing several high-profile speakers to libraries around the county, each notable for their own creative contributions. This includes Nigel Poor, visual artist, creator, producer and host of the podcast Ear Hustle; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eliza Griswold; computer scientist, composer, visual artist and author Jaron Lanier; acclaimed book critic and author Maureen Corrigan; and Firoozeh Dumas, bestselling author of the humorous book “Funny in Farsi.” These events occur all around the county at different times in June and July; a full list of upcoming speakers may be found at sclib.us/dss2019.

Holiday Closures. Please note that the Senior Center and Town of Windsor offices and facilities will be closed for business during the week of Dec. 25 - 31, 2016. All phone messages and email correspondence will be returned after the closure. Thank you.

Even without the Fourth of July fireworks in Healdsburg to celebrate, here’s hoping you dialed in the joy of the season and the reason this holiday is treasured in our 248-year-young country...