Columns

100 years ago – February 3, 1921

In these parts of the world, our majestic and sacred coastal redwood trees (sequoia sempervirens) are the closest we can find to an immortal living object. The trees in the Armstrong Grove near Guerneville are at least 1,400 years old and other redwood trees have been known to live for as many as 2,200 years. Among immortal manmade objects we might think of Stonehenge, the Egyptian Pyramids, sacred texts or cave paintings. What might be among the more intangible or ethereal objects of greatest longevity? This week, for some reason, our U.S. Constitution comes to mind.

Happy New Year, fellow Healdsburgers. Mother Nature threw quite the party this January. Please send your news items (waterlogged or not) to IDlewood 3…” at idlewood3@hbgtrib.com. Idlewood was the original telephone exchange for Healdsburg. Now, “Hedda Healdsburg” wants to know all!

Sonoma County is home to just over 25,000 babies, age six and younger. That includes 5,000 babies who were born here last year with almost half (42 percent) being Latino or non-Anglo. Some other babies were brought here last year after being born in other places. Most came with their parents and most, but not all, were “documented.” Some others were adopted and a few were part of very unique stories.

Pigs are smart. These two came in from the rain this week. In warmer weather they roll in the mud. Oh, that loving-the-mud thing? It’s not because they like to be dirty. It’s to prevent sunburn and cool themselves.

Slippery slope

Last year was a rough year for so many reasons. Wildfires, floods, a new administration defined by turmoil and greed; you’ve got the gist. It was a year in which much was lost and hearts were broken. So let’s begin 2018 with renewed hope and a discussion of what wines pair best with broken hearts.

Happy New Year. I love the New Year. I love it because I like new beginnings. There is, for me, great hope and optimism when I start anything new, so the New Year excites me greatly.