Columns

The name of the comet comes from China’s Tsuchinshan Observatory, which means “purple mountain.” It was discovered in January 2023. A month later South Africa’s ATLAS telescope observed it. Hence, two names for the comet given the close timing of discovery.

Pumpkins have been associated with Halloween since the 1800s when vegetable-carving traditions accompanied Irish immigrants to America. But pumpkin carving on Halloween stems from Celtic traditions to ward off evil spirits with figure carvings on root vegetables.

We are all hoping that you’ve had a chance to check out our Mini Library at the Healdsburg Community Center at 1557 Healdsburg Ave., which has been open since Sept. 3. The Mini Library sits in the library room of the former Foss Creek Elementary School...

By Pierre Ratte These are just a few of the 100-plus people who came together two weeks ago at Lambert Bridge Winery to celebrate Healdsburg Forever. Healdsburg Forever? What exactly is Healdsburg Forever? It’s kind of a charity’s charity. Say, what? It’s kind of a “fund...

100 years ago – October 9, 1924 DAM COMING DOWN AS RAIN ARRIVES With the welcome opening of the rainy season, Lake Sotoyome is, figuratively speaking, to be folded up and put away until next summer. The new dam, construction of which was completed late in...

One-room schoolhouses were standard around the turn of the century. The Felta School was built in 1906. There were reportedly 132 other one-room schoolhouses in Sonoma County at that time.

"Look! It’s a two-eagle barn!” That’s what Dick said to Jim after passing an old barn and estimating the width of its central opening in Golden Eagle wingspans." - So begins Pierre Ratte's meander through history, philology, and ornithology in this week's 'Snapshot'...

Although many prune picking devices have been invented, some put on the market, others stored away in someone’s garage, the machine demonstrated this week by inventor William Leighton, Healdsburg, promises to effect radical changes in the prune picking process. ...

Amazingly, lavender is in the mint family. Mint is known as a pick-me-up while lavender is a relaxant despite coming from the same botanical family: Lamiaceae.

"Lawn Tennis describes the game we know.," writes columnist Pierre Ratte. "It’s played on a tennis court, as opposed to Court Tennis, which is played in a courtyard. Confused? Let me explain..."