Columns

The Sonoma County Fair begins its 83rd running today (Aug. 1 through 11) offering all of us a mid-summer showcase of both our agricultural roots and our more contemporary wine country trappings and pursuits. A Hall of Flowers, evening concerts, daily youth livestock judging, horse races, carnival rides, craft beers, cotton candy and fried everything — what’s not to like?

Last winter, Robert contracted pneumonia. He was living outdoors — or “experiencing homelessness” as we delicately say nowadays. He got into the hospital, got a little better and was released.

Chris Markell’s career as a winemaker tells a story of the evolving Sonoma County wine business throughout the past four decades. 

Like most of you, we evacuated Windsor with the mandatory evacuation warning. Like most of you, our lives were completely upended for a good week, but with an aura of absolute gratitude overlaying all the stresses and upheaval contained in that week.

The Healdsburg Regional Library has become a place where the community gathers to share information, assistance and good cheer, and has become an "information ground" and "third place" for its users.

The following snippets of history are drawn from the pages of the Healdsburg Tribune, the Healdsburg Enterprise and the Sotoyome Scimitar, and are prepared by the volunteers at the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society. Admission is always free at the museum, open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.