Funding freedom
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution spells out five rights of every American against which the government may not construct any laws to restrict, alter or eliminate. These are the freedom of speech, of religion, a free press and the right to assembly and to petition the government with grievances. None of these are guaranteed. These rights and freedoms are only in place so long as enough citizens demand them, a free press protects them and supportive legal arguments win their day in court. These freedoms and other parts of our Bill of Rights have come under continuous legal and governmental attack during the long history of our nation. We believe this is so today.
Bergman discussion at The Raven was less than hopeful
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, nationally known Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Lowell Bergman came to the Raven Theater in Healdsburg for an evening of conversation about The state of journalism today. The event was sponsored by Northern California Public Media, Camellia Inn, and Sonoma West Publishers, which brings us this newspaper. Steve Mencher, news director at KRCB and Sonoma West Publisher Rollie Atkinson joined Bergman at the table on the stage. Their discussion, one has to say, was less than hopeful. Still, the good-sized audience appeared to find it terrifically interesting, and everyone I talked to said they were glad they were there.
From the Library
It is a pleasure every month to highlight the events, services and collections we offer to the community.
Country Roads: Time flies
It’s staggering how quickly the pages of the calendar require turning. I barely got familiar with the picture for September and now it’s gone. On to October. And, we all know what happens to the autumn months. They are confiscated by the fiends that force-feed us the frenzy of Christmas holiday giving and eating. But, we shall fight them. We shall concentrate on gardening, not shopping, for October is the best month of the year for planting.
Do you support the Reach Code?
In writing this, it is much like crying out for help. Four of the five Windsor Council Members voted to mandate all new residential homes, single and multifamily, built after 2020 be all electric, prohibiting natural gas infrastructure. It is referred to as the Reach Code.
Silver Linings
iPad-Just the Basics • Wednesday 10/16 and 10/23 • 10 to 11:30 a.m. • $45R/$50NR
Arts & Entertainment
Return to the Russian River
When Jake Messing stood in front of the mural he had just completed for Russian Riverkeeper on the north side of the nonprofit’s headquarters at 139 Healdsburg Ave., he had finished more than another mural. He had made a return to the source from the sea himself, like the salmon he portrayed.






















