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Healdsburg
April 1, 2026

Mexican hero becomes a family legend

Ballet Folklorico de Cloverdale
Local drama takes another step forward with the next play at the Raven, "Who Will Dance with Pancho Villa?" But the production, which opens on Jan. 22 for an eight-performance run, is hardly new. Gabriel Fraire and his brother John wrote it over 30 years ago and it had its first off-Broadway performance in New York in 1994.

The good, the bad and the Oscars

Benicio del Toro
Now that the nominations have been announced, let’s talk about them and what people should try to see before the big show. And once we get closer (the Oscars are March 15 this year), I’ll write my annual piece on what will win versus what should win.

Esmeralda has eyes on Cloverdale resort site

t-bone sign
For the past year, Devon Zuegel of Esmeralda Land Company has engaged in talks to purchase nearly 270 acres of land at the south end of sleepy Cloverdale, and to develop it into a new town, or neighborhood, to be called Esmeralda.

Gridiron Greyhounds get All League attention

Max Morris, All League Special Teams player of the year
The judges selected senior Max Morris to the top tier as “Specialist of the Year,” based on his standout performance as kickoff receiver, as well as tight end and defensive linebacker.

Fudge Ends 30-year Career in Windsor

Deb Fudge at Town Green in Windsor
Debora Fudge has played a key role in shaping Windsor since 1994. With Fudge planning to step back from civic life, and heading out for a vacation in Europe this week, it seemed a good time to learn more about how she became so involved in Windsor and what she thinks of the town now.

Eco-entertainer in town for Short Film Fest

Ed Begley Jr at home in Studio City
Make no mistake, Ed Begley Jr. knows his filmic arts. When asked about some of his past roles—which included a recurring part on "Better Call Saul"—he went off on show creator Vince Gilligan, citing the opening sequence in the preceding "Breaking Bad" shot for shot...

The trouble with texting :)

Actors Brady Morales-Woolery and Lizzie Calogero
Who hasn't been tripped up by the slip of a finger while texting with family or been infuriated with ducking autocorrect? Who hasn’t mistakenly wished for the death of their grandfather in a text chain with a sibling and then found themselves exploring options for doing so? That's the premise of 'The Burdens,' the play now on stage at The 222...

Asti to Get its Permanent Bridge

Bike and truck at bridge
After over 100 years of pleading, begging, negotiating and complaining, the Cloverdale area finally got its wish: The bridge over the Russian River at the hamlet of Asti has been approved for a permanent span, thanks to final action by the County Board of Supervisors last week...

Italian Legacy of Mugnaini Wood-Fire Ovens

Jason Clay at Mugnaini Ovens in Healdsburg
Several local pizzerias have an unspoken bond running between their kitchens. Geyserville’s Diavola, the Matheson restaurant, Journeyman Meat Co., PizZando … even Big John’s Market. The common element is that they all purchased their pizza ovens from Mugnaini, a wood fire oven manufacturer in Healdsburg...

Will high-scoring Prune Packers meet their match?

Baseball coach Joey Gomes
To look at the scoreboard of many recent Healdsburg Prune Packers games, one might think that’s softball being played on the field. On June 14, the Stockton Pearls fell 20-1, and the Bay Area Marauders went down 24-5 on June 15. These are scores more frequently found on diamonds where the bases are 60 feet apart, not 90. In softball, at least at the high school level, the “mercy rule” ends a game early if there’s a 10-point spread. No such rule affects collegiate baseball. 
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Arts & Entertainment

Kelly and Noah Dorrance

Roots in the community

The proprietors of BloodRoot Wines, Kelly and Noah Dorrance, have been organizing an annual music and wine festival called The Ramble as a fundraiser benefitting  GIFFORDS, a national organization dedicated to preventing gun violence.
Actors pretending to drive

On the road again