New director for 50-year-old Wine Road
In what could be termed a generational change, a new executive director of Wine Road of Northern Sonoma County—better known by the short form, Wine Road—was named to take over the 50-year old organization this month. Katie Ambrosi replaces Beth Costa after her 26-year leadership.
Schools stay busy without students this summer
The Fitch Mountain Campus (FMC) will receive some extra attention this summer: The buildings on campus will be painted and the school’s field will receive a much needed, long-awaited renovation....
Rotarian Arundo removal project gets national attention
Known variously as giant cane, elephant grass or Colorado River weed, the giant Arundo reed grows up to 30 feet in height and is widespread though much of the temperate world including the American Southwest. Considered invasive in the United States, local Rotarians are out to control it.
Local USPS mailbox ‘hacked’
A spate of reported mail thefts hit Healdsburg earlier this month, resulting in 10 or more mail fraud reports filed with the Healdsburg Police. The incidents are similar, in that the implicated mail drop box is the one outside the Foss Creek Circle annex, on a semicircular driveway for easy drive-by access.
Healdsburg’s too-popular secret beach
A gravel beach upstream from Memorial Bridge has long been a quiet place for meditation and family time. But ‘flash mobs’ drawn by social media have turned it into a crime scene, with loud music, heavy drinking, fights and gunfire. At last law enforcement takes notice.
Countdown: Some shifts in election results
Over a week after the June 2 election, some of the races are proving to be tough to call, given California’s month-long window for certifying elections.
SMART stays on track: The results of the June 2 election take shape
Measure B, which seeks to renew the quater-cent sales tax to provide SMART with revenue for another 30 years, passed handily. It pulled in over 70% of the vote in Sonoma County; only 67% was necessary to win.
Downtown drivers put businesses at risk
Three recent incidents in downtown Healdsburg have residents wondering if it’s safe to dine at a parklet or even walk the sidewalks. In all cases, drivers not fully in command of their vehicles were involved in property damage accidents, though thankfully no one was hurt.
OPEN MIC: Building a bridge the smart way
As a co-owner of River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe, Kim Lockhart has asked SMART repeatedly for information about the planned railroad bridge over the Russian River, because they send thousands of customers paddling under the same bridge that SMART is demolishing next summer. But SMART has demurred from sharing details...
Twilight Parade, Fair are the real Healdsburg
Things are taking shape for the 77th annual Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair, perhaps the most thoroughly Healdsburg event on the calendar. Between the culinary “Experience” of last weekend and the oncoming “Edge” of next month, it’s as if history grabs us by the nape and says, “Pay attention to now!”

















