News

Second award for local realtor

Many people have shaped the apple growing industry of western Sonoma County over almost 150 years. They have put down deep roots in their orchards and beneath their family trees. They have been the primal forces that have met and endured both nature’s surprises and multiple market upheavals with multi-generational resolve and resourcefulness. All these individuals possessed many strengths and talents but only one was endowed with a major-league worthy fastball and a knee-crippling curveball. And that farmer-pitcher was Graton’s Lee F. Walker Jr.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday afternoon, March 24, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved an urgency ordinance that suspends the eviction of tenants for failing to pay rent. The ordinance applies to cases in which a tenant’s failure to pay rent is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in that they’ve lost income or have had to pay for substantial medical needs as a result of the outbreak.

Former Fifth District supervisor loved west county and worked to make it a better place.

The Healdsburg Kiwanis Club held its 56th annual Pancake Breakfast on Palm Sunday at the Villa Chanticleer. The group served about 800 people with their famous pancakes, eggs and sausage breakfast. The event is the club’s second largest fundraiser each year and clears about $12,000 for the day. Kiwanian Richard Bugarske estimated that 65 club members served about 2,500 pancakes Sunday. “We were so blessed, it was a beautiful, sunny day,” he said.

The West Sonoma County High School District (WSCUHSD) caught another rock in the rudder when some of El Molino High School’s most consistent and vocal advocates sent a letter to Superintendent Toni Beal saying they believed the district’s at-large trustee election method falls short of the purpose of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (CVRA).

Judging from comments from both the public and the commission members itself, there's a clear favorite in the naming of a new Saggio Hills park: Laura Fish Somersal, a Pomo basketweaver thought to be among the last native speakers of both the Pomo and Wappo languages, languages she taught at Sonoma State University and elsewhere.

Eastern edge development

Healdsburg is trying to better prepare its seniors for the next emergency.

In this Year in Review issue, we tackle this year’s disasters and the topic of education. Next week, look for Year in Review, Part 2: housing, crime, and the environment.