Editorial

Another year is winding down and Christmas and the holiday

Much has been written about the United States Supreme Court decision in the “Hobby Lobby” case that effectively will deny some women access to four types of birth control because it no longer has to be a covered cost under their employer’s health coverage.

Justice, in the form of protecting the innocent public from

Instead of our usual Winter Lite we have been experiencing record cold. A cold snap, they call it. Nothing as punishing as in other parts of the country. A Kansan might poo-poo how we fret over our lemon tree, tucked in like a dowager on a cruise ship. A New Englander might not share my delight in how my neighbor’s frosted roof glimmers in the dawn.

Healdsburg’s rental housing market is in crisis. Evictions, 60 day notices and often 20 percent-plus rental increases are occurring daily, the most recent eviction being the 21-unit rental housing on Prentice Drive, with all tenants being evicted for building repairs, and rents going from a range of $850 to $1,400 to $2,100 – a 65 percent rental increase and more in one year. How many rental units and people are in Healdsburg? According to the 2010 housing element statistics there are 4,378 total housing units in Healdsburg. Forty-two percent of them (1,857) are rental units. With an average of three persons per unit, this could represent 5,571 people in our community of 12,000 residents.

Every year at this time a fever descends upon one or two regions

Did you know that less than one percent of the earth’s water is available for human consumption? As California’s population continues to increase, climate change and periodic drought affect the amount of water supply available, and the demand for water to meet the needs of aquatic life and our environment continues to grow. Having enough water supply to balance all of the needs is becoming increasingly complex. Many communities throughout California are faced with the challenge of coming up with new and innovative ways to maximize the supply of drinking water, also called potable water. Recycled water can play a key role in responding to this complex issue and helping provide local, reliable water supplies to meet California’s water needs.