In Memoriam: Bob Pape
Longtime Healdsburg resident Bob Pape, a well-loved leader in local schools who went on to become a bit of a community fitness guru, passed away earlier this month at the age of 76, according to his obituary — "after a short and intense battle with...
Healdsburg Vegan Restaurant ‘Second Story’ Closing at Little Saint
Little Saint, the 10,000-square-foot food and event space at 25 North St., will be closing its fancy upstairs vegan restaurant on June 14 — just shy of one year after opening it. The offshoot restaurant is called Second Story, and it occupies the same...
‘I went against a dragon’: Salon moves to survive impacts of COVID
The owner and operator of Vanity the Salon, a Healdsburg beauty parlor, has moved to a new location, after nearly two years of struggling to keep her business — in an industry particularly hard hit by the pandemic — alive.
In Memoriam: Joyce Alger
Lifelong Healdsburg and Windsor resident Joyce Alger passed away last month at age 78. Her husband of nearly 50 years, Joe Alger, died back in 2011 — and one of their two sons, David Alger, was killed by cancer in 2019. Here's a glimpse into...
Bear Republic Liquidates As Former Restaurant Remodeled
The news earlier this year that the Bear Republic Brewery, long associated with a popular brewpub and restaurant in downtown Healdsburg, had been sold to Drake’s Brewing Company of San Leandro surprised many fans of their signature brew, Racer 5 IPA. The sale included...
Healdsburg’s New Fire Substation: Construction Update
Construction continues on a new, 4,162-square-foot "substation" for firefighters at the more rural north end of town. The concrete slab that will serve as a base for the main building was poured last week, the city says. Next, "the wall framing, truss installation, and roof sheathing...
Faherty Opens As Council Considers Formula Stores
The new proposal was to expand the formula-free zone one block further into the Downtown Commercial district. McDowell showed a map where a red line marked the border of the proposed formula-free zone; it surrounds most of seven city blocks adjacent to the Plaza, marking a significant expansion of the prohibition zone.
The Ruse approved for abuse rehab
After two hours of discussion on Sep. 23, the commission voted 5-1 to approve the conditional use permit for the property as a “luxurious 13 bed Substance Use Disorder Facility,” to be renamed The Ruse Treatment...
Sonoma County Crab Season On Hold
Our local Dungeness crab season is on hold again this year, "due to the risk of humpback whales and endangered sea turtles being caught in fishing equipment," the Eater SF food blog reports. State officials will do their next risk assessment on Dec. 21, but right now it's looking...
Local favorite Downtown Bakery and Creamery put up for sale
When you walk into Downtown Bakery and Creamery on Center Street, the scent of warm scones envelops you in a comforting hug and the familiar sound of the bread slicer rings out as locals line up for their morning coffee.













