Year in Review: Elections
In an eight-part series we look back at the world that was, here in our little corner of it. 2020 was a year of challenges. We’ll be publishing this eight-piece work daily as we work to the new year. Today’s piece is on elections that took place this year, and the challenges they presented.
Windsor Presbyterian Church to host luminary labyrinth, Christmas community service
The Windsor Presbyterian Church is hosting two special holiday events this week, a luminary labyrinth walk on Dec. 2 and a community blue Christmas church service on Dec. 4. Both events are being held in person at the Windsor Presbyterian Church.
County’s hospitality industry hit hardest in COVID outbreak
The welcome mat for Sonoma County’s wine country was rolled up several weeks ago in the midst of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place, and there is no prediction of when it might be rolled out again. Only a little over one quarter (27.8%) of the county’s 7,000 lodging rooms were occupied at the beginning of this month, down from an average occupancy rate of 78% from a year ago.
Happy Birthday, Ann!
Ann Gillis, longtime Cloverdale Senior Multipurpose Center member, celebrated her 100th birthday on Sept. 8. The city of Cloverdale issued her a proclamation to commemorate her 100th birthday. The only thing that could have been sweeter is if Ann, known as Cloverdale’s “hugging grandmother,” could have given everyone a hug.
Plaza protest, May 31
Around 50 community members gathered at the Cloverdale Plaza on May 31 for a peaceful protest calling attention to the death of George Floyd.
Wastewater treatment
For centuries, civilized peoples recognized the need for removal of bodily wastes from the human environment. Apart from the obvious odors and appearance of this waste, either on land or in bodies of water, the disease-causing germs were also present. Dysentery, Typhoid Fever, Cholera, and other public health issues were often found to be caused by the presence of bacteria and parasites in drinking water sources which were contaminated by wastewater. In areas where populations are concentrated, and where there is more wastewater to treat, communities construct wastewater collection systems that collect the wastewater and convey it to a treatment facility. The wastewater collection system typically consists of gravity-fed and pressurized underground piping which allows the unobstructed flow of wastewater to treatment facilities.
Masks still required in HUSD, but there are a few other changes to district COVID policy
Sonoma County lifted its universal indoor mask mandate on Feb. 16, however, school districts, including the Healdsburg Unified School District (HUSD), are still requiring indoor masking for students and adults.