News

During some of the darkest days in the pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom offered some optimism: the winter surge of COVID-19 would be it. Liquid gold — the first batch of vaccines — was just days away. 

West county-based nonprofit Food For Thought (FFT) is looking tuna, olive oil, whole grain crackers and other food donations at its upcoming Monday, Feb. 8 drive-thru food drive at the Oliver’s Market parking lot on Stony Point Road in Santa Rosa.

At the Feb. 4 meeting of the Windsor town council, commissioners and committee members were selected by recently-elected Councilmember Debora Fudge and Mayor Dominic Foppoli.

Grocery Outlet has opened in Windsor after taking over the space vacated by Office Depot last year. The store and the Chamber of Commerce hosted a masked ribbon cutting on Feb. 4 to welcome the store to town. Grocery Outlet Windsor celebrated its grand opening by making a donation to the Windsor Presbyterian Church food pantry. The store is located at 6400 Hembree Lane, and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sonoma County health officials presented new vaccine figures and other local COVID-19 data during a Feb. 3 online community briefing and Q&A with Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase that otherwise primarily focused on equity in the vaccine rollout plan.

Last week, the Cloverdale City Council held a public hearing for — and voted 3-2 to approve — a zoning change, design review, general plan map amendment and a mitigated negative declaration for a 22-unit development on South Cloverdale Boulevard. The development is phase two of the Taylor Lynn Apartments, and will be located at 669-679 South Cloverdale Boulevard.

An influential group of California health experts is holding fast for now to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to make age the primary criteria for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision announced today dismayed advocates who hoped the group would recommend moving disabled people and those with chronic medical conditions to the front of the line alongside those age 65 and older.

At their meetings in January, the Sebastopol city council greenlit some agreements and moved forward with some of their plans.

Local birders bring down the house with online lecture on beginning birding

The Girls Tinker Academy is expanding in 2021 to include a spring break offering for up to 48 middle schoolers in Sonoma County to engage in maker pedagogy and encourage the exploration and development of technical, mathematical and artistic abilities.