News

Even as the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) board gave final approval to the ambitious 300-mile rail-to-trail route across three counties, the project came face-to-face with an obstacle it was unable to avoid. Not a canyon or a gulf, nor an earthquake or a typhoon, but a little stretch of rail called the Skunk Train.

The two regions are different places, with different personalities. Healdsburg is compact, curated and premium by design. Sonoma is a genuine town with genuine range...

The Healdsburg City Council met this week to discuss matters as diverse as urban planning, youth activities, public safety cameras and the City budget. But the meeting began with a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

This is getting more common: "4:24pm The RP on Brown Street at Sherman Street said three juveniles recklessly ran stop signs on bikes. The RP said one almost hit his vehicle. An officer contacted the juveniles. They were advised and admonished."

Mid-afternoon on Friday the 13th of March, a silver Tesla bounced over the sidewalk and struck a light stand and crosswalk alert button at the corner of Healdsburg Avenue and Plaza Street, according to police reports. The driver was seen getting out of his vehicle, surveying the damage and then getting back behind the wheel and continuing southbound on Healdsburg toward the Roundabout.

10:16am On March 29, 2026, during the night two people entered the property of Hotel Duchamp on Foss Street. They appeared to gather information for future crime. The Reporting Party (RP) sent video footage to dispatch. The RP wanted to file trespass paperwork against the people if they could be identified...

The flurry of civic gratitude concluded with the annual Marie Sparks Volunteer of the Year Award. The annual program was started in 1996 after the death of Marie Sparks, well known and recognized for her volunteer efforts in the community. Sparks is remembered for her passion, persistence and grit, which encouraged many to join her in volunteering.

"For me, being present was not optional," writes the former mayor. "While I attended as an individual, my role on the City Council carries a profound responsibility to do everything I can to protect and support our community."

This week's police news starts off, "7:39am The Reporting Party (RP) on Old Redwood Highway was assaulted on March 21, 2026. He was punched in the face and pushed to the ground. The information was relayed to Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). A Sheriff’s deputy responded and subsequently contacted the suspect. The suspect was arrested by SCSO."

What people write on a sign represents one aspect of their argument; the other is their spoken world. Asked at the scene why the demonstrators were at the Healdsburg No Kings rally, answers varied.