News

Under the city of Healdsburg’s stage 3 emergency water conservation mandates, which were approved by the city council on June 7, those who continuously violate the rules could face a fine of up to $1,000, according to the Healdsburg Utility Department.

With the local economy opening back up again, the city of Healdsburg’s budget is starting to bounce back a bit and make some small positive gains.

In a far-ranging conversation about the homeless in Sonoma County, Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore made several things clear: it’s time for action, everyone will be a part of bearing the burden, the time for “not in my backyard” mentality has passed and that if these things cost him an election, it’s a price he’s willing to pay.

Public works to come back with conservation recommendations for the city’s water tower accounts

In the next year, the Analy and El Molino high schools are expected to consolidate into one school. The consolidation plan for the West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) moves El Molino to the Analy campus in Sebastopol, and Laguna High School to El Molino’s campus in Forestville. While years of declining student enrollment and financial instability created the conditions for this decision to be made, many students and community members felt like their voices were not sufficiently heard by the school board.

Garden will stay at its current location through 2021, at which time it will need to relocate

It’s too early for the Citrus Fair’s orange and grapefruit trees to bear ripe fruit. But on Dec. 14, the lemon trees planted along the boundaries of the fairgrounds were rife with fruit and ready to be picked by a group of Cloverdale High School (CHS) students. The lemons were set aside in baskets and bags to be brought to both the Cloverdale Food Pantry and the Cloverdale Senior Multipurpose Center.

The Redwood Empire Foodbank held a food distribution event in response to the Walbridge Fire for evacuees and for those in need of food this morning, Aug. 31, at the Guerneville School. Volunteers worked quickly packing onions, cauliflower, apples, carrots, pork, butter and cartons of milk into bags for the waiting line of cars. Folks from Dogwood Animal Rescue in Sebastopol were also on site to give out dog and cat food for those with a furry friend at home.

Sonoma County’s fabled Gravenstein apple trees don’t know there is a coronavirus pandemic and economic catastrophe going on right now. It’s early August so that means the 1,000 acres of apple orchards are now ready for picking. The tart and semi-sweet red, yellow and green striped apple that has a highway, a school, a health program, a restaurant and a summer fair named after it, is now the focal point of a COVID-19 pandemic “pop-up.”