News

In statements on social media, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and the Windsor Police Department reported the news of the passing of K-9 Mako. Mako was a 3 ½ year old Belgian Malinois, and he had served the Windsor community for two years with his partner Deputy Alan Collier. His performances, especially his takedowns, have been a highlight of the last two years of National Night Out on the Town Green.

A structure fire broke out early Wednesday morning, April 22, at the Armida Winery on Westside Road, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage to a large deck on the property, according to Healdsburg Fire Department reserve and former CalFire Battalion Chief, Kim Thompson.

Emergency funds to help continued responses to the COVID-19 public health crisis are being distributed to three north county nonprofits by the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County. A total of $35,000 was raised by the foundation, boosted by a $20,000 matching grant from Mark Freed of Talon Creek Foundation.

Healdsburg Jazz is offering a free online jazz education class from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, April 26 on the legacy of Duke Ellington. The program will be led by bandleader, bassist and composer Marcus Shelby, featuring guest artists Tiffany Austin and Anthony Brown, with other guests expected to join in.

It seems like there is a day to celebrate all kinds of different things, from donuts to dogs and even sculptures.

There are a lot of pretty pictures of downtown Healdsburg on the internet where winery sites and tourist directories show off the historic plaza, well-lighted storefronts and sidewalks with strolling shoppers and wine tasters. That was how Healdsburg used to look before the pandemic-induced economic shutdown, now beginning its second month. How soon it will look the same again is anybody’s guess, but there are now fears it may take years and not just months.

During the Healdsburg school board’s most recent board of trustees meeting on April 15, Healdsburg Unified School District (HUSD) Superintendent Chris Vanden Heuvel provided an update on distance learning in the district. The update outlined three main takeaways: Some students still do not have remote learning connectivity, grading practices at Healdsburg High School are still being nailed down and June is not looking good for seniors in terms of graduation and prom.

City to roll out $600,000 to bring relief to small businesses 

The Healdsburg Unified School District School Board of Trustees unanimously approved the adoption of new math curriculum and materials at Healdsburg Junior High School and new science curriculum and materials for Healdsburg Elementary School during their board meeting on April 15. The also considered the implementation of new history curriculum at Healdsburg Junior High School.

One month ago, all of Sonoma County’s “public life” was put off limits. No schools, locked parks, barricaded beaches, no dining out or casual shopping trips. Gathering places where conversations and friendships get shared are taboo. Libraries, coffee shops, brewpubs, art galleries and any space smaller than six feet square, are now officially declared uninhabitable.