News

Five members of the Healdsburg community will be in a Burbank studio audience for a special taping of the “Ellen” talk show this week — an episode devoted to charity, kindness and those who do good in the world.

Community involvement the number one priority

Gina Gallo, granddaughter of Julio Gallo, is working her way through a tedious county process after her business, the Dry Creek General Store, lost its liquor license in January of 2017. The store’s colorful history included bootlegging during prohibition, but now the old bar stands empty.

Innovative program matches interns and mentors for hands on experience

This year’s Histroic Preservation Awards were presented on Jan. 18 by Fran Schierenbeck, chair of the Museum’s Historic Preservation Committee. The Commercial Historic Restoration award went to Mike and Chris Welty for their building at 141 North Street. The Residential Historic Preservation award was given to Therese Shere and Eric Monrad for the Wilson House at 7566 Eastside Road.

Bill Wheeler, the painter of open spaces and advocate of open living at his coastal commune, died early Tuesday morning at his remote Occidental-area home. It was the same home that was made famous by a flock of hippies searching to find freedom by living off the land exactly 50 years ago.

When Colleen Simmons talks to you, you can immediately sense the focus that has served her so well in her long career as a dispatcher. She can simultaneously answer a reporter’s question, respond to a call on the radio and, while barely looking up, call out to a citizen in the Healdsburg Police Department lobby who is looking for the battery recycling container.

Guitar music and song lilted across the room and mingled with soft laughter and conversation. Someone shared her amazement as she recognized another at her table as a high school classmate. The two had not seen each other for 50 years and began catching up, with others chiming in with bits of information about other classmates and teachers. The scene was the Friday Brunch at the Healdsburg Senior Center’s Bistro and locals are discovering its charm.

This Saturday, Jan. 20 will be the first annual Healdsburg Preschool Fair, aimed at improving access to early childhood education programs for Healdsburg families. Brought together by Corazón Healdsburg’s early childhood Health Action committee, the event at the Healdsburg Community Center will offer information, prizes, gifts, giveaways and activities for the kids in English and Spanish.