News

La Familia Sana, a nonprofit located in Cloverdale, is growing its partnership with Corazón Healdsburg in hopes of bringing more resources to the area. In the past, both organizations have helped one another when it comes to helping families — whether it was with housing supplies, food or COVID-19 tests, a partnership was already there.

Despite pressure from experts urging a strong mandate, the order leaves the exact conservation measures up to the urban water providers and major water wholesalers that supply the vast majority of Californians. It does not affect agricultural water providers, or the small water systems that are especially vulnerable to drought. 

Many people have shaped the apple growing industry of western Sonoma County over almost 150 years. They have put down deep roots in their orchards and beneath their family trees. They have been the primal forces that have met and endured both nature’s surprises and multiple market upheavals with multi-generational resolve and resourcefulness. All these individuals possessed many strengths and talents but only one was endowed with a major-league worthy fastball and a knee-crippling curveball. And that farmer-pitcher was Graton’s Lee F. Walker Jr.

As record-breaking drought fuels another potentially dangerous wildfire season, the state auditor reported last week that state officials are failing to hold California’s electric utilities accountable for preventing fires caused by their equipment.

Every year, Healdsburg Junior High’s (HJH) leadership class plans a fundraiser to benefit a local Healdsburg organization. This year, students decided to raise money for local animals in need — they raised roughly $1,000. Bethany Carlson, guidance counselor at the junior high, said students chose to start a monthlong school-wide coin drive for the Humane Society of Sonoma County in Healdsburg.

Cloverdale’s cannabis businesses are going to see a decrease in city taxes, following a 3-1 vote by the Cloverdale City Council on March 23. The council gave the green light to a resolution that amends the city’s existing blanket cannabis excise tax rate of 4.5% for cannabis businesses in favor of a tiered tax rate that varies tax amount by type of cannabis business.

Sonoma County Sheriff detectives are currently investigating a murder and a separate but related stabbing incident that occurred in Guerneville on March 23.

The City of Healdsburg will be receiving an over $7 million California Department of Water Resources grant to add 4.5 miles to its municipal recycled water distribution network and expand recycled water deliveries, a big win for the city when it comes to building drought resilience amid another year of dry conditions.

Masks will no longer be required, regardless of vaccination status, for attending Healdsburg City Council meetings. Instead, masks will be optional for both attendees and city council members.

Following recent vandalism incidents, trespassing and inappropriate use of school facilities at the Brook Haven School in Sebastopol, the Sebastopol Union School District (SUSD) is sending a letter to district families reminding people of the rules and expectations for use of campus facilities and urging community members to be responsible when using the new artificial turf and other campus amenities.