Columns

Our one-month reprieve is over; it’s time to pay our taxes. The coronavirus pandemic may have delayed the taxman, but there’s not much relief for most of us, as we must now file our income tax returns by May 17. Some of us might even have to pay taxes on some of the COVID-19 relief benefits we received. And, of course, we will watch again as many of the wealthiest people and the largest corporations pay as little as no income taxes at all.

People would be very surprised to hear that “The Wizard of Oz” was written as a political allegory and was based on real people including presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, Williams Jennings Bryan, a former North Dakota senator and even the spirit of Sitting Bull. Published in 1900 by L. Frank Baum, the illustrated children’s novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” was published when there was a strong populist movement, similar to the recent Tea Party Movement and the rise of Trumpism.

With the sight of blooming spring flowers, early morning treks to the farmers markets and casual afternoons at the many pandemic parklets and outdoor cafés, life in Sonoma County keeps opening a bit wider with each day. With many indoor spaces still closed or limited to public access, we are finding more things to do closer to nature and unconfined by walls, roofs and artificial lighting.

Sometimes, it’s just a nice thing to do. Stare at artwork. I’m not sure why it should be so, but it is for me. Art, particularly sculpture, is a touch stone—oops. No, ahhhhhhh. Pun intended and achieved! Bada bing pause. Sculptures are a little more visceral...

As we welcome September in Healdsburg, many of our residents are in full back-to-school mode, and that’s noticeable at the library. Our staff, as well as the teachers, kids and parents, have had their recovery time and gotten the school year running smoothly; now...

This Week in H’burg is a weekly column featuring photos and fun facts from local photographer Pierre Ratté. Each week we’ll feature a new photo from Ratté along with a fact about the subject matter of the photo.

The Healdsburg Library has been very busy so far in 2024, writes Branch Librarian John Haupt. "Our in-person visits continue to rise as we see people of all ages coming to study alone or in groups, play games, attend a musical event or get help accessing a digital audiobook. The library and the staff look forward to helping you when you visit for these activities and more."

Many lessons were learned from the wildfires of 2017. The most important of which is that any fire, with enough fuel and driven by wind can burn through almost anything. It is never possible to protect your property 100 percent, but there are things you can do with your landscaping to provide your family a fighting chance.

Mike Benziger grows some of the best marijuana in Northern California. He grows it biodynamically at “Glentucky Family Farm.”

100 years ago – April 12, 1923 Fitch Mountain Tavern Season to Open  Fitch Mountain Tavern will open for the summer season on May 1, according to an announcement by A. M. Ewing.  Numerous improvements have been made at the resort, situated a mile up Fitch Mountain...