100 years ago – October 17, 1918
Spanish influenza
The following circular letter has been sent out from the office of the County Superintendent of Schools to principals and teachers of the county: The Spanish influenza has hit Sonoma county. The Superintendent of Schools has been asked to notify all the schools of the county of this fact and principals and teachers are to take due precaution to prevent an epidemic of the disease in their communities. His instructions are: Any child showing the symptoms of a bad cold with running eyes and nose, sore throat and coughing, fever and a headache, should be sent home at once. In most cases the victim feels sick rather suddenly. Such patient should be isolated. All other children in that home must remain away from the school. The attendant on these cases should wear a gown and a gauze face mask while in the room with the patients. To prevent the spread of infection, avoid public gatherings of any kind and stay off the street. Do not cough, spit or sneeze promiscuously; always smother it with your handkerchief. It is desired that all cases in the schools be reported promptly by principals and teachers to the County Superintendent of Schools.
50 years ago – October 10, 1968
‘Game room’ added to teen dances at Villa Chantecleer
A second attraction to the regular Youth Unlimited teenage dances has been added, reports Mrs. Warren Toomy, one of the organizations’ backers. “In addition to Friday night’s dance, which will feature Teddy the Talking Bear and a light show put on by the Zodiac Light Company, we will have a ‘game room’ in the Villa dining room,” Mrs. Toomey explained. The game room will feature ping pong, table games and provide a place for the teenagers to just sit and talk. “Later on this could develop into an informal hootenanny,” she noted.
25 years ago – October 13, 1993
Wild pigs run amok on local farms
There’s at least one thing you can say about the wild pigs that populate the rural areas of Healdsburg: they’re well-fed. Lately they have been wreaking havoc on a variety of produce, including prized pinot noir grapes, antique apples and gourmet popping corn. The feral porkers are also intent on rototilling the lawn at Lake Sonoma headquarters. One West Side farmer obtained a depredation permit from the Fish & Game Department and hired a hunter to stop the onslaught. Several pigs were killed, one weighing in at 250 pounds. Wildlife officials say the boom in the pig population is due at least in part to the end of the drought and an abundance of food and water.
