The Ruse changes course from B&B to rehab
The real heart of the Sept. 23 meeting is anticipated to be the approval, or rejection, of a conditional use permit for The Ruse, at 891 Grove St., formerly known as the Honor Mansion. It's new application is to operate as a rehab treatment facility.
City Council Race On the Fast Track
After a relatively quiet summer, the race for three seats on the Healdsburg City Council is picking up speed. Three candidate forums are scheduled for the next week, including a League of Women Voters online event on Wednesday night, and the second on the following Tuesday, a live-only event presented by the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce...
SMART Train Plans Roll Forward
Sonoma Marin Area Transit Service (SMART) moving forward toward its long-held goal of providing commuter rail service from the San Francisco Bay to northern Sonoma County, as promised since 2002.
One of the knottiest challenges it has faced is the rail’s northward expansion, including service...
Predawn Parade for St. Patrick’s Day
If there’s one thing Healdsburg residents agree on, it’s that there are only two parades worth attending year-in and year-out. One is the late-May Twilight Parade that kicks off the Future Farmers fair.
The other is the pre-dawn parade around the Plaza, every St. Patrick’s...
Open Mic: SMART Owes Public a Review of Railroad Bridge Plans
Healdsburg’s Russian River Railroad Bridge is the sole remaining example of a steel Subdivided Warren Truss bridge on the former line of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. Built in 1901, the bridge has three spans supported by four concrete piers, a steel deck and superstructure on both sides of a single track. What does SMART plan to do with it?
Snapshot: Seasonal Spirit in the Movies
Wishing everyone Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year—grateful for our blessings lest we take what we have for granted rather than count them each day. Here's some holiday movies that always make for a seasonal uplift.
Council stands firm on limited Plaza events
That’s the takeaway of this week’s meeting: an insistence on use of the Community Pavilion, and a denial of the Plaza location to any other event than a select few. 'Signature Events" are simply those that have been authorized by the City Council for use of the Healdsburg Plaza...
Not Your Grandma’s ‘Cinderella’
Audiences headed for a performance of the Raven Players’ production of Cinderella who are expecting anything along the lines of a Disney musical are in for a bit of a surprise, says drama critic Harry Duke...
Charlie Musselwhite: ‘I ain’t lyin’!’
Charlie Musselwhite talks about his gunslinging grandfather, playing with Elvin Bishop, his favorite restaurants in Healdsburg and Geyserville, and how he worked his signature phrase into a Hollywood blockbuster...
Lady Hounds Tough It Out With ‘Gritty’ Play
The saga of Healdsburg’s basketball seasons, boys and girls, continues to be played out, though hopes for a repeat league championship for the girls have been damaged by the dominance of Ukiah, a new addition to the NBL-Redwood division, which remains undefeated in league play.
Arts & Entertainment
Holiday Happenings, December 4-12
The City’s annual seasonal celebration, Merry Healdsburg, includes the Lighting of the Tree and a night market at the Plaza. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage, dance to live holiday music, cheer for Santa’s grand arrival...






















