Flashbacks for March 27, 2025

100 years ago – March 26, 1925

IMPROVEMENTS AT LOCAL GOLF LINKS

Materials have been ordered for the building of a porch on the front and north sides of the temporary club house at the Healdsburg Country Club. This will give increased space for holding of luncheons, and give a shady place for visitors to enjoy themselves in easy chairs. The new power lawn mower for use on the greens has arrived and this morning was tried out for the first time. The mower is a wonderful improvement over the old hand method of mowing.

75 years ago – March 24, 1950

MEMBERS OF KIWANIS CLUB HEAR TALK ON MARIJUANA

Healdsburg Kiwanis club members heard an informative and interesting talk on “Narcotics” at this week’s regular luncheon meeting Tuesday at the American Legion Hall. The speaker was Lt. Alvin Nicolini who is commanding officer of the Bureau of Special Services dealing with Narcotics and Vice of the office of Chief of Police in San Francisco. 

In elaborating on his topic, Lt. Nicolini discussed marijuana in particular, stating that it differed from most other narcotics in that its effects were entirely of a destructive nature, and that, therefore, it could not be used as a sedative. Also, he detailed the features of the plant itself, pointing out that it often grows as much as 20 feet in one year, and that this proliferation is not stunted by climatic conditions. 

Because the effects of marijuana produce criminal tendencies in the user, Lt. Nicolini advised his listeners to contact Chief of Police Al Giorgi if they should see anyone with the identifying marijuana cigarettes of brown paper which are sealed at both ends, or if they should discover any strange and unusual plant. By doing this, stated Lt. Nicolini, every citizen can do his part in stamping out the traffic in this vicious plant.

50 years ago – April 3, 1975

OUTSIDE STUDY OF HPD EXPECTED

A report is expected by the middle of the month on what the city administration believes should be done about a request by a number of downtown businessmen for a probe of the Healdsburg Police Department. City Manager James Stanfield said Monday he may ask State Police Officers Standards and Training to update a report it did several years ago. 

During a special council meeting, Councilman William Lucius suggested that outside police chiefs be asked to look at the department. “This is not a threat to the chief or the policemen,” Mayor Robert Sauers said. A light quorum is expected for next Monday’s meeting so the matter will be held until the April 21 meeting. Last week, The Tribune reported that 36 merchants, mainly in the Plaza area, felt they were receiving inadequate police protection.

The Flashbackers are docents for the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society, 221 Matheson St., healdsburgmuseum.org.