‘Safety Call’ Ends 100-Mile Race Early
“We had to make a safety call. Without the bridge, there’s no safe way to get across the creek,” Skip Brand of the Lake Sonoma 100 said on Sunday afternoon. “The creek is 6-7 feet deep and raging right now. Plus, the wind picked up in the late afternoon and several trees came down, creating additional hazards.”
Wrestling Gym to be Rechristened for Drew Esquivel
In what Superintendent Chris Vanden Heuvel openly said was a first, the Healdsburg Unified District School Board’s trustees voted to give a newly remodeled gym a new name: Drew Esquivel Hall, in honor of the late 2013 graduate.
‘Thanksgiving Trotters’ Raise $100,000
The 14th annual Turkey Trot got underway on a brisk but clear Thanksgiving morning, as more than 3,000 runners competed in what’s become known as the Live Like Drew challenge. It was a younger-than-normal crowd: Of the 2,679 who finished the 5k loop, half of the top 10 finishers were in their teens,...
Return of the Covid Pandemic?
So prevalent if under-reported is this latest Covid surge that CVS Pharmacy ran out of Covid test kits, as did other drug stores. Rite Aid in Healdsburg did manage to keep tests on hand, but the fact that some places did not is pretty clear evidence something’s going around...
Valorizing Valette for its Wine
When one thinks of celebrations at The Matheson in downtown Healdsburg (the town’s de facto club room), one usually goes straight to the top, literally the top-floor Roof 106 brasserie and bar where all manner of shindigs have occurred over the years. However, this year’s release of Valette Wines, which shares a proprietor with The Matheson, was a decidedly ground-floor affair.
Prime Pinots Picked at Pigs & Pinot
Chef Charlie Palmer’s 17th annual weekend celebrating the mutual appeal and attraction of pinot noir and pork, Pigs & Pinot, played to a full house over the weekend of March 15-16 with lunches, dinners, food and wine tasting and other events.
A cast of “Master...
Meet Mella, Stella’s Identical Pup
Now when most winemakers talk about “clones,” they’re talking about varietals selected for specific qualities, such as flavor, color or intensity. The Dijon clones of pinot noir or chardonnay are well known; but the canine clone of a winery dog is a new thing entirely.
Weekly History Talks for Plaza Visitors
For the second year in a row, the docents of the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society make history come alive in the Healdsburg Plaza, on successive Saturdays until Aug. 31. ..
Chamber’s Barbecue Fundraiser Celebrates Healdsburg
“It was an unforgettable evening filled with good company, fine wine and lively music, all set against the stunning backdrop of Rodney Strong,” said Chamber CEO Tallia Hart of the 2024 summer barbecue fundraiser...
Bonjour From Paris! A Postcard From the Olympics
Most people have a dream. A dream for their future: A dream job, a dream house, a dream of who they will become or a dream trip of a lifetime. My husband, Louis, always dreamed of attending the Olympic Games—a dream made even more special when it was held in one of our favorite cities, Paris. The City of Lights...
Arts & Entertainment
Christmas music like it used to be, with swing
Now widely known as “The Harlem Nutcracker,” Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn wrote it for Columbia Records, along with film scores and other work. It was met with a sensational reception






















