Our story thus far
The beginning of this story about this local newspaper has only been told to a few people. In 1995, the Walnut Creek-based corporation that owned this and three other local newspapers decided to shut them all down after failing to find a new corporate buyer. But, instead of abandoning the papers, the corporation accepted two separate offers from two families to each purchase half of the four papers. The Atkinson and Mays households formed Sonoma West Publishers and bought The Sebastopol Times & News and Russian River News and merged them together as Sonoma West Times & News. Tom and Beverly Reeves and their children bought The Healdsburg Tribune and The Windsor Times on the very same day as the Sonoma West transaction (May 30, 1995.) The newspapers were not only saved but they were put in the hands of experienced and dedicated newspaper people.
Letters to the editor, Feb. 20
EDITOR:Â In response to Mr. Churchill and the no on SMART Train folks let me first suggest that they present a false choice. No longer are we voting for or against the train, since it is already in operation and enjoying increased ridership every year with a newly expanded service to the San Francisco ferry terminal. Instead our choice is merely to continue making this a viable alternative to the freeway or after spending tens of millions of dollars on the system to abandon it.Â
How SMART?
The Measure I SMART train question on the March 3 Primary Election ballot is important enough for voters to think for themselves and not be duped by all the slick and colorful mailers and the rest of the $2.3 million vitriolic and bombastic pro and con campaigns, now filling mailboxes and social media feeds.
Arts & Entertainment
Rising star in the kitchen
Melissa Yanc’s culinary path began at her grandmother’s side, learning her way around a kitchen since childhood. Over 16 years in the hospitality industry, she honed her craft through pastry school before opening her first bakery in Denver at the young age of 23.
