Roseland
GOVERNMENT
Santa Rosa Takes First Step in New Tobacco Regulations
The Santa Rosa City Council has approved new regulations for tobacco retailers. It bans the sale of flavored tobacco products and electronic smoking devices, sets a minimum pack price of $10, and prohibits retailers from offering coupons or discounts. It also prohibits local retailers from selling tobacco products online. Retailers will also have to obtain a license from the city. Additionally, no new tobacco retailers will be allowed within 600 feet of schools, parks and other youth-oriented areas. Also, licensed retailers relocating their business can’t transfer their license if the new location falls within the 600-foot buffer zone. A second formal vote is scheduled for next month. Licensing and enforcement will start in January.
Newsom’s order to clear homeless encampments worries advocates, but local officials say little is likely to change
Sonoma County advocates for people who are experiencing homelessness reacted with alarm Thursday to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s same-day executive order to California agencies to remove homeless encampments from state property. North Bay officials, meanwhile, said they were analyzing the local implications of the order but suggested that Newsom’s directive would not immediately produce any changes in ...
Circus of Flowers at Sonoma County Fair features a giant giraffe, humongous hippo
Santa Rosa A big tent of flowers at the fair The Hall of Flowers has been transformed into a fanciful and fragrant Cirque des Fleurs for the Sonoma County Fair opening on Thursday. Visitors will behold a high-diving hippo, a 30 foot tall two-headed giraffe ringmaster and a tightrope cycling clown set amid a riot of colorful flowers tightly packed into eight professionally designed display ...
Army veteran and Santa Rosa attorney Joe Piasta remembered as man of deep faith
Joe Piasta, a noted Santa Rosa attorney, decorated Army veteran and pillar of the local Catholic community, died at his home on July 19, three years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was 73. Piasta spent decades practicing law in Sonoma County, become a partner at Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro, Piasta & Moran and litigation partner at O’Brien, Watters, Davis & Piasta. He opened Law ...
Napa Valley architect Howard Backen, whose rustic refinement defined the Wine Country look, dies
If there was one architect who came to define the contemporary California Wine Country look of rustic elegance, it was Howard Backen. Backen died July 22 in Napa Valley, where he established his firm Backen & Gillam with James Gillam in 1996. He was 88. He left his distinctively natural imprint on buildings all over Napa and Sonoma counties and beyond. His architecture respected and reflected ...
Penngrove tackles traffic issues with comprehensive study
If you think Penngrove has some serious traffic issues for such a sleepy little town, you are not mistaken. The recent Penngrove traffic study highlights several key concerns and potential solutions for improving safety and traffic flow in this Sonoma County community. Collision hot spots identified. The study reveals that...
Pro-Palestine activists issue ‘People’s Ceasefire Resolution’
Frustrated with the negative response to ceasefire resolutions by the majority of Sonoma County cities, pro-Palestine activists July 23 declared a “People’s Resolution.”. Cotati is the only city in the county to approve a resolution calling for an end to Israel’s ten-and-a-half-month assault on Gaza, which has left an estimated 40,000 Gazans dead and many more injured or buried under rubble. Activists failed in their attempts to pass similar resolutions in Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Sebastopol,
Celebrate the ‘Year of the Farmer’ at the Sonoma City Party Aug. 1st
The public is invited to celebrate The Year of the Farmer at the 27th Annual Sonoma City Party August 1, 5:30-9:30 p.m., presented by Sonoma City Council and the City of Sonoma – a night of free fun, festivities, and live performances in honor of our vibrant community. The...
Rising costs, system upgrades spur 3-year sewer rate increase plan in Rohnert Park
Rohnert Park households and businesses can expect to pay about 7% more on their sewer bills come October after the City Council approved raising rates to keep up with the cost of managing and treating the city’s wastewater. Monthly bills for single-family homes, which comprise 69% of the hookups within the city, are expected to increase a little more than $3, from $42.20 to $45.33, in the ...
Workers link US, Canadian sides of new Gordie Howe International Bridge over Detroit River
DETROIT (AP) — Workers have linked the U.S. and Canadian sides of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge spanning the Detroit River. The Detroit News reports the workers finished connecting southwest Detroit and northwest Windsor on Wednesday. The bridge will provide another link between one of the busiest commercial points on the U.S-Canadian border when it is completed in fall 2025. About a third of all trade between the two countries occurs between Detroit and Windsor. The bridge deck alone has taken six years to build. When it is finished, the bridge will measure 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers), placing it among the 10 longest bridges in North America.
National Night Out builds community cohesion
Continuing its mission to protect and serve all communities in our area with transparency, equality, and respect, the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety will host its annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 4-7 p.m. in front of its central station (500 City Center Drive). This...
10 Cutest Bars in California’s Napa & Sonoma Wine Country with Must-Try Drinks
California’s Napa and Sonoma wine country is not only famous for its wines but also for its charming bars that offer a perfect mix of environment, creativity, and flavor. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these top 10 Cutest Bars in California’s Napa & Sonoma are must-visits. Find the best spot with the help of your Jet Setting Fashionista, Emily Martin, to enjoy a delightful drink.
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