Small, community-focused schools are a much-valued aspect of Sonoma County, but the declining numbers of school-aged children – especially in the K-6 grades – and state budget shenanigans are forcing many local school districts to make hard choices. My heart goes out to both the parents and the trustees of the Old Adobe School District.

Don’t be surprised if, the next time you dial 911, a lawyer answers. Among others responsible for the City’s escallating legal bills, you can thank Bryant Moynihan and his wanton water rate rollback initiative.

The right not to be offended…isn’t a “right.” A Canadian, Mark Steyn, has been brought before three different Human Rights Tribunals for allegedly “insulting Islam.” What began with a fatwa against Salman Rushdie for insulting Mohammad and was dismissed by many as an isolated incident, culminated years later with the assassination of Theo Van Gogh in the streets of Amsterdam for the same offense. In Denmark, cartoonists still fear for their life for having drawn Mohammad in newspaper Jyllands-Posten. Meanwhile in Ireland, blasphemy is now a criminal offence. How can we encourage vigorous debate while being respectful of religious sensibilities?

I’m told that Councilwoman Renée brought her knitting to the meeting because she anticipated a rancorous discussion and needed the calming influence that knitting provides her. Moreover, that she is able to listen while knitting. In other words, she was multi-tasking. Personally, I think the task of managing a City confronting the enormous challenges that Petaluma faces deserves her undivided attention.

Far out, man. Like, Sonoma County is going to pot. Can you dig it?

The wizards in Washington DC are pressing for increased, and increasingly invasive, body scanning technology in airports. If you lack the body, or the aspirations, of a centerfold you might want to send your congressperson a strongly-worded note suggesting that TSA personnel spend a little more time actually scrutinizing the individuals crowded in the security lines and less time peering into their x-ray vision, and soon-to-be x-rated, computer monitors.

The soap opera that accompanied the Regency Center project is finally winding down. Hopefully someday soon the sales tax revenue from the Target and the other stores will begin to replenish the City’s empty bank account. Next up – Deer Creek Plaza. One can only hope that the Guardians of Camelot, or is it Brigadoon, will judge this next project on its merits and not on whether it mirrors their fixation with some ideal Utopian future and/or Petaluma’s mythical past.

We all know the maxim, “Be careful what you ask for because you may get it.” Well, it looked as if the no-growth contingent in P-Town has achieved their goal. Growth of any kind was stalled or flat-out killed. Then the chickens (how appropriate) came home to roost. An economic downturn coupled with diminished City revenues has forced some difficult decisions. Cherished features of Petaluma have been trimmed or eliminated. Even core Civic services such as Police and Fire protection are threatened. I applaud Mr. Glass and Ms. Torliatt for finally succumbing to reality and supporting the Regency development. Maybe they saw that their beloved town is slowly dying or perhaps they realized that not every voter shares the same desire to preserve Petaluma in amber. It’s a biological fact that organisms either grow or die. Nature abhors stasis. To live is to grow and (dare I say it), to change.

With brakes that could be described as “whimsical,” the new Prius redefines what it means to drive green.

The seat of our government is snowed under. Yah, yah, we know you’ve heard this before. But this time it’s not due to spurious legislation, rampaging hordes of lobbyists, or lurid scandals. This time it’s really snow.