I've been a trustee of a local school for quite some time and I can tell you that these are especially tough times for Sonoma County schools. Even before last fall's financial meltdown, we the school was used to annual belt-tightening as the State regularly raided school funds to cover [...]

At last - something the Democrats and Replications wholeheartedly agree upon. Your tax dollars are at work supporting every green initiative, hometown entitlement and special project that our erstwhile politicians can stuff into the already engorged Stimulus Package. I'm surprised that Washington DC isn't paralyze with a massive case of [...]

It's every parent's nightmare...that your child goes out with friends and doesn't come home. With a 20-year-old son, a 16-year old daughter who will get her driver's license this month, and a 12-year-old counting the days until she's mobile this is a fear that Colleen and I live with every [...]

I find it ironic that many who didn't vote for Mr.Obama, now that he's elected wish him Godspeed and every blessing, while many of those who championed him into the White House are now vilifying him for daring to serve all of his fellow Americans - and not just partisan [...]

Sometimes I think that our health care system is sicker than the folks it aims to treat. Managing a medical practice, hospital or HMO has got to be one of the most challenging and thankless tasks I can imagine. The brave people who take on the challenge are faced with [...]

Mark Twain famously said, "Whiskey's for drinking, water's for fighting about." It seems that the backers of last year's Measure K water rate rollback like fighting so much that they refuse to back down even when 56% of the voters rejected their cockamamie plan. I'm all for standing up for [...]

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the members of the Petaluma City Council for undertaking the thankless job of untangling the myriad of conflicting agendas that paralyze our local political process. Add to this burden the albatross of dwindling city revenues Of course, this particular albatross is largely the fault [...]

When 2008 dawned I hoped it would be a better year for me, personally, my town and my country than it's predecessor had been. I have the same hope for 2009. It's a new year with a new President, perhaps a new economy and new opportunities. I'm going to do [...]

I wish all of you who take the time to read any of the blogs on Petaluma 360 a Happy New Year. And I'm wishing for stuff, I hope that, in the coming New Year, our erstwhile City Council can find the time to take care of at least a [...]

I'm always surprised when I encounter the outrage many Petaluman's express to the concept of change or...Heaven forbid...growth. It's as if Petaluma is already perfect the way it is, or in the minds of our local historical preservationists...perfect the way it was. Hmmm...a perfect town wouldn't have crime, fires, health [...]