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]]> Annual Mendocino Wine & Mushroom Fest offers guided fungi-finding walks, as well as safety tips to avoid the dangerous brethren of the edible varieties Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:13:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089993 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089975
]]> Cats and books rate high among Sally Watson’s fascinations. That becomes clear after even two minutes in her home near Santa Rosa’s Franklin Park, a cottage replete with book-filled shelves and feline personalities. Sun, 8 Nov 2009 19:16:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089975 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089977
]]> The seasonal gravitation toward wood stoves and roaring fires has the Bay Area Air Quality Msnagement District on the offensive to ensure people understand and abide by a year-old ban on burning solid fuels during the worst air days. Sun, 8 Nov 2009 18:47:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089977 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089979
]]> A $4 million purchase of an office building next to the sprawling Sonoma County government and state courts complex in Santa Rosa highlights officials’ long-range plans for using every bit of 500 acres of county-owned property. Sun, 8 Nov 2009 18:28:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089979 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089991
]]> Before sheriffs were dusty gunslingers in the Wild West, they were known as “shire reeves,” royal officials in medieval England charged with keeping the peace. Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:38:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091108/articles/911089991 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079968
]]> Boaters and swimmers are urged to stay away from surging surf along the North Coast this weekend as large breaking waves reaching 20 feet are expected to Sunday. Sun, 8 Nov 2009 10:12:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079968 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079956
]]> The North Coast’s two congressional leaders hailed passage of a landmark health care plan late Saturday, despite having reservations about some provisions in the bill. Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, criticized a last-minute amendment pressed by Republicans that would place tight restrictions on federal funding for abortions. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 23:07:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079956 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079938
]]> Petaluma City Councilman David Glass will seek the city's mayoral seat now that Mayor Pam Torliatt is running for the Sonoma County board of supervisors. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 23:03:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079938 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079939
]]> Shiloh Sustainable Village, proposed as a model of environmentally friendly construction on Windsor’s southern periphery, has suffered a severe setback, the victim of financial problems. Lenders took back the six-acre property two weeks ago from the developers, who were unable to secure financing to build the $50 million project. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 22:39:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079939 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079944
]]> As more cyclists join motorists on Wine Country’s often-narrow roads, authorities report increased incidents of friction, close calls and rude behavior. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 22:24:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079944 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079966
]]> Santa Rosa’s cyclocross fall and winter racing season opened Saturday with a mix of road racing, mountain biking and steeple-chasing. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:34:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079966 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079970
]]> Graffiti cleanup efforts in Santa Rosa are faltering in the face of budget cuts. Creek culverts have been hit hard by taggers who leave behind hundreds of spray-paint cans. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 18:43:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091107/articles/911079970 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069861
]]> County supervisors endorse Passalacqua while Santa Rosa council members back Ravitch Fri, 6 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069861 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069878
]]> A large American flag flying at half staff tempered Friday's official opening of an expanded clinic for military veterans in Santa Rosa while also underscoring the need for services the clinic will provide. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 19:29:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069878 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069887
]]> A joint program at Comstock Middle School and Monroe Elementary is aimed at providing models for success, and engaging students in committing to graduation and college. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:18:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069887 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069888
]]> A passenger aboard a Greyhound bus fled Friday evening after yelling that he needed to get off because men with guns were chasing him. The 32-year-old New York man was later captured in north Santa Rosa off Highway 101. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:17:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069888 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069897
]]> Petaluma City Councilman David Glass will seek the city's mayoral seat now that Mayor Pam Torliatt is running for the Sonoma County board of supervisors. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 17:26:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069897 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069924
]]> The seasonal gravitation toward wood stoves and roaring fires has the Bay Area Air Quality District on the offensive to ensure people understand and abide by a year-old ban on burning solid fuels during the worst air days. The key message? Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:49:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069924 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069961
]]> Five boats have run aground this week in shallow reaches of Clear Lake that traditionally have been blocked by weeds and algae, prompting a warning from the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit. Getting stuck usally means boaters have to climb out and wade through the muck to tug their boats into deeper water, authorities said. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:11:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069961 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069974
]]> Lost jobs, downsized paychecks, work furloughs, forclosed homes, shrunken savings and investment. All the more reason to share what we have to be thankful for this fall. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:58:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069974 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069989
]]> Police have apprehended a man suspected of opening fire in a downtown Orlando office. One person was killed in the shooting and at least five others were injured. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:13:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069989 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069990
]]> A light rain that dampened the ground and sent drivers sliding along the roadways Friday was expected to persist through the day but clear out by evening, the National Weather Service said. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:06:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069990 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069991
]]> A Windsor plumber pleaded no-contest Thursday to 19 felony counts of real estate fraud in a scam that cost investors more than $1 million. Juan Carlos Alcala, 32, will receive upt to seven years in prison at his March 24 sentencing under an agreement that avoids trial, Deputy District Attorney Robin Hammond said. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:28:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069991 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069994
]]> Opening statements came Thursday in the trial of a Santa Rosa man accused of stabbing to death the mother of his two children in their Rincon Valley apartment and stashing her body in a plastic toy box. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:06:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911069994 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/news/911069996
]]> BY MARY CALLAHAN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:21:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/news/911069996 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/news/911069998
]]> An unidentified man was critically injured when his stalled car was struck on Highway 101 in Petaluma early Friday, causing him to be ejected from the driver’s side window, the CHP said. Authorities are seeking help from the public to identify him, as he did not have any identification with him, the CHP said. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:17:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/news/911069998 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911059895
]]> Santa Rosa city leaders have pulled the plug on a proposal to have a developer build a boutique hotel and city-owned parking garage, a project they had hoped would prove a boon to the struggling downtown. Thu, 5 Nov 2009 19:07:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911059895 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911059911
]]> About 300 developmentally disabled workers will be idled on Wednesday, the first of four mandatory shutdown days for the Santa Rosa nonprofit that serves disabled adults. Thu, 5 Nov 2009 17:11:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091106/articles/911059911 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091105/articles/911059891
]]> It may have been the calmest moment in the midst of Cotati’s bitterly fought recall election campaign. A candidates forum featuring the target of the Cotati recall effort - Councilman George Barich - and three candidates to replace him, went forward largely absent the angry exchanges that have thus far characterized the campaign. Thu, 5 Nov 2009 22:39:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091105/articles/911059891 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091105/business/911059897
]]> To live in Sonoma County, residents spend a bigger chunk of their incomes on transportation and housing than anywhere else in the Bay Area, a new study concludes. Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:49:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091105/business/911059897