Towns

The world’s first airmail delivery was made in Sonoma County 114 years ago

Local aviator Fred Wiseman made the historic mail flight in 1911 between Petaluma and Santa Rosa. Local museum honors him and the pivotal moment in mail delivery history starting this April.

Mantawoman performs at Foliage Funk Fest during the Neighborhood Garden Initiative fundraiser at the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma Saturday, March 22, 2025. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

Petaluma concert raises money for garden nonprofit

Vicki DeArmon, a longtime leader in the Bay Area publishing scene and founder of two small publishing companies, visits the Spring Lake Park campground where she often stays in an RV when visiting her kids and grandkids in Sonoma County. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)

Local woman writes ‘accidental’ memoir about her days running a small publisher in San Francisco

A front view of the Buena Vista Castle, a three-story residence with a five-story tower, is visible from the palm tree studded front lawn. The residence was constructed between 1881-83 by Robert and Kate Johnson on 300 acres with gardens, a Japanese tea house and tropical trees. It burned to the ground in 1923 after it was briefly used as the state's Industrial Farm for Women. (Sonoma County Library)

Get to know the 19th century Sonoma billionaire who owned hundreds of cats

Lee Pierce, a former Santa Rosa City Council member, recently wrote the book “A Rare Vintage, Growing Up Black in Wine Country.” Photographed on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Crissy Pascual / Petaluma Argus-Courier)

Former Santa Rosa City Council member writes about growing up Black in Wine Country in new book

2 Wine Country restaurants rank among most expensive in US

Samantha Rose, left, and her mother, Susan Swartz, shown during a day at the beach. Rose will talk about her book “Giving Up the Ghost: A Daughter’s Memoir,” Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Rialto Cinemas in Sebastopol, in conversation with former Press Democrat columnist Chris Smith. (Samantha Rose)

Petaluma author reflects on suicide, loss of mom Susan Swartz, in community talk

A 25-year-old snowboarder died over the weekend at Kirkwood Mountain Resort near Lake Tahoe, authorities said. (Andrii Khashchuk / Shutterstock)

Towns

The world’s first airmail delivery was made in Sonoma County 114 years ago

Petaluma concert raises money for garden nonprofit

Local woman writes ‘accidental’ memoir about her days running a small publisher in San Francisco

Get to know the 19th century Sonoma billionaire who owned hundreds of cats

Former Santa Rosa City Council member writes about growing up Black in Wine Country in new book

In case you missed it

2 Wine Country restaurants rank among most expensive in US

Petaluma author reflects on suicide, loss of mom Susan Swartz, in community talk

Snowboarder dies from major head injury at Tahoe ski resort