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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM
CORONAVIRUS » Officials
give mandatory directive
COUNTY TOLD
poised to last for 3 weeks
TO STAY HOME
Gina Ward looks down the empty shelves as she searches for toilet paper at Molsberry Market in Larkfield-Wikiup on Tuesday. Ward says she has
facial tissue that she can use in the meantime. Most stores are out of the essential product as a result of overbuying related to the coronavirus scare.
Panic-buying strains stores
‘ONSLAUGHT’ » Grocers say
supply chain strong but stretched
by rush, hoarding of staple items
By WILL SCHMITT AND YOUSEF BAIG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Luann Capps of east Santa Rosa pushed
her shopping cart past several shelves at
Oliver’s Market in Montecito Shopping Cen-
ter where toilet paper and cleaning supplies
typically can be found.
The shelves were bare Tuesday — the
result of a week of shoppers panic-buying
amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I probably should’ve worn a mask,” said
Capps, 90. “I’m old and I do have health
problems, but I’m doing the best I can do,
and that’s what I’ll do.”
Many people’s inclination to “immediate-
ly freak out” and hoard food and paper prod-
ucts is concerning, said Capps, as she looked
down the narrow, partially empty aisle. She
usually comes to this local market twice a
week and doesn’t intend on changing her
routine.
She won’t join the ongoing rush to stock
up on consumer staples that could surge
even more because Sonoma County officials
upended daily life and activities by order-
ing most residents starting Wednesday to
primarily stay at home except for running
TURN TO FOOD » PAGE A7
A note to our readers in unpredictable times
A
Dear Readers:
s you know, Sonoma County has
now been included in the shelter-
in-place order. Fortunately, media
companies like The Press Democrat and
our family of publications have permis-
sion to continue operations in order to
give you access to the important news
and information you rely on every day.
We have published without interrup-
tion since 1857, just seven years after
California joined the United States.
Our journalists have worked through
earthquakes, floods, power outages and
Advice B9 Crossword B9 Lotto A2
Business B10 Editorial A8 Nation-World B1
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DOCUMENTED CASES » Push BUSINESSES CLOSE » Some
to halt community spread operations get exemption
as infection total reaches 6 as others lay off workers
Isolation
aimed at
heading
off crisis
By JULIE JOHNSON
AND TYLER SILVY
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Sonoma County’s public
health officer has ordered res-
idents to stay home for three
weeks — apart from crucial
errands — and limited all but
essential business and govern-
ment operations, a mandatory
and unprecedented directive
that went into effect Wednes-
day and is aimed squarely at the
growing threat of the coronavi-
rus to the community.
Daybreak begins an uneasy
era for Sonoma County, as pub-
lic life is largely set aside to lim-
it the virus’ spread and avoid
health crises like those that
have unfolded across the globe,
such as in China, Italy and Iran.
PHOTOS BY BETH SCHLANKER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Beyond trips to the grocery
store, the doctor, the bank or
other core errands, people
should stay home. Essential
work may continue to maintain
the basic systems of modern
life, from running water and
trash collection to electrical and
Internet systems. Restaurants
TURN TO HOME » PAGE A6
EXPLAINING THE ORDER
How life will
change for
next 3 weeks
By MARY CALLAHAN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Sonoma County public health
officials sounded a new alarm
Tuesday over the expanding
coronavirus outbreak and is-
sued a singular message to res-
idents: Unless absolutely neces-
sary, stay at home.
That’s the central point of the
shelter-in-place order issued
Ray Botelho wears a respirator and gloves as he loads his groceries onto the checkout counter at Tuesday by Sonoma County
Oliver’s Market in the Montecito Center in Santa Rosa on Tuesday. Interim Public Health Officer
Sundari Mase.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE INSIDE The mandate is designed
to curb the spread of the
Some stores open: Schools out: Checks, maybe: Travel worries: Get well soon: coronavirus by restricting
What’s closed Governor says President plans Industry may A’s ask stricken person-to-person interactions
and what isn’t most institutions on sending $1,000 lose 4.6M jobs fan to throw out except where necessary to
during the shelter- will stay closed in aid to every by time virus is first pitch once
in-place order / A2 till summer / A6 American / B1 defeated / B10 season starts / C1 TURN TO ORDER » PAGE A2
historic wildfires. Now we all face a pan- distribution facility, including thorough we recommend you download the two
demic virus, but our journalists contin- cleaning of all equipment and work PD apps, one for the daily e-edition and
ue to work tirelessly, even from home, to areas. We are also taking the necessary one for breaking news. You can also sign
keep you informed. steps to ensure the health and safety of up for regular breaking news emails.
You will notice some changes to The your newspaper delivery person includ- Just as we did during the firestorms,
Press Democrat. Obviously, the sports ing the use of gloves for the folding and we are committed to keeping you in-
and entertainment sections will shrink bagging of newspapers. We certainly formed.
at the same time our local news pages appreciate their dedication every day. Thank you for your ongoing support.
will expand. Most important, we will We are now living in unpredictable You can reach our customer service
continue to print and deliver the news- times. Please be prepared to access The team at 707-575-7500. Please stay healthy
paper along with continuous updates to Press Democrat digitally if it becomes and safe.
pressdemocrat.com. necessary. If you have not done so, acti-
We have instituted many new precau- vate your digital subscription at pressde- Steve Falk
tions and procedures at our printing and mocrat.com/activate. At the same time CEO and Publisher
Sonoma Feast D1 HEAVY IMPACT ON RESTAURANTS: Hundreds SANTA ROSA ©2020
Sports C1 of Sonoma County jobs at risk as businesses High 55, Low 38 The Press
Democrat
State news A6 feel pain of virus-prevention restrictions / A3 THE WEATHER, C8
A2
What’s open, closed during shutdown
You can still pick up
coffee or go to a park,
but no barhopping
By BILL SWINDELL
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Many local businesses and
government agencies are closing
because county and state officials
have limited business operations
and daily public activities to curb
the spread of the coronavirus.
There are, however, some es-
tablishments still open and pro-
viding critical services amid the
county’s unprecedented three-
week shelter-in-place order in-
tended limit wider outbreak of
the coronavirus.
Here is list of what remains
open and what was known (by
late Tuesday) to be closed in
Sonoma County.
What’s open
■ Grocery stores, with more
limited hours
■ Pharmacies
■ Restaurants for takeout and
delivery service
■ Gas stations
■ Banks and credit unions
■ Department of Motor Vehi-
cles offices; the state agency is
asking law enforcement to “ex-
ercise discretion” for the next
60 days in ticketing drivers with
license and vehicle registrations
that expire this week. The agen-
cy also is asking residents to go
to its website before coming into
a local branch to determine if
services they want can be com-
Immigration
interview offices,
courts still open
Despite coronavirus risk,
federal offices operating
despite union protests
By KATE MORRISSEY
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
SAN DIEGO — Federal offices
responsible for immigration pro-
ceedings and enforcement have
not closed despite the coronavirus
pandemic and increasingly strict
guidelines from all levels of gov-
ernment asking people to avoid
even small public gatherings.
This may have already result-
ed in the spread of the virus as
union leaders are beginning to
hear from immigration court
staff, including judges and gov-
ernment attorneys, who were
either exposed in court or be-
ginning to show symptoms of
COVID-19.
Immigration judges and at-
torneys, including attorneys
with Immigration and Customs
Enforcement who represent the
government in immigration pro-
ceedings, have called for courts
to close temporarily. Immigra-
tion attorneys have also criti-
cized the agency responsible for
naturalizations and green cards
for continuing its in-person in-
terview processing in a way that
defies public health expert rec-
ommendations regarding social
distancing and COVID-19.
Unions and professional or-
ganizations representing the
groups of workers who have to
show up to immigration court
reiterated their call for closures
in a scathing phone conference
with reporters on Tuesday.
“Everyone is in panic mode,”
said Ashley Tabaddor, president
of the National Association of
Immigration Judges. “Measures
have not been taken to protect
The Press
Democrat
Owned locally by
Darius Anderson, Managing Member
Steve Falk, Chief Executive Officer
Bill Hooper, Chief Operating Officer
Board of Advisers
Darius Anderson, Chairman
Bill Jasper
Gary Nelson
Norma Person
Jean Schulz
Les Vadasz
Sandy Weill
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020
ONLINE RESOURCES
As Sonoma County residents take
shelter in their homes and a wide
range of everyday businesses
close, many people may be won-
dering where to get food or where
to get health care, including
coronavirus testing.
To assist our community, The
Press Democrat has begun
compiling a list of organizations
providing aid and resources that
can be of help during this unprec-
edented three-week period.
Go to pressdemocrat.com to see
the latest guidance for health
care, food aid, mental health
services and more.
The list is being updated as we
learn more, and you can let us
know what we’ve missed at on-
lineideas@pressdemocrat.com.
KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
April 5.
Erica Thayer, a manager of another Starbucks in Santa Rosa, takes a selfie at the Mendocino Avenue store as Sonoma County Regional
she helps out on Tuesday morning. The coffee shop is allowing only grab-and-go service going forward. Parks: The agency suspended
guided activities and large gath-
pleted online. takeout or delivery Petaluma: Only essential erings and closed its indoor sites
■ Pet stores, with limited ■ Libraries community services continue; through April 3.
hours ■ Locally owned coffee shops nonessential services suspended Sonoma County: Emergen-
■ Veterinary offices ■ Theaters through April 6. cy law enforcement and fire
■ State, county and city parks Santa Rosa: All nonessential services, water and wastewater
■ River Rock Casino (Many Government agencies city services, such as pothole treatment, emergency road re-
if not most other casinos in the Healdsburg: The city closed filling and regular city permit pairs and transit services are
state have closed to safeguard city hall, its community center processing, have been suspended continuing. Nonessential ser-
public health) and senior center through April until April 5. Some small busi- vices are closed through April 5.
3. Activities such as law en- nesses in the city are closed or Windsor: Nonessential city
What’s closed forcement, fire services, electric closing after the decision to stop services to close through April
■ Schools and universities services, water and wastewater nonessential services. 5. Town hall, the community
■ Bars, taprooms, winery tast- service, building inspections and Sebastopol: Only essential center, the senior recreation cen-
ing rooms public communications continue services are available. Nonessen- ter and Huerta Gym are closed.
■ Restaurants not providing to operate. tial services suspended through Parks are open.
ORDER ate, as well.
REDUCE YOUR RISK What if you’re a business
Local health officials urge prac- owner?
CONTINUED FROM A1 ticing good hygiene to reduce Business owners can do what
the risk of becoming infected they need to do to support em-
engage in essential activities or with a respiratory virus, such ployees working from home,
provide critical public, business as the flu or coronavirus. This ensure security and the mainte-
and government services. includes: nance of equipment and inven-
The order took effect at tory, handle payroll and worker
12:01  a.m. Wednesday and re- ■ Washing hands frequently benefits and otherwise do the
mains in effect through April with soap and water for at least minimum necessary to preserve
7. It’s similar to those enacted 20 seconds the general function of their as-
Monday in six other Bay Area ■ Avoiding touching your eyes sets, while maintaining social
people from exposure.”
She said that at least one im-
counties.
It bans nonessential travel
and face whenever possible distancing and precautions like
washing hands.
migration judge had symptoms and nonessential gatherings of
■ Cough or sneeze into your
sleeved elbow, not your hands Where do schools stand?
that suggested that she had con-
tracted the virus.
any size, and requires business-
es and governments to cease
■ Stay home when ill
Virtually all of Sonoma Coun-
ty’s schools are on spring break
ICE attorneys were not in- non-essential operations at ■ Get a flu shot — it’s not too but will be transitioning to
formed of the judge’s condition physical locations. late this season home learning. Anyone needed
by the court when they asked “It’s not meant to punish peo- Source: Sonoma County Department to report to campus to support
about the judge’s sudden ab- ple,” county spokeswoman Jen- of Health Services remote instruction can do so, as
sence, according to Fanny Be- nifer Larocque said. “It’s meant educational institutions are ex-
har-Ostrow, president of the to keep them safe.” empted from the shutdown.
American Federation of Gov- So go buy groceries when you only be offered for delivery or Caring for a pet?
ernment Employees Local 511, need to stock your cupboards. curbside pickup. They’re part of the family, so
the union that represents ICE Fill your vehicle’s gas tank. Banks and financial institu- if they need pet care or supplies,
attorneys. Head out for a hike or to pick up tions, hardware stores, plumb- it’s essential. It’s also OK to go
“I’ve been getting inundated some dog food, or take a loved ers, electricians, exterminators out to care for someone else’s
with emails and calls of attor- one to the dentist, if it’s needed. and others who maintain the pet, if that’s an agreement you
neys concerned for their safety,” What is meant by “essen- safety, sanitation and opera- made. Veterinary care is cov-
Behar-Ostrow said. tial” activities? tions of households are also on ered under the order’s health
During the call, Tabaddor re- This the stuff of daily life that the list. care provisions.
ceived an email that someone keeps people fed, housed and Food producers — those in Trying to stay fit?
who appeared in Atlanta immi- getting through the day safely. farming, fishing, food process- Outdoor activity is explicit-
gration court Monday has now For public services, its the po- ing and dairies — and in Sono- ly identified in the order as an
been diagnosed with the virus. lice, firefighters and emergency ma County — wineries and “essential” undertaking — as
Behar-Ostrow knew of a similar dispatchers, plus the work of breweries are included. long as you can walk, hike, run
situation in a New York court. those who run the wastewater Businesses that provide food, or cycle at a distance of 6 feet
Immigration courts are not an treatment plant, waste collectors, shelter and social services, in- from anyone else. You’re OK to
independent court system. They people in the telecommunica- cluding senior, adult- and child- travel to the coast or the country
are operated through the De- tions industry; even those work- care with certain provisions, to embark on you adventure, as
partment of Justice’s Executive ing construction on public works as well as those serving low-in- well. However, indoor gyms and
Office for Immigration Review projects or affordable housing. come, homeless and disadvan- other exercise facilities will re-
within the executive branch. On a personal level, it’s the taged people are called out, as main closed to avoid virus trans-
After the groups began rais- grocery shopping, caretaking are newspapers, television, ra- mission.
ing the issue of continuing court and core errands. People can dio and other media services. Can I be arrested?
operations, EOIR announced on leave home to shop for food, The order also includes gas sta- Defying the order is a misde-
Twitter that certain hearings for cleaning supplies and personal tions and auto-supply, auto re- meanor violation of the Cali-
nondetained cases would be post- care products. They can do their pair, and related facilities. fornia Health and Safety Code,
poned, but many hearings con- laundry or ship packages at the Legal and accounting services punishable by fine, imprison-
tinue to go forward. They include post office or through some oth- that support essential activities ment, or both, as it is consid-
final hearings to decide whether er shipping service, or pick up and taxis and transit services ered “an imminent threat to
migrants will be deported, all supplies they need to work from can continue to operate. public health.”
hearings for detained migrants home. What about restaurants? But while the order calls on
and all hearings for Migrant Pro- What businesses are con- As it stands now, restau- the Sonoma County Sheriff
tection Protocols cases, widely sidered essential? rants and other food providers and all local police chiefs to
known as “Remain in Mexico.” Provision of health care tops can only sell food for takeout, ensure compliance with it, en-
The Seattle Immigration the list, including physical and drive-thru or delivery. Even forcement is likely to be “com-
Court is closed through April 10 mental health care providers, schools that provide meals to passionate,” given the order’s
due to the high number of cases dentists, biotechnology compa- children eligible for free and re- precedent-setting nature, Mase
in the area. It first closed due to nies and even veterinary clinics. duced lunches must ensure that said.
“a reported second-hand expo- It also includes cannabis dispen- students who receive take-away “We’ve never experienced
sure,” according to EOIR’s Twit- saries providing products for meals consume them off-site. this before, so we need to see
ter account. medicinal use, though they can Food banks are allowed to oper- where this goes,” she said.
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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 A3

The North Coast

CORONAVIRUS » COUNTY EATERIES HIT HARD HEALDSBURG

Restaurants already Council

approves
feel pain of restrictions housing
project
Development includes
220 senior housing
units and luxury hotel
By KEVIN FIXLER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The Healdsburg City Coun-

cil this week approved its sec-
ond-largest residential project
ever, which includes more than
220 units of senior housing
and is tied to construction of a
108-room luxury hotel.
The North Village project
by Southern California-based
Comstock Homes will include
a mix of affordable housing in
addition to the senior living
community. The development’s
110 income-
restricted units
will range from
homes tar-
geting those
people mak-
ing 50% of the
area’s median
income, or an
annual sala-
Leah
ry of about
Gold
$38,000 for an
Healdsburg mayor
individual,
was lone member
up to 160% of
PHOTOS BY KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT of the City Council
the area’s me-
Ramen Gaijin co-owner Matthew Williams, from left, and chefs de cuisine Joel Shaw and Geneva Melvy prepare takeout orders on Tuesday in to vote against
dian income,
Sebastopol. The public health measures prohibiting dining in, while understood and supported in the industry, are pushing nearly every the North Village
or roughly
restaurateur in Sonoma County into a perilous economic corner. Some owners are simply closing down. project, saying the
$105,000.
city did not need
The council
another hotel.
Workers furloughed as food service limited to takeout, delivery met Monday to
decide the fate of the disputed
development, which last month
By HEATHER IRWIN overcame a legal challenge from
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT a group of local environmental-

C
hef Matthew Williams of Sebasto-
pol’s Ramen Gaijin has furloughed
all but two of his 42 employees as a
series of increasingly stringent federal,
state and local health guidelines were an-
nounced this week curtailing restaurant
service to takeout and delivery only to pre-
vent the spread of the coronavirus.
Williams, who made that difficult move
Monday, called it the worst day in his hos-
pitality career, even after suffering through
power outages, fires and floods over the
past three years. And he’s far from alone.
The new restrictions include an or-
der that urges residents to stay at home
through April 7 and limits all but essential
business, with only a small carve out for
restaurants — allowing takeout and deliv-
ery service.
The public health measures, while un-
derstood and supported in the industry,
are pushing nearly every restaurateur in
Sonoma County into a perilous economic
corner where they are forced to cut staff,
eliminate overhead and face the very real
possibility of imminent bankruptcy or
TURN TO RESTAURANT » PAGE A5
ists who claimed Healdsburg
had not appropriately account-
ed for the greenhouse gas emis-
sions connected to the hotel. A
Sonoma County Superior Court
judge tentatively sided with the
city in February in the suit filed
by Sebastopol-based California
River Watch, allowing the proj-
ect to move forward.
With a final ruling expected
by early May, the City Council
forged ahead inside an emp-
ty City Hall chambers given
growing precautions over the
coronavirus. The council voted
4-1 to approve the project at the
city’s northern entry point, on
Healdsburg Avenue near High-
way 101 north of Simi Winery.
Chef Geneva Melvy prepares to cut fresh vegetables for takeout orders at Ramen Gaijin. The
Mayor Leah Gold was the lone
restaurant has furloughed all but two of its 42 employees because of virus-related restrictions.
dissenter, asserting the small
Wine Country city of roughly
“Our staff needs the work. We know this will be 12,000 people didn’t need anoth-
er hotel.
a financial challenge for all of us, but we know The action grants initial ap-
it is the right decision on this day.” proval to move forward with
the 301 housing units, which
SONDRA BERNSTEIN, owner of several area food businesses, who has decided to close them
TURN TO PROJECT » PAGE A4

BILL MITCHELL » 1926-2020

Veteran SRJC math teacher

was regarded as local hero
By CHRIS SMITH
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Bill Mitchell went to war as a
teenage Marine and was badly
wounded in the deadly battle for
Iwo Jima. Then he came home
to Sonoma County and after a
time launched a five-decade ca-
reer as a teacher regarded as a
bright, hardy and light-hearted
local hero.
All his life, Mitchell would
maintain that the true heroes of
World War II were the warriors
who, like the older brother he
adored, sacrificed all and did not
come home.
When he retired from Santa
Rosa Junior College as a part-
time math instructor in 2017,
Mitchell was 90 years old and
had survived being shot on the
battlefield, two bouts of cancer,
coronary bypass surgery and
congestive heart failure. All
through it, he delighted in shar-
ing a joke and picking up his MITCHELL FAMILY
Bill Mitchell, a Marine Corps veteran, survived battlefield wounds during
TURN TO MITCHELL » PAGE A4 World War II, two bouts of cancer and coronary bypass surgery.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 NORTH COAST / STATE A5

RESTAURANT
CONTINUED FROM A3
permanent closure.
The result is likely to
leave thousands of local
food industry workers —
from servers and cooks to
bar staff and dishwashers
— without work indefinite-
ly.
Restaurant workers, who
often earn minimum wage,
live paycheck to paycheck
and lack benefits such as
sick pay or even health in-
surance, face a frightening
scenario.
Documented workers
who qualify may find some
relief if they file for un-
employment. Federal law-
makers are considering
several aid measures, but
that relief may be weeks or
months away.
On Monday, Gov. Gavin
Newsom issued an execu-
tive order authorizing local
governments to halt evic-
tions for renters and home-
owners, slow foreclosures
and protect against utility
shut-offs for Californians
affected by COVID-19, the
respiratory disease linked
to the coronavirus. The
order will remain in place
until late May.
“I don’t know what to
do. I've never filed for un-
employment before,” said
server Laura Larsen of
Santa Rosa. The longtime
restaurant worker said
most staff furloughed to-
day are worried but don’t
blame their employers for
the hard decisions they’ve
had to make.
“There’s just nothing
anyone can do,” said Lars-
en, whose second job, as a
fitness instructor, also has
been sidelined. “As a single
parent, things are always
tight month to month, but
adding this in ... it’s pret-
ty hard to wrap my head
around at this point,” she
added.
“Most of us don't have
a lot of other options. It’s
not like we can just go get
another job. No one is hir-
ing.”
Bracing for what seemed
inevitable after closure
orders for eateries in New
York, Los Angeles, Mas-
sachusetts, Ohio, Wash-
ington and Illinois, most
Sonoma County restau-
rants — from high-end
luxury spots in Healds-
burg to small bakeries and
pizzerias — already have
pivoted to providing curb-
side takeout or delivery as
a stopgap.
It’s a potentially risky
move as many don’t know
how many people will show
up to purchase meals.
John Franchetti of
Franchetti’s restaurant in
Santa Rosa was forced to
let most of his staff go until
further notice.
“It’s just me, my wife,
Gesine, and our business
manager, Jennifer Berry,”
he said.
With his skeleton crew,
Co-owner Matthew Williams, right, and chef de cuisine Geneva Melvy discuss the contents of a takeout order at Ramen Gaijin in Sebastopol. Restaurant
workers, who often earn minimum wage, live paycheck to paycheck and lack benefits like sick pay or even health insurance, face a frightening scenario.
Co-owner Moishe Hahn-Schuman delivers a takeout order at Ramen Gaijin. The restaurant is not open for dine-in customers
as a result of coronavirus restrictions, but customers are stopping in to pick up phone orders.
he’s created a special
“Quarantine Menu” for
the week with comforting
dishes like chicken noodle
soup, lasagna and butter-
nut squash ravioli and piz-
za, available by pickup and
delivery.
On Tuesday night as the
shelter-in place order hit
Sonoma County, he, like
many others, was trying to
figure out the impact to his
business.
In Santa Rosa, Spinster
Sisters was changing its
plans as the week played
out. The restaurant will
limit its hours to breakfast
and lunch takeout from
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and spe-
cial to-go dinners, starting
Thursday. Other restau-
rants are simply closing up
shop.
On Tuesday, Stark Re-
ality Group closed all six
of their restaurants indef-
initely. That includes the
recently re-opened Willi’s
Wine Bar along with Mon-
ti’s, Stark Steak and Sea-
food, Bird and Bottle, Wil-
li’s Seafood and Bravas.
Their newest restaurant,
Grossman’s Deli, was set
to open Friday. Instead,
Chef Mark Stark made the
decision to open Wednes-
day, but with takeout only,
of bagels and lox, corned
beef, matzoh ball soup,
smoked fish chowder and
several other menu items.
Sondra Bernstein an-
nounced Monday she
would close all of her food
businesses, including
Sonoma’s Girl and the Fig
Cafe and her catering busi-
nesses. Others are quick-
ly following suit as they
pencil out the cost-benefit
analysis, including Clover-
dale’s Trading Post.
“Our staff needs the
work,” Bernstein said. “We
PHOTOS BY KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
know this will be a finan-
cial challenge for all of us,
but we know it is the right
decision on this day. We
want to do what we can
do to curb the spread of
germs and the virus, and
we believe that this is in
the best interest of public
health.”
Even luxe upscale eat-
eries aren’t immune to the
financial strain.
“We aren’t taking it day
by day. We’re taking it hour
by hour,” said Kyle Con-
naughton of Healdsburg’s
Single Thread Restaurant
and Farm. Though his
typical diner is willing to
spend hundred of dollars
for a bespoke, multi-course
gourmet meal, cancella-
tions and a staff of 84 have
him looking for solutions.
Connaughton’s restau-
rant offers its employees
full benefits, including sick
leave. With most now using
up those benefits, he’s see-
ing trouble ahead.
“We are looking out for
our own, but as a business
it is already crushing us.
As a business it drains us
fast,” he said.
Help for business owners
is still a work in progress,
but the Sonoma County
Economic Development
Board is offering some re-
sources.
“We are aware of the
challenges coming our way
during this evolving situ-
ation and are here to sup-
port the business commu-
nity through the various
programs being offered
at all levels, whether it be
a working capital loan or
employee assistance with
unemployment,” said Ex-
ecutive Director Sheba
Person-Whitley.
“Although our offices
are temporarily closed, our
business assistance team
is still working to support
local business in all indus-
tries throughout the re-
gion.” Online help is avail-
able at sonomaedb.org.
Though it’s cold comfort,
state Sen. Mike McGuire,
D-Healdsburg, told state
restaurateurs on Tuesday
that their sacrifices were
known, their cooperation
appreciated.
“We know this isn’t
easy,” he said.

STATE BRIEFS
SAN FRANCISCO
Man sentenced for role
in drug-smuggling plot
A Bay Area man was sentenced to
2½ years in prison last week in con-
nection with a scheme to smuggle
MDMA into California in packages
disguised as vitamin shipments and
in boxes of cat litter.
Steven Vu, 34, used the scheme
to bring in a total of 44 pounds of
MDMA, according to federal prose-
cutors.
During the investigation, au-
thorities seized $20,000 in cash,
thousands of pills — including some
with the Tesla emblem imprinted on
them — and other evidence of drug
trafficking. Federal authorities said
Vu used fake names and ID cards
to set up several PO boxes and pick
the drugs up around the Bay Area.
Some of the drugs were intercepted
in packages from Germany to San
Francisco, according to a criminal
complaint filed last year.
Vu’s attorney, Nelson McElmurry,
wrote in a sentencing memo that Vu LOS ANGELES
accepts responsibility for what he
did. He wrote that Vu’s wife had left District attorney race likely
him and drained their joint bank
account, his grandmother died and
he lost his job before he made the
decision to start importing MDMA.
SAN FRANCISCO
Bay Area man sentenced
for aiding Chinese officials tion’s largest court system for years
A former Bay Area tour operator
was sentenced to four years in pris-
agent for China’s Ministry of State
Security in a scheme to use “dead
drops” to pick up digital memory
cards from a source and take them
to China.
Xuehua Edward Peng, 56, also was
sentenced Monday in Oakland feder-
al court to pay a $30,000 fine, the U.S.
Justice Department said.
Peng pleaded guilty on Nov. 25 to
acting at the direction and under the
control of ministry of state security
officials in China. If convicted at tri-
al, he could have faced up to 10 years
in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Hayward resident admitted
that while he was on a business trip
to China in March 2015, an official of
the People’s Republic of China intro-
duced himself and asked Peng to use
his U.S. citizenship to assist him.
Peng came to understand the offi-
cial worked for China’s Ministry of
State Security but agreed to take ac-
tions in the U.S. on behalf of China
and learned how to use dead drops:
rent hotel rooms, leave money and
leave for several hours.
headed to November runoff
Los Angeles County District At-
torney Jackie Lacey appears highly
likely to face progressive challeng-
er George Gascón in a November
runoff that could set the tone for
criminal justice policy inside the na-
to come, according to returns made
public Tuesday.
Lacey saw her share of the vote
climbed to slightly above 28% with
SPRING SALE
$75* OFF
about 64,000 votes remaining, the
latest tally from the Los Angeles
a complete frame and lens purchase.
see store for details. sale ends 03-21-20
County registrar-recorder found.
To avoid a runoff, Lacey needs
50% of the vote plus one. But to hit
that figure, she’d need to secure
53,000 of the remaining potential
ballots, which is extremely unlikely,
as her vote share has been trending
down since the initial set of returns
came out on election night.
DONNER PASS
Snowstorm snarls traffic,
prompts chain controls
Another round of snow snarled
traffic with more than a dozen
crashes on slippery roads and trig-
gered chain controls on Interstate 80
in the Sierra.
The Nevada Highway Patrol said
at least 18 traffic accidents were re-
ported Tuesday during the morning
commute in Reno and Sparks, where
several inches of snow fell in some
areas.
One crash involved a state troop-
er’s vehicle. No serious injuries
were reported.
Chains were mandatory for a
55-mile stretch of I-80 from the state
line west of Reno over the top of
Donner Pass in Placer County. The
only exception was for four-wheel-
drive vehicles with snow tires.
Ten inches of new snow was 534 larkfield center, santa rosa 707.578.2020
reported Tuesday in the mountains
open mon-sat 9am – 6pm www.sonomaeyeworks.com
north of Reno near Susanville,
where about 3 feet of snow has fall-
en since the storm began Saturday.
RE
ADE
R S’ C H O IC E 20
18

on for serving as an unregistered slip just below 49%, as Gascón — Press Democrat news services
A6 STATE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

Virus restrictions hollow out SF

Millions in Bay Area find
empty highways, vacant
streets in wake of limits
By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN FRANCISCO — Millions
in the San Francisco Bay Area
found empty highways, shut-
tered stores and vacant streets
Tuesday as officials began en-
forcing an order for residents to
stay at home and only leave for
essential reasons in a desperate
attempt to slow the spread of the
coronavirus.
Miguel Aguirre, 38, his wife
and two children were the only
ones Tuesday along a street
near San Francisco’s City Hall,
an area normally bustling with
office workers and commuters.
He and his wife are janitors at
the Boys & Girls Club. They had
heard of the shelter-in-place or-
der but decided to show up any-
way because they need the mon-
ey, only to be told to go home by
his supervisor.
“It’s really a scary situation
for us because if we don’t work,
we don’t eat,” said Aguirre, of
Oakland, who brought his two
daughters with him because
schools were shuttered. He al-
ready lost his second job at the
Hotel St. Francis when tourism
conferences began cancelling a
month ago.
“There have been days when
I want to cry. But I have to keep
going. This is a very difficult sit-
uation,” Aguirre said.
The measures are the strictest
in America, mimicking orders in
place across Europe. They raised
new questions. What exactly is
A woman wears a mask and gloves while carrying toilet paper across the street in San Francisco on Tuesday.
an essential need to leave home?
What happens if you go out for a
non-essential reason?
“No one has a clear interpreta-
tion as to what’s going to happen
economically or the trickle-down
effect that local businesses are
experiencing because of this,”
said John McClinton of Oakland.
Under orders issued Monday
affecting about 7 million people,
including the cities of Berkeley
and Oakland, supermarkets,
pharmacies, banks and gas sta-
tions remain open, along with
other essential government func-
tions and businesses. On Tues-
day, the counties of Sonoma and
Monterey and the city of Palm
Springs, with a combined popu-
lation of 1 million, also ordered
residents to stay at home, while
Sacramento County directed its
1.5 million residents to do the
same, one step short of a formal
order.
Restaurants are open only for
takeout. Gyms and bars were
closed. Outdoor exercise is fine,
as long as people practice social
distancing.
“History will not forgive us for
waiting an hour more,“ said San
Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, whose
JEFF CHIU / ASSOCIATED PRESS
city is the epicenter of the area’s
outbreak. “This is our genera-
tion’s great test, our moment to
stand together as a community.“
Across California, and the na-
tion, supermarkets have been
chaotic with lines forming before
stores open. Then shoppers jam
the aisles and clear out the stock of
toilet paper and other paper goods,
canned beans, pasta and rice.
“I saw the headline and got
this pit in my stomach,“ Caroline
Park said as she put on plastic
gloves before pushing a shopping
cart into the Berkeley Bowl gro-
cery store on Monday.
At Berkeley’s Comal restau-
rant, owner Andrew Hoffman
was giving any remaining per-
ishables to his staff.
“We have 125 employees that
all just lost their job. It’s heart-
breaking,“ he told the San Jose
Mercury News.
California’s national and state
parks remained open, but many
shut indoor spaces.
The state has confirmed near-
ly 500 cases of the virus and at
least 12 deaths. The virus usual-
ly causes only mild or moderate
symptoms, such as fever and
cough. But it can be deadly for
older people and those with un-
derlying health conditions.
Gov. Gavin Newsom had al-
ready told all residents ages 65 or
older to stay at home and called
for all bars, wineries, nightclubs
and brewpubs to close. He up-
graded the orders on Monday.
Los Angeles and San Diego
counties — with a combined 13.4
million people — ordered bars
to close and restaurants to stay
open only for pickup, drive-thru
or delivery.
San Francisco Police Chief
William Scott said while viola-
tions of the order carry the possi-
bility of fines or jail time, author-
ities will take a “compassionate,
common-sense approach“ to en-
forcement.
At San Francisco’s infamous
Alcatraz, tours of the shuttered
island prison were off until fur-
ther notice. Tour guide Manuel
Gomez, 49, who supports a wife
and two children, hadn’t yet
come up with another plan to
make money.
“It’s devastating,” Gomez said.
“We only have enough savings to
last us for 10 days.”

HOME COVID-19 BY THE

CONTINUED FROM A1
may offer takeout or deliv-
ery only. Residential con-
struction may continue.
These orders remain in ef-
fect until April 7 but could
be extended at any time.
Interim Health Offi-
cer Dr. Sundari Mase an-
nounced the order late
Tuesday, saying that even
the limited testing done
so far has proved the vi-
rus has begun spreading
within the community.
With only four cases of
COVID-19 contracted in
the community so far de-
tected, the county has the
opportunity to take aggres-
sive measures to slow its
spread, Mase said.
“If we don’t put in any
preventative measures, we
would have this peak of
cases,” Mase said, saying
every sick person is going
to infect three others. “The
worry with this is that our
health care system capaci-
ty would be surpassed.”
Early Wednesday
The order went into ef-
fect before dawn Wednes-
day, aligning Sonoma
County residents with
about 7 million others un-
der shelter-in-place orders
across the Bay Area, the
epicenter of coronavirus
cases in California.
The measures are the
strongest mandatory lim-
its on travel and business-
es enacted in the United
States to combat the coro-
navirus.
The order follows a se-
ries of instructions from
public health officials
urging people to distance
themselves from others
and the official closure of
most schools into April.
It’s unclear how tempo-
rary these disruptions will
be.
Gov. Gavin Newsom late
Tuesday said he didn’t
expect schools to reopen
during this academic year,
a startling statement that
at once signaled the grav-
ity of the unfolding infec-
tious disease crisis and
that major disruptions to
life could become a drawn-
out ordeal.
Sonoma County Office of
Education Superintendent
Steve Herrington said he
is bracing for an unparal-
leled upheaval in the lives
of children, aggravating
lasting traumas from wild-
fires, floods and power
shut-offs.
“It will have a genera-
tional impact because of
the loss of that much learn-
ing and the compounding
of everything else that has
gone in this county,” Her-
rington said.
Sonoma County’s eight-
Dr. Sundari R. Mase, interim health officer for Sonoma County, right, and Barbie Robinson,
the director of the Department of Health Services, attend a press conference about the first
community spread case of the coronavirus and the local response on Sunday in Santa Rosa.
page shelter-in-place order gency Management Direc- the Council on Aging. The
states the county’s mission
to “ensure the maximum
number of people self-iso-
late” while allowing essen-
tial services to continue
and details the types of
services and business that
may continue operations.
Essential businesses in-
clude a diverse range of op-
erations the county deems
essential to community
life, such as laundromats,
veterinary clinics, taxi ser-
vices, legal and accounting
businesses and education-
al institutions providing
distance learning or envi-
ronments with little hu-
man contact. The county
will allow small child care
providers that serve work-
ers who provide an essen-
tial service and cannabis
dispensaries, which may
only offer curbside or de-
livery service.
The order also includes
exceptions tailored to the
county’s top industries
and agricultural sector,
allowing some businesses
like dairies, wineries and
breweries to stay opera-
tional while closing any
public-facing parts of the
businesses.
A violation is a misde-
meanor crime enforceable
by deputies and police. The
county counsel’s office has
authority to interpret the
order and is urging con-
sistent, “compassionate
enforcement” of the policy,
meaning “there is some le-
niency in terms of enforce-
ment,” according to Robert
Pittman, assistant county
counsel.
But the directive is not
a lockdown, even though
even small private gather-
ings are strongly discour-
aged. People are still free
to go outside, walk around
the block, take hikes or
ride their bikes, as long as
they steer clear of others.
Sonoma County Emer-
tor Chris Godley said he
hopes the order will buy
time so the county can ex-
plore ways to build addi-
tional facilities to prepare
for an influx of cases. Cur-
rently, the county has just
800 hospital beds and 76 in-
tensive care unit beds, 90%
of which are typically in
use, Godley said.
“We’re at a point in time
when we’re having more
cases — and we expect
to have more and more,”
Mase said. “It’s a good time
to put in place a mitigation
factor like shelter-in-place
to flatten that curve.”
Six positive tests
Since testing began at
the county’s public health
laboratory Thursday,
168 people have been tested
for COVID-19, the disease
caused by the novel coro-
navirus, including six peo-
ple who received positive
results.
Three of those people
with cases of coronavirus
work in health care, in-
cluding one person who is
an employee at the Rohnert
Park Health Center, a non-
profit clinic. Two people
were local passengers of a
February voyage to Mexi-
co on the Grand Princess
cruise ship that is now
moored in San Francisco
Bay.
Public health officials
have stressed the impor-
tance of isolation, even in
low-risk groups, in pro-
tecting seniors and others
most vulnerable to the
disease. On Friday, Mase
banned family visits to
nursing homes.
The risk of serious
cases is great in Sonoma
County, which has more
than 130,000 residents age
65  or older — about 27%
of the population, accord-
ing to Marianne McBride,
chief executive editor of
BETH SCHLANKER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Cases in the U.S., including cases
documented in all 50 states for
first time Tuesday
nonprofit runs Meals on
Wheels programs for Sono-
ma and Marin counties,
and they are preparing to
ramp up the number of
free meals they provide for
homebound seniors who
cannot drive. The organi-
zation typically delivers be-
tween 800 and 1,100 meals
every day. Marin County
has already increased its
Friday orders from 900 to
2,100, she said.
“We’re here, we want to
serve people who need to
be served,” McBride said.
“If you have other options
we’d ask that you utilize
other options. We really
need to focus on those peo-
ple really in need.”
County officials do not
yet have accurate modeling
data to forecast the virus’
spread locally, but Direc-
tor of Health Services Bar-
bie Robinson said they’re
working to hire a consul-
tant to do that work.
Thousands of jobs risked
Sonoma County’s econ-
omy will take a hit. The
wine industry alone sup-
ports 54,000 local jobs.
A three-week closure
for two of Sonu Chandi’s
downtown Santa Rosa
restaurants, Bollywood
Bar & Clay Oven and Beer
Baron Whiskey Bar &
Kitchen, puts incredible
pressure on his company
and uncertainty for 61 em-
ployees who work at the
two sites. Chandi said he
and his partners are still
evaluating what they will
do.
“There are so many fam-
ilies, so many businesses
that are losing a lot in this,”
said Chandi, president and
CEO of Chandi Hospitality
Group. “And this is not just
here, this is worldwide so
you feel like we’re in it to-
gether with other people.”
Chandi said delivery
NUMBERS
4 would be considered essen-
Cases of locally contracted coro-
navirus in Sonoma County. Of
those, two are said to be health
care workers.
7 have a tremendous amount
Cases overall documented in
Sonoma County, including 3
cruise ship passengers, one of
whom was transferred from
Travis Air Force Base to a local
hospital and has since been
transferred out of the county
12
California deaths
472
Cases in California
6,423
179,112
People known to be infected
worldwide
7,529
Number of deaths worldwide
Sources: World Health Organization,
Centers for Disease Control, Los
Angeles Times
and takeout services may
not be practical for restau-
rants not known for or
built for that service. Chan-
di’s group also operates
13  Mountain Mike’s pizza
shops across the North
Bay, and they will likely
increase capacity at those
restaurants where they ex-
pect delivery and takeout
orders to rise.
Behind the scenes, the
county’s wine industry
pushed to get wineries and
vineyards included in ex-
emptions to the order, citing
the connection to agricul-
ture. County supervisors
carried that message for-
ward at Tuesday morning’s
Board of Supervisors meet-
ing, urging Mase to craft an
order reflective of Sonoma
County’s unique circum-
stances and economy.
Although not a food sta-
ple, wine is an economic
engine for the region, em-
ploying thousands of peo-
ple directly and indirectly.
“Between all of our com-
panies, we employ over
700  people in the county,”
said Pat Roney, chief ex-
ecutive officer of Vintage
Wine Estates, which owns
wineries from Bodega Bay
to the Sonoma Valley. “If
we can’t make the wine
and we can’t ship the wine,
we’re basically out of busi-
ness.”
Supervisor Shirlee Zane
said she was concerned
about the mental health
of the community, and
stressed the importance of
communicating clearly to
residents which services
tial and allowed to operate.
“I am deeply concerned
about the mental health of
our community, especially
given the fact that we still
of residue from the trauma
we’ve experienced with
these fires and floods,”
Zane said.
‘A very timely’ measure
Still, the county is
well-positioned to slow the
spread of the infectious
disease, according to Dr.
George Rutherford, profes-
sor of epidemiology at UC
San Francisco, adding that
Sonoma County — and oth-
er Bay Area counties who
have ordered residents to
shelter in place — are do-
ing the right thing at the
right time.
“This was a very timely
and very accurately aimed
measure,” Rutherford said.
“There’s obviously com-
munity transmission, and
we need to put our foot
down and stop it as soon as
we can.”
Rutherford said it’s not
too late to change the tra-
jectory of the coronavirus
spread, saying he and oth-
er researchers have been
“modeling like crazy.”
“We think we’re a week
or so behind Washington
state, which gives us a real
opportunity to stop it,” he
said. “This could prevent
hospitals from being over-
whelmed.”
Rutherford also praised
other Bay Area counties for
foresight in closing down
social activities ahead of
St. Patrick’s Day, an annu-
al, booze-fueled party that
brings people together in
close quarters and in large
numbers.
“I don’t know if that en-
tered into anybody’s con-
sciousness or not, but if
it did, it was brilliant,” he
said. “It took a lot of mix-
ing off the table.”
Supervisor Lynda Hop-
kins praised what she
called the county’s proac-
tive approach. Other coun-
ties, she said, took much
longer to reach a shelter-
in-place order after their
first case of community
spread.
“Santa Clara County
took two weeks to get to
this point; we are doing
it in four days,” Hopkins
said. “I feel we are on the
leading edge.”
You can reach Staff Writer
Julie Johnson at 707-521-
5220 or julie.johnson@
pressdemocrat.com. On
Twitter @jjpressdem. You
can reach Staff Writer
Tyler Silvy at 707-526-8667
or tyler.silvy@pressdemo-
crat.com.
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 STATE A7

School may be out until summer

Newsom predicts ‘few if
any’ institutions will be
in session during spring
By ADAM BEAM
AND DON THOMPSON
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SACRAMENTO — It’s likely
“few if any” California schools
will reopen before summer
break, Gov. Gavin Newsom said
Tuesday as he provided a stark
assessment of the implications
from the spreading coronavirus
that threatens to overwhelm the
state’s hospitals and drain its
spending reserves.
While urging Californians to
stay united and promising “we
will get back to the life that we
have lived,” Newsom also ac-
knowledged much is unknown
and so the state is preparing for
frightening worst-case scenari-
os. He put the California Nation-
al Guard on alert for duties that
include humanitarian missions
like ensuring proper food distri-
bution and public safety as some
grocery stores resorted to ra-
tioning to control panic-buying.
He said the state is acquiring
two vacant hospitals to beef up
capacity as it faces the possibili-
ty of a surge of hospital patients.
California also is negotiating
with about 900 hotels to acquire
tens of thousands of rooms that
could be used for hospital pa-
tients and for the homeless, a
group particularly susceptible to
the coronavirus, which is spread
by coughs and sneezes.
The virus is affecting every
aspect of life in California and is
devastating many of the state’s
key industries.
With the state’s reserves ap-
proaching $21 billion, Newsom
said the state has more money
in its savings account than ever
before. But he warned that “the
magnitude of this moment may
exceed those reserves.”
The state Legislature approved
$1.1 billion in emergency spend-
ing Monday and then voted to
suspend its session in what is be-
lieved to be the first un-
expected work stoppage
In readying the Na-
tional Guard for action,
their families to make long-term
plans.
in 158 years. Lawmakers Newsom’s office empha- The state has applied for a fed-
went one step further
Tuesday by closing both
sized that it’s for duties
routinely performed
eral waiver that means children
would not have to face academic
the Capitol and the Leg- during natural disasters tests once they eventually return
islative Office Building and other emergencies. to school, said Newsom, a first-
to the public “until fur- But Newsom grimly add- term Democrat.
ther notice.” ed that “we have the abil- Newsom also shared a per-
Gavin
It’s all part of a rapidly ity to do martial law ... if sonal story that influenced his
Newsom
escalating reaction that we feel the necessity.” decision to tell the public to pre-
saw three more Northern Cali- U.S. and California health of- pare for longer-than-expected
fornia counties on Tuesday fol- ficials have repeatedly warned closures. He said he returned
low the example of those in the that the virus could have a dev- home late Monday after a hectic
San Francisco Bay Area that told astating impact and that the day to find one of his two daugh-
residents to stay at home and go timetable for controlling it isn’t ters, 6-year-old Brooklynn, in
outside only for food, medicine known. her room, her stuffed bunny and
and other essential needs. California’s schools began an- most of her bedding on the floor.
At a news conference, New- nouncing closures last week, and She was crying and upset about
som did not announce a similar now nearly 99% are closed for pe- her school being closed and not
requirement statewide, but pre- riods generally ranging from two seeing her friends.
viously told bars, restaurants, to five weeks. Newsom, a father “I told her, ‘Honey, I don’t
movie theaters, fitness centers of four young children, said his think the schools are going to
and other gathering places to family is among those that have open again,’’’ Newsom said. “If
shut their doors as the death toll started home-schooling. I can tell my daughter that and
crept to 12 and the number of con- “It is unlikely that many of not tell your daughter ... then I’m
firmed cases neared 500. All peo- these schools, few if any, will not being honest and true to the
ple 65 and older and those with open before the summer break,“ people of the state of California.
underlying health conditions he said, urging the more than Boy, I hope I’m wrong, but I be-
have been told to stay indoors. 6 million schoolchildren and lieve that to be the case.”

PHOTOS BY BETH SCHLANKER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Janet Kelly, who is a diabetic with kidney and heart problems, wears a mask as she stocks up on produce at Palace of Fruit in Penngrove on Tuesday.

FOOD
CONTINUED FROM A1
essential errands like food shop-
ping.
However, many area super-
markets and grocers are short-
ening their daily operating hours
and suspending hot food and
salad bars, and many are tempo-
rarily out of certain products —
good luck finding hand sanitizer
— amid the run of panic-shop-
ping by residents now bracing
for a three-week slog mainly
hunkered down at home.
The supply chain from food
producers to consumers remains
strong, but has been strained
here and nationwide by “an on-
slaught of customers coming in
and buying more than they re-
ally need to,” said Dave Heylen,
a spokesman for the California
Grocers Association, who urged
people to stick to normal buying
habits.
“The amount of product that
was available prior to all of this
is still in the chain, either at the
distribution center or manufac-
turers,” Heylen said.
“The issue that we’re having
right now is overbuying by con-
sumers. That is just wreaking
havoc.”
Oliver’s Market just had its
biggest seven-day stretch since
the Sonoma County-based in-
dependent grocer was founded
32 years ago, said Eric Meuse,
general manager of operations.
Stocking perishable food
hasn’t been an issue, he said. It’s
the stockpiling of toilet paper
and other items that’s made it
harder to replenish the shelves
at Oliver’s locations and other
area food stores.
“If people bought what they
needed for a week, 10 days in-
stead of the next six months,
as a community we’d be able to
keep up with what people need,”
Meuse said.
Food orders from grocers and
Trinity Gompper, 8, accompanied by her uncle, Edward Denning, left, shops at the Petaluma East-Side Farmers
Market in Petaluma on Tuesday. Sonoma County residents are stocking up on food before sheltering in place.
eateries for Petaluma-based
Mike Hudson Distributors,
which primarily delivers deli
meats and specialty cheeses to
independent markets, including
Oliver’s and pizza parlors and
sandwich shops across North-
ern California, have spiked 15%
to 20%, owner and president
George Parisi said.
“The supply chain is still
there,” Parisi said. “What I think
everyone is being careful about is
that we don’t end up with a whole
bunch of over-ordering.”
Benjamin Taylor, 45, of Peta-
luma, a video-editing freelancer,
bought fish and salad greens on
his weekly visit to the Petaluma
East Side Farmer’s Market, this
time wearing a breathing mask.
The market opened Tuesday
morning as scheduled, encour-
aging shoppers to grab and go in
an effort to maintain its foothold
as a reliable source of healthi-
er food options. Food sampling
there was banned, however. The
market also was offering a curb-
side pickup service for custom-
ers who wanted to call ahead and
avoid in-person shopping.
“I have all kinds of concerns —
some are rational, some probably
are not,” Taylor said. “There’s so
many things on the internet. I
think the important thing is not
to panic. That’s when you can get
in trouble.”
Safeway, which operates a
dozen supermarkets in Sonoma
County, asked shoppers to honor
quantity limits on high-demand
items like hand sanitizers and
household cleaners. Vivek San-
karan, CEO of Albertsons, which
owns the supermarket chain,
said food and pharmacy delivery
and drive-and-go options are still
available with staffers now fol-
lowing contact-free policies.
Whole Foods plans to suspend
its hot food and salad bars and in-
store dining options by Wednes-
day.
Takeout options and prepack-
aged items would be expanded to
meet the growing need, the com-
pany said.
Senior discounts at Oliver’s
have been expanded from Tues-
day through Thursday every
week until April, the company
said. Self-serve food options have
been suspended, and the tap-
room inside the Windsor store
will only serve coffee.
Rob Neenan, president of the
California League of Food Pro-
ducers, emphasized that farmers
and food manufacturers produce
“a tremendous amount of food,”
much of which is sitting in cold
storage or already in cans.
“I don’t think anyone expects
Damon Hill of Min-Hee Hill Gardens
washes his gloves with bleach
water after each interaction with a
customer or touching any money.
GROCERY STORE HOURS
Oliver’s Market Santa Rosa,
Windsor, Cotati: daily from 7
a.m. to 8 p.m.
Trader Joe’s: daily from 9 a.m.
to 7 p.m.
Whole Foods Coddingtown
Mall, Santa Rosa: daily from 8
a.m. to 10 p.m.
Whole Foods Santa Rosa,
Petaluma, Sonoma: daily from 8
a.m. to 9 p.m.
Safeway: hours vary, but most
local stores open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
there’s going to be any sort of
food shortage, and the grow-
ing season is coming up pretty
soon,” Neenan said.
You can reach Staff Writer Will
Schmitt at 707-521-5207 or will.
schmitt@pressdemocrat.com.
On Twitter @wsreports. You can
reach Staff Writer Yousef Baig
at 707-521-5390 or yousef.baig@
pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter
@YousefBaig.