This Week's Rohnert Park Headlines

We started out our week with education-related stories: Sonoma State started the spring semester on Monday, kindergarten registration opened up on Tuesday, Feb. 1 and the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District held the first of four special board meetings to try to close the district's $5.1 million budget gap, lest the state take over. 

Haven't registered for kindergarten yet? Don't fret, there's still time. Don't miss this  on how to choose the right kindergarten. He also highlights before registering their kids.

Quinn Conklin reports on the first of four special board budget meetings from the district. What'd they say? They want the public's help to weigh in on possible cuts the schools can make, before the state steps in and takes over the district. , and check back with Rohnert Park Patch to stay abreast of the situation.

Our Sonoma State reporter Erin Guenther profiles incoming students' buying trends when it comes to purchasing required texts for classes. about how kids now are moving away from buying from brick and mortar stores towards purchasing online.

We also checked out the woodshop class at Rancho Cotate High School, where kids learn lessons in trade skills — classes like this are essential to a full education, said teacher Bill Hartman. .

Oh, and let's not forget the fabulous launch of Tasty Tuesdays at the Community Center. The event that only took the city a week to put together offers up market-goers fresh seasonal produce from local growers, or lunch. The food truck caravan that launched in Santa Rosa, called Munch Mondays, was so hot, that they're ready to expand. They saw Rohnert Park as an obvious stop. .

This week we also profiled the city's efforts to reach out to Rohnert Park citizens through social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter. It's leading the way to a more open government, they say, and it's aimed at reaching the city's younger generation. .

Rohnert Park Patch also hit the streets this week to find out from you, our readers, what you think of the plastic bag ban proposed for the entire county. We hung out at three different supermarkets and asked you to weigh in. Check out the sampling of opinions from residents in our .

We're seeing new businesses sprout up in Rohnert Park — find out about the  that debuted Feb. 3 at Sonoma Mountain Villiage, within Sally Tomatoes.

Last weekend market a spate of burglary and vandalism crimes, some felony and some misdemeanor, in Cotati. Reporter Quinn Conklin provides a unique run-down of events through the perspective of the small Cotati Police Department, who said they were a little overwhelmed by six crimes in five days. Some are still under investigation. .