Cover: Faith No More
Confessions of a backslidden Christian: A prodigal son returns to the "fast food" church where his faith in Jesus began--and ended.

News: Testing the Waters
Officials question high-speed ferry service from Petaluma.

Frankly Speaking: RiggsWatch keeps an eye on conservative Rep. Frank Riggs, R-Windsor, a controversial candidate for a U.S. Senate seat.

Climbing Up on Capitol Hill: Check up on the your Congressional Representatives and U.S. Senators--where they stand, how they voted.

Talking Pictures: Satirist Paul Krassner yaps it up on America's adolescence.

Riding the Rails: Smithsonian Institution's Artrain rolls into Healdsburg.

Stem to Stern: There's more to floral arranging than sticking stems in water.

Roots Riddims: Strictly Roots pick up the pieces after leader's death.

Underground Grooves: The hip-hop nation converged on the Maritime Hall for sets by Rasco, the Living Legends and the Hieroglyphics.

Pet Sounds Redux: Apples in Stereo, Tommy Keene and You Am I are just a few of the new pop bands trying to recreate the magic of the Beatles and the Beach Boys.

Flying High: Morton Marcus breathes warmth into prose poems.

Open Wide: Chewing the fat over food morality

Heard It Through the Grapevine: Get to the root of all things wine.

Please don't forget to write! The Sonoma County Independent welcomes letters commenting on our coverage or other topics of local interest. Please keep all letters at 300 words or less (we reserve the right to edit them for length and style) and sign them (unsigned letters will not be published). A local phone number must be included for verification. Postal: Sonoma County Independent Letters, 540 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Fax: 707/527-1288. Email: [email protected]. Emailers, please include name, city of residence and phone number. Letters printed will list email address unless otherwise specified. Letters to the editor are not currently published in the online version of this paper.