🌱 Arson Arrest + Book Sale + Goat Costumes + Día De Muertos Recap

Hey, guys! Simone here. I'm back on this Día de Muertos after a lonnng and spooky Halloween weekend to get you caught up on what's been happening in town. Today's issue includes news about:

• A young man arrested for alleged arson along Healdsburg Avenue
• The big, colorful festival in the plaza on Sunday — and the pics to prove it
• A few classic Healdsburg characters who passed away recently
• And more...

But first, your daily weather:

• Wednesday: Mix of sun and clouds, with a chance of rain and strong wind. High: 60 Low: 35.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny. High: 66 Low: 34.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. A young transient from Santa Rosa was arrested earlier this week for allegedly starting a fire Sunday night "in the dry bush of a residence in the 1100 block of Healdsburg Ave," on the stretch of the road between Big O Tires and Silveira, according to the Healdsburg Police Department. Some locals spotted the fire around 7:15 p.m., police say, then "stopped to put the fire out before it could spread." And "as they put the fire out they saw a suspicious person walking away from the area of the fire and notified authorities." Fire officials then "located the suspicious individual about a block away from the fire and notified police," the department says. "Officers responded and after some investigation took 27 year old Jaime Silva Pineda, a transient out of Santa Rosa, into custody on suspicion of arson and causing a fire at an inhabited dwelling." Police also tell the Press Democrat that they've "never had any prior contact with Pineda" but that he has "mental health issues" and "a prior history of arson outside the city." (Healdsburg Police Department via Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. I recently found out about three well-known Healdsburg residents who've died within the past year. The first is man-about-town Michael "Mike" Lynch, who used to own the now-shuttered Healdsburg Classic Antiques shop along Healdsburg Avenue with his wife Gail — and whose daughter Kelly Anne Lynch passed away in October 2021. Neighbors on Facebook call Mike "such a fun character" and "one of the people who made Healdsburg Healdsburg." There will be a celebration of life for him at St. John's Church on Dec. 17. Another longtime Healdsburg resident, Marilyn Shaffer, also passed away recently, according to family members. Her daughter writes: "Those who knew her know that she loved gambling, bingo at the senior center and thrift store shopping. She was quirky (to say the least), had a mouth on her and took no shit from anybody. Under that tough exterior though was a woman with a huge heart who would help anyone in need, especially our houseless community members." And the third person we lost is Bill Frost, who a friend says graduated from Healdsburg High in 1969 and "was raised in West Dry Creek." Another old friend remembers: "Bill and I had a lot of good times as kids. Raising 4-H animals, trying to ride his mean old donkey, and speeding up and down the levy in his old Model B truck." May they rest in peace — and love to all who knew them. (Facebook Groups & Hyman Lynch via Facebook & Hyman Lynch via Facebook & Legacy.com & SF Gate & Facebook Groups & Facebook Groups)
3. The big Día de Muertos festival held by local nonprofit Corazón Healdsburg in the plaza on Sunday was a smashing success, by all accounts — a real spectacle. We are still feeling all the feels from Día de Muertos!" org leaders wrote on Facebook yesterday, alongside a gallery of 100 dazzling photos. "This event is such a beautiful community-led creation, made possible by the enthusiastic support from so many volunteers, partners and friends of Corazón." And here's an account from the Press Democrat, who stopped by: The event "featured a number of elaborate Día de los Muertos altars or 'ofrendas,' that had been erected, some in the trunks of old 1950s cars or in cobweb-covered trucks adorned with framed photos and food offerings like tamales and conchas and bright marigolds, which people believe help guide spirits back to their altars. ... Thumping from Aztec dancers echoed throughout Healdsburg’s plaza Sunday. And the event’s spook factor was increased considerably, as skeletons dressed in traditional Mexican garb sat comfortably in the driver’s seats of several cars." Healdsburg resident Linda Streb, who attended, was reportedly "brought to tears after spotting a photo in front of an altar of her friend Dotty Walters who died in 2015, 10 years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Streb described her dear friend as a 'pillar of the community' and a 'connector of people and ideas.' 'I love how we get to honor the past and our ancestors,' said Streb, 64, who grew up practicing the tradition in Mexico City. 'Without the past, we can’t build our future.'" (Corazón Healdsburg via Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)

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Healdsburg pics of the day, Día de Muertos edition:

Want to see one of your photos in the newsletter? Send it on over. Please just confirm in your email that you took the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it. 📸

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Wednesday, November 2

• Fall Open House at the Healdsburg School (9AM)
• Friends of the Healdsburg Library Host Annual Book Sale (Nov. 2-4, 10AM-5:30PM)
• Día de los Muertos Evento Familiar / Family Event at Healdsburg Elementary School (4-5PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma With "Ted Lasso" Theme (7PM)

Thursday, November 3

• Healthcare Foundation Hosts Wetzel Awards at Dry Creek Kitchen (8:30-10AM)
• Farm to Pantry Olive Glean at Truett Hurst Winery (9AM-12PM)
• Jacob Smigel Performs Live at Little Saint (5:45PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Family Fun Run & "Trail Blader" Movie Premiere Party (6PM)
• Baile Folclórico at Corazón Healdsburg (Weekly, 6PM)
• Live Stand-Up Comedy at Furthermore Wines, Featuring Xander Beltran (6-9PM)
• Copperfield’s Books Celebrates Release of Dani Shapiro's New Book "Signal Fires" at Thumbprint Cellars (6:30PM)
• "The Edge Of Heaven" Film Screening at THE 222 (7PM)

From my notebook:

• The small Alma’s Oilcloth and Chucherias shop on Healdsburg Avenue between Piper and North streets just got a big writeup in Harper's for its beautiful, "custom-made" Día de Muertos ofrendas, or altars. (Harper's BAZAAR)
• Look up, and you might catch some cool things coming to the sky over Healdsburg in the next few weeks: the Taurid meteor shower/"fireball swarm" and the total lunar eclipse/"blood moon." (Healdsburg Patch)
• Been seeing some smoke lately? It may have been coming from a recent series of prescribed burns staged by firefighters, now that the weather is better for it. There were two on Monday: one in Geyserville and one out Chemise Road, in the hills west of Healdsburg. There was also a burn on Saturday just east of Windsor, and another multi-day burn ending Monday in the forest between Jenner and Cazadero. (Healdsburg Fire Department via Facebook & Northern Sonoma County Fire District via Facebook & CAL FIRE via Facebook & CAL FIRE via Facebook)
• Shop Local Healdsburg just posted some great pics from Halloween night in Healdsburg — including "bewitching costumes inspired by nursery rhymes, iconic celebrities (and an accidental local doppelgänger); and homes, decorated to the nines."(Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram)
• And check out the epic "costume party with goats" held at Riverfront Regional Park on Sunday. It was reportedly a benefit for a couple of Sonoma County animal sanctuaries. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• The Healdsburg animal shelter is out of dog and cat food again. Here's how you can help. (Nextdoor)

That's all I've got for today. See you tomorrow for more...

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Daily? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com