🌱 Bird Bike Complaints + Cyrus Vs. Landlord + New Local Gun Rules?

Hey, everybody! I'm here with your big weekend edition of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Let's find out what's happening in town, shall we? Today you'll read about...

• Locals complaining about the Bird e-bikes in town
• More landlord woes for one of the fanciest restaurants in Healdsburg history
• New gun rules being proposed by city leaders
• And more...

But first, your weekend weather:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain. High: 61 Low: 50.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy with more chances of rain. High: 67 Low: 42.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny. High: 65 Low: 45.
• Monday: Back to mostly cloudy with a chance of rain. High: 64 Low: 43.
• Tuesday: Sun comes back out! High: 67 Low: 44.

Shoutout to the awesome local business that keeps this newsletter running:

Looking to buy or sell a luxury property in Sonoma County? Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s International Realty is a local firm with global reach that specializes in luxury real estate, vineyards, wineries and land in Sonoma County. Healdsburg's Sotheby's: local expertise, deep market knowledge, and a passion for the community. Whether buying or selling, it pays to work with the best. Call Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s at 707-433-4800.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. In the ongoing saga of the wayward Bird e-bikes in town, the Healdsburg Tribune talks to a bunch of disgruntled residents about their experience with the bikes. "Not everybody is happy," the Trib reports. Among the skeptics is David Jones, a local financial advisor and former city council candidate who has "had some issues with bikes being parked in areas where they were in the way of public use and right of way" — and has had a heck of a time trying to move them, as "the wheels lock when they’re not in use, they weigh about 100 pounds, and they’re designed for riding, not hauling." He says: “I’d recommend to council members, if you see one in the area, try moving one?" And Thomas DeBiase of Idlewild Wines on Plaza Street, who famously posted a pic on Facebook some weeks ago of "two bikes chained to the PG&E meter near his business," says the bikes "remained there for over two weeks, and it took more than 10 days of direct contact with Bird and threats of involving a towing company before the bikes were removed." He complains that "they’ve been abandoned all over the city,” and that other local businesses like SingleThread and Big John’s are struggling with the same problem. Bird reportedly paused its pilot programs in both Healdsburg and Windsor last December due to a "staffing shortage," but relaunched in March with a new "fleet manager" on board to herd the company's 40 scooters in Windsor and 70 bikes in Healdsburg. Needless to say, there are still some kinks in the system! But city officials tell the Trib they plan to "continue to track data on usage and feedback from the community” through the end of the three-year pilot. (Healdsburg Tribune)
2. Healdsburg gun owners may soon be subject to a local ordinance requiring them to lock away their guns when not in use. The Press Democrat has the story: "In the wake of recent mass shootings in other parts of California and the rest of the country, Healdsburg leaders are considering a possible gun safety ordinance that many members of the public appear to favor. The measure, which was discussed during Monday’s City Council meeting, would require gun owners to 'store firearms in a locked container or place a locking device on the firearm while it is stored,' and may also require timely reporting of missing or stolen firearms to the police, according to a city staff report." Councilmember Ron Edwards also asked at the meeting that the ordinance include an educational element. "I want to see something that’s ongoing that really can change behavior, really can provide some education on an annual ongoing basis,” he said. Healdsburg resident and Reeve Wines co-owner Kelly Dorrance, whose 9-year-old niece Evelyn Dieckhaus was killed in the Nashville school shooting earlier this year, spoke up at the meeting as well. She said her own son "has dreamed up ways that a gun can contain a computer chip so that it will shut down if it gets near his school," adding: "It’s not something my little boy should be worried about but here we are.” City staffers are now drafting the language for the proposed ordinance, which will come before the council for approval at a future meeting. (Press Democrat; paywall)
3. Here's a little Healdsburg deja vu for you! It looks like owners of the decadent local restaurant Cyrus, which moved from downtown Healdsburg to a more rural Geyserville location following a long and dirty dispute with their landlord, now find themselves in largely the same situation up there. In the words of the San Francisco Chronicle, the "Michelin-starred restaurant is embroiled in an ‘extremely petty’ battle" with their new landlord. More from the story: "Since it relaunched in Geyserville last September, Cyrus has become one of Wine Country’s most sought-after reservations. With a $295, 20-course tasting menu served to diners as they move from room to room, the restaurant has earned rave reviews and a Michelin star. But behind the scenes, chef-owner Douglas Keane has been tangled up in a two-year dispute with his landlord, Steve Oliver, which has cost him over $100,000 in legal fees. At the center of the conflict is a fierce battle over parking spaces that escalated to an allegedly hostile confrontation between the landlord and a Cyrus staff member — and now the restaurant has taken the feud to Sonoma County Superior Court. ... The situation is like deja vu for Keane, who closed his first iteration of Cyrus in 2012 due to a dispute with his landlords in Healdsburg. Cyrus’ original building was sold to a wine magnate who repeatedly tried to evict Cyrus; the restaurant responded by suing in 2011. Eventually, Cyrus agreed to sell the restaurant but not its name. For the next decade, Keane searched for a new space for Cyrus. He’d finally given up before connecting with Oliver, who owns a 9,000-square-foot concrete building set in the middle of a vineyard." Cyrus reportedly signed a 30-year lease of the space — but things have since gone south. Read the full story here. (SF Chronicle; paywall)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Healdsburg Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Healdsburg Patch newsletter possible.

Healdsburg pics of the day:

Wanna see one of your pics in the newsletter? You can submit it here for consideration. Please just confirm in your email that you took any photos you're sending, and that Patch has permission to republish them. Thanks! 📸

This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, May 5

• Bilingual Family Storytime for Kids Aged 0-6 at Giorgi Park (Weekly, 10:30AM)
• Alexander Valley Film Festival (AVFest): Three Daytime Film Screenings & Nighttime "World Shorts Showcase" at Longboard Vineyards (11:30AM-8:30PM)
• Annual Sonoma County Barrel Auction in Healdsburg: Lunch & Live Auction at MacMurray Estate Vineyards (11AM-4PM)
• Super Smash Bros. Video Game Tournament at the Healdsburg Library (3-5PM)
• Pizza on the Piazza at Bacchus Landing (4-7PM)
• Highway 12 Band Live at Hudson Street Wineries Old Roma Station (5:30-7:30PM)
• Beatles Cover Band "Hey Jude" Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• The Coffis Brothers Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

Saturday, May 6

• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Road Trip to Inverness Beach for Run & Swim (8AM)
• Healdsburg Farmers Market in the West Plaza Parking Lot (8:30AM-12PM)
• Healdsburg Community Church Hosts "Outdoor Adventure With Soul": Camping at Pomo Canyon (May 6, 9AM - May 7, 12PM)
• Annual Fire & Earthquake Safety Expo at the Healdsburg Community Center, Featuring Public Education & Training, Helicopter Demo, Emergency Responder Meet & Greet, 60-Plus Exhibitors & Free Coffee, Donuts, Hot Dogs & Chili (10AM-3PM)
• Healdsburg Center for the Arts Hosts Mosaic Stepping Stones Workshop at Private Studio in Alexander Valley (May 6-7, 10AM-3PM)
• AVFest: Three Daytime Film Screenings at Longboard Vineyards (10:30AM-5:30PM)
• Annual Kentucky Derby Party at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Santa Rosa (11AM-5:30PM)
• Registration Window at Healdsburg City Hall for the Rollin’ Rosies Poker Run & Classic Car Show in Cotati From 2-6PM (11-11:45AM)
• Spring Release Party at Hawley Winery Estate, Featuring Live Music, Food, Wine & Fun (12-3PM)
• Live Music on the Piazza at Bacchus Landing (12-4PM)
• Cinco De Mayo Celebration at Healdsburg Senior Living Facility on Grove Street, Featuring Taco Truck & Dancers (1-3PM)
• "A Taste of Spring" Garden Party at Ferrari-Carano Winery (1-4PM)
• "An Epicurean Adventure" Wine & Food Tasting at Rodney Strong Vineyards (3PM)
• AVFest: Plaza Cinema Center Celebration Dinner & Free Screening of "Little Richard: I Am Everything" at the Plaza (6PM & 8PM)
• Dance Party in the Healdsburg Plaza Before Film Screening (7-8PM)
• Classic Rock Cover Band "Highway 12" Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• The Lovin' Dead Live at the Elephant in the Room (7:30-10:30PM)

Sunday, May 7

• Spring Release Celebration With Live Music at Twomey Wines (10AM-12PM)
• Garden Series at Flowers Vineyards & Winery: Conversation, Book Signing & Art Show With the Authors of "Punk Ikebana: Reimagining the Art of Floral Design" (11AM)
• AVFest: Two Daytime Film Screenings at Longboard Vineyards (11AM-3PM)
• Old-Fashioned May Day Celebration at Draxton Wines in Geyserville, Featuring Maypole Dance, Kids Games, Ballet Folklorico, Drinks & Rib Cook-Off (11AM-4PM)
• Interactive Story Reading for Kids in Grades K-3 at the Healdsburg Library: "I Am Latinx" by Maria Alondra Jasso (1:30PM)
• Healdsburg Community Band Performs "Band Classics" Spring Concert at the Healdsburg Community Church, Featuring "Compositions for Military Bands, Swing Bands & Hollywood Ensembles" (3PM)
• An Evening With Author Jon Bonné at Little Saint, Featuring "The New French Wine" Book Signing & Wine Flight (5-7PM)
• AVFest Closing Night: Film Screening of "To Life" & Awards Reception at Longboard Vineyards & The Matheson (5-9PM)
• Luther Burbank Center Presents: "Reflexionando en Pareja Con Alex el Genio Lucas" (6PM)
• Spike Sike's First Sunday Jazz Night at the Elephant in the Room (6-9PM)
• Bi-Annual Community Poetry Night at THE 222 (6:30PM)
• Standup Comedy Night at Furthermore Wines (7PM)

Monday, May 8

• Dermatology Presentation at the Healdsburg Senior Center (10AM)
• Tween Hangout at the Healdsburg Library: "Build With KEVA & Create Art" (3:30PM)
• Poetry Slam at the Healdsburg Elementary School Library (5PM)

Tuesday, May 9

• Healdsburg Walking Group Meets at University & Sherman (8AM)
• Preschool Storytime for Kids Aged 3-6 at the Healdsburg Library (10:30AM)
• Tasting Tuesdays at Little Saint, Featuring Mommenpop & Poe Wines (4-6PM)
• Healdsburg City Planning Commission Meeting (6PM)
• English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting at Healdsburg High School (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Rohnert Park Road Trip & Run, With Finish at Cal Skate (6PM)

From my notebook:

• Healdsburg Police Officer Sheldon DeFrank just successfully completed a 20-week "field training officer program" and is now a "solo officer" in town, police officials say. They add: "If you see Ofc. DeFrank please say hello and congratulations! 🎉" (Healdsburg Police Officers' Association via Facebook)
• Healdsburg nonprofit Farm to Pantry just launched a "food justice & nutrition lesson with the Healdsburg after school programs," org leaders say. On their first day, they "worked with K-2nd graders to define gleaning and food justice, try different types of citrus, make their own juice, and make their own jewelry with dried fruit." (Farm to Pantry via Facebook)
• Next week is sleepaway science camp for the fifth graders at Healdsburg Elementary, and school officials are looking for sleeping bag donations so they'll have some extras on hand. If you've got one to donate, you can drop it off at the Fitch Mountain Campus office by end of day Monday. (Healdsburg Elementary School via Facebook)
• Registration is now open for Healdsburg's summer co-ed baseball program for kids aged five to 13, called "Junior Giants." You can learn more and sign up your kids here. (Healdsburg Community Services via Facebook & HealdsburgJrGiants.com)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (May 9)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop! Hope you enjoy your weekend, and I'll see you soon...

— 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com