🌱 Burn Alert + Rare Healdsburg Hospital Baby + Emergency Landing

Hey, everybody! It's Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Daily, here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Enjoy...

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 63 Low: 37.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsors:

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. There's a prescribed burn today at 6255 Dry Creek Road, out near the Chateau Diana, Sommer Ranches and Truett Hurst wineries. It's being overseen by the Northern Sonoma County Fire District, which protects most of the land surrounding Healdsburg proper. The district says it has completed over 500 acres of controlled burns in the last three-and-a-half months — and this will add another 10 acres to the total. "The burn will start at 10am and will be completed by 2pm, with isolated smoke visible into the evening and possibly the following days," fire officials say. "This has been a private public partnership that will help create a shaded fuel break connecting Dry Creek Road and Breezewood Road. The property owners have completed mechanical and manual reduction of vegetation. The prescribed burn will complete the project and consume most of the remaining ground fuel." (Facebook & Google Maps)
2. A reserve firefighter for the Healdsburg Fire Department had to make an emergency landing with the help of the U.S. Air Force while flying recreationally over Lake Berryessa last week. Grey Chandler — who has been firefighting for Healdsburg for four years, ever since he was 18 — was flying over the lake "when his single engine tail dragger engine quit," according to the Healdsburg Fire Dept. "He had time to radio two maydays while preparing for an emergency landing. There was no return radio traffic but someone was listening. A U-2 pilot from Beale Airforce Base heard the distress call and relayed Grey’s information to Oakland Air Traffic Control who helped coordinate an emergency response. Grey was able to land the airplane safely in a field with minimal damage. He was not injured. We are lucky to have firefighters that can react quickly and calmly in emergencies. ... Many thanks to Air Force Pilot Heatherman for looking after one of our own." (Facebook & Beale Air Force Base)
3. The City of Healdsburg is hiring a consulting firm to help out with "equity, diversity and inclusion" in city projects. The budget is $75,000, and the chosen firm is Acosta Latino Learning Partnership (ALLP) — the same Arizona-based group currently helping Healdsburg's school district plan their ethnic studies curriculum. According to the Tribune, a consultant from the group "will help with a variety of needs and programs identified by the city council Ad Hoc Committee on Equity, which is composed of Mayor Jimenez and Councilmember Skylaer Palacios. Some of the needs and programs identified include community town halls on equity-based discussions; a community assessment to assess perspectives and experiences; remove barriers to community dialogue; and develop a three to five-year diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) action plan; among others." (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
4. Brand-new Healdsburg mom and Big John’s Market staffer Ana Reyes Fernandez, 24, stars in a moving profile published by the Press Democrat on the first baby delivered at Healdsburg Hospital in years. Ana hid her recent pregnancy from everyone she knew for the full nine months, the PD reports, and hadn't received prenatal care — so by the time she arrived at the hospital on the night of Dec. 8, ready to pop, it became clear the delivery would happen in Healdsburg. “I had a really good staff on that night. They were hugely comforting to her,” says the doctor who delivered her baby. “That was really important because she had gone from ‘Well I’m not going to talk about it, to I’m having a baby.’ They did a fantastic job of getting through the process.” Maria Guadalupe, called “Lupita” for short, was born on the morning of Dec. 9. Her mom now says: "It is definitely a relief, that everyone knows, and I don’t have to keep secrets anymore. I can breath a lot better now." (Press Democrat; paywall)
5. Bruce Perry of Healdsburg's Papapietro Perry Winery has passed away, according to his wife Renae. "My generous loving husband. Bruce, passed away on Tuesday, February 8th," she wrote on Facebook last week. "He was loved by so many people, and will be missed terribly. We were togther for 44 years and had so many wonderful memories. I am so grateful for the life we had. RIP dear Bruce. I love you." Eric Hall, admin of the Beverly Healdsburg community group on Facebook, shared the post and added: "Bruce Perry was a wonderful, unique, giving, loving & interesting man who was a big part of how I got into the wine business and came to Healdsburg. He will be missed by hundreds if not thousands of people. His eponymous wine brand Papapietro-Perry continues his love of fine California Pinot Noir." (Facebook & Facebook & Papapietro-Perry)

Healdsburg pic of the day:

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Tuesday, February 15

• Healdsburg American Association of University Women (AAUW) Forum: "Before the Storm - America from 1815-1850" (10-11:45AM)
• Hiring Event at Francis Ford Coppola Winery (1-4PM)
• West Side School Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30PM)
• The School of Earth & Soul (Celtic Wisdom 1) at Bishop's Ranch (Feb. 15-17, 5:30PM)
• Zumba With Chuy at TCElite Gym (5:30-6:30PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Ladies Night In-Town Loop Love Run, Ending With Bloodroot & Ullage Wine (6PM)
• Clases de Ciudadanía / Citizenship Classes at Corazón Healdsburg (6-8PM)

Wednesday, February 16

• African and African-American Folktales With Kirk Waller at Sonoma County Library (10:30-11:30AM)
• Senior Strength Training at Rec Park (1:15-2PM)
• Opening Night: Interactive Light Display at Healdsburg Plaza (6PM)
• Virtual Climate Circles Book Club at Sonoma County Library: "All We Can Save" (6-7PM)
• City of Healdsburg Bilingual Virtual Visioning Public Workshop: Transportation Improvements on Grove Street Between Grant Street and Dry Creek Road (6-7:30PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Full Moon Run On Fitch Mountain, With Dogs Welcome (7PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (7-9PM)
• Zumba With Chuy at TCElite Gym (7:15-8:15PM)

From my notebook:

• We already reported that beloved Healdsburg resident Dennis Campos died recently, but here are some more details on his local legacy, from his official obit: "Often remembered for his long career at Wittke Tires, which later became Ceja Tires, and his signature greeting of 'Hey Bud' along with a long neck Budweiser in hand. Dennis spent much of his time working to provide for his growing family and tending to his garden with his wife. It was a rare day that you didn't find him outdoors with a cold Bud or napping beneath the trees." Dennis' funeral will be held at noon this Friday, Feb. 18, at St. John's the Baptist Church. (Legacy.com)
• Healdsburg also lost 76-year-old resident Jeffery Demarest "suddenly and unexpectedly" last month. "Martha Noble, Jeff's wife of 36 years, was beside him," his obituary says. The couple moved to Healdsburg in 2011. "In their new location close to the Russian River, Jeff would often walk along the river path into the town center," his obit says. Also: "While completing his doctoral work at [the Bodega Marine Laboratory] in the 1970s, Jeff began exploring the Sonoma Coast for mushrooms. In retirement these mushroom foraging walks — primarily in the Salt Point State Park area — became a focused seasonal hobby that he enjoyed with close marine lab friends." Donations in his memory can be made to the BML. (Legacy.com)
• A reader reached out to let you all know that she found a rattlesnake in her carport in Dry Creek Valley. "They are out and about early," she says. "Be aware." (Inbox)
• The Tribune has a short feature this week on 21-year-old Elizabeth Trinidad, who's been selling bouquets of flowers for the past couple months on a corner of Matheson Street. From the Trib: "Trinidad is from the Mexican state of Puebla and just recently arrived in Sonoma County. She works with friends who create bouquets year-round; her friend told her about the job. 'It is really pretty here,' she said in Spanish." (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• Tee Ball is back in Healdsburg! "After a two-year hiatus, Community Services is thrilled to announce the return of Tee Ball this spring," the city says. "We invite children ages 3-6 to come out to give the sport a try or brush up on their skills prior to the start of the full season by taking part in the Tee Ball Tune-Up clinics, starting March 1. The full season kicks-off on March 28 and runs through May 18." Here's how to sign up. (City of Healdsburg)
• A gorgeous, 305-acre property called Big Dream Ranch right outside Healdsburg is selling for just shy of $3 million. "This is a turnkey homestead," the listing says, "with two houses, updated amenities, a pool and hot tub, a completely outfitted workshop, studio, planted food gardens, mature fruit trees, grazing animals, multiple water sources, hiking, hunting, and plenty of room for family and guests, and even horses." (Big Dream Ranch)
• Also: The woman selling Big Dream Ranch is separately trying to sell off all the items inside the barn and food shed, including "wood (slabbed from my property), tons of tools, equipment, building materials... canning stuff, honey extractor, and cider press, etc." (Facebook)
• Memorial Bridge was lit up purple yesterday for Valentine's. "Fun fact: the illumination of the bridge was an $800 project, and we can reuse these light fixtures at other community special events in the Plaza and elsewhere in the future," city officials say. "Thanks to local artists Jordy Morgan and Jessica Martin for their ongoing inspiration to use metal, light, and other visual effects in creative ways!" Here's some footage if you missed the spectacle. (Facebook & Facebook & Facebook)
• An adorable tan and white Pomeranian named Oso was found yesterday on Philip Drive near Healdsburg Hospital, according to the animal shelter. Anyone recognize him? (Facebook & Nextdoor)
• Speaking of the animal shelter: They're "running very low" on dry cat food. You can drop off donations at 555 Westside Road or have them shipped to that address. (Nextdoor)

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— 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.