🌱 Car Wash Mystery + High School Football Change + Summer Rains?

Happy Friday, friends! It's me, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Daily — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's been happening in town. Today you'll read about...

• The City Council candidate forum two nights ago
• A rollicking flamingo party in the plaza
• The mystery of the fenced-off car wash
• A looming change for our high school football league
• And more!

But first, your daily weather:

• Friday: Fog and clouds turning to sun. High: 83 Low: 49.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and windy. High: 77 Low: 50.

And looking ahead: There appears to be a bunch of rain in the forecast starting Sunday and lasting into early next week. Weird but very welcome! (National Weather Service)

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. If you missed the Healdsburg City Council candidates forum at Coyote Sonoma on Wednesday night or the accompanying live-stream, a two-hour replay is available on the Facebook page of the Healdsburg 2040 org, who hosted the forum alongside the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce. The event was sold out and the venue maxed. We got to hear a bunch more about the background of each candidate in their introductions and opening statements. We also heard them answer questions about hot local topics like parklets and other pedestrian-friendly improvements in downtown Healdsburg; the future of water conservation, drought and climate; and insider municipal stuff like their vision for city departments, budgeting, etc. Incumbent candidate Evelyn Mitchell says she thought it was "a very diverse and informative forum" — "lots of work for us candidates, but worth it." However, one neighbor opined on Facebook that the questions seemed to veer toward topics relevant to the two groups hosting the event. You can watch the whole thing here. (Healdsburg 2040 via Facebook & Evelyn Mitchell via Facebook & Facebook Groups & Facebook Groups)
2. You may have noticed that our good ol' self-serve and automatic car wash along Healdsburg Avenue — located on the stretch between the Gas Mart and Big O Tires, at 1281 Healdsburg Ave. — is fenced off and out of commission this week. Rumors are swirling on Facebook and Nextdoor about who may have purchased it and what they're going to do with it. The leading rumor being that it'll be taken over by a Santa Rosa car wash franchise called Splash. I can't currently confirm this info, but I've reached out to Splash — will let you know what I find out! (Nextdoor & Facebook Groups & Facebook Groups)
3. The Healdsburg High School football team may be grouped into a different league under a proposed team realignment "in order to create a more even playing field across the region," according to the Press Democrat. Earlier this week, Redwood Empire Conference officials "voted to move forward with proposals that would overhaul the current landscape of high school football in Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties," the paper reports. Officials are still choosing between two scenarios — but both of them would create four different leagues for 27 total teams "based on competitive equity over the last three complete seasons." And both place Healdsburg High in a league alongside Terra Linda, Archie Williams, Piner, San Rafael, Sonoma Valley, Novato and Elsie Allen. That's in contrast to our current league consisting of us, St. Vincent de Paul, Ukiah, Piner and Maria Carrillo. Reps for Healdsburg reportedly voted "No" on both proposals, but they passed overall. Now, two more steps reportedly stand between these proposals and reality: Another decision between the two scenarios by the Redwood Empire Conference, then final approval by the North Coast Section. (MaxPreps & Press Democrat; paywall)

Healdsburg pics of the day:

Today in Healdsburg:

Friday, September 16

• Harvest Wellness Weekend at Montage Healdsburg (All Day, Sept. 16-18)
• Preschool Storytime for Kids Aged 3-6 at the Healdsburg Library (10:30AM)
• Farm to Pantry Food Delivery Volunteer Shift: Meet at Feed Sonoma in Petaluma & Deliver to Families in Healdsburg (1:30PM)
• Drama, Improv & Pantomime Class for Kids Aged 12-17 at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (Weekly, Sept. 16-Oct. 21, 4-6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Friday Night Critical Mass "Bike Party": Start at HRC Parklet With Champagne, Bike to Alley 6 Craft Distillery & Fogbelt Brewing for Boiler Makers (5PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries, Featuring Live Music by the Sonoma Shakers (5-8PM)
• Wilson Artisan Wines Summer Music Series at Soda Rock Winery, Feat. Live Music by Blues Burner & Food by Chads Soup (6-8:30PM)
• Dustin Saylor Album Release Party (8-11PM)
• Electric Tumbleweed Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

From my notebook:

• I asked you guys to send me your experiences from the earthquakes on Tuesday night, and you delivered! Healdsburg resident John Mihalik says he was at his mother-in-law's house in Larkfield and "heard a large boom like a very loud explosion and then the earthquake shook her house strongly. It emptied her cabinets and broke china, glasses, cracked drywall and chimney and knocked the face off her fireplace insert." Luckily, no one was injured. John also shared a video of the mess, adding: "I was in the 9.2 earthquake in Alaska in 1964. And the sound was reminiscent although brief." (Inbox)
• Another resident, Dave Smith, says "my feet felt like they were on jello!" (Inbox)
• Related: The Press Democrat just ran a couple of unnerving stories on the Rodgers Creek fault line — aka, the one responsible for Tuesday's tremors. It reportedly runs "up the middle of Sonoma County, right under Santa Rosa and ending just north of Healdsburg," and is "overdue for a big one." (Press Democrat & Press Democrat; paywall)
• FYI, there was also a more minor, 2.9-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday down in the Bay Area. (SF Gate; paywall)
• The folks behind beloved local restaurant Campo Fina say they're "working furiously to keep up with our dine-in guests" and "suspending go-to orders" after announcing this week that they're closing for good on Oct. 1. "We are answering phones as quickly as possible for reservations, and are taking walk-ins as best we can," they say. "Thank you so much for the Campo Love!" (Campo Fina via Facebook)
• According to local business owner Christian Foley-Beining, he just opened a new gallery space called "GALLERY 433" inside his leather shop on the plaza, and is currently displaying oil pantings of Sonoma County landscapes by artist Christopher Evans. Viewings are by appointment only; here's how to book one. (Facebook Groups)
• Healdsburg lost one of its oldest residents last weekend: 105-year-old Claire Roussan. "She touched so many people's lives and was such an amazing person, and an inspiration to us all," her family writes in her obituary. "Her legacy is four daughters, fifteen grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren, and one great, great, great grandchild." May she rest in peace. (Legacy.com & Neptune Society & Facebook)
• A couple of stories ran this week in weed trade mags on the dozens of California cities and counties now looking to "OK new recreational marijuana markets," including Healdsburg. Click through for more details on the unique, tax-driven model our city is considering. (Marijuana Business Daily & California City News)
• Sonoma Mag also published an interesting piece on the "forward-thinking young wine director" behind the Little Saint food, art and event space on North Street. (Sonoma Magazine)
• A beautiful Siamese-looking cat was found wandering down by Memorial Beach a few days go, according to the Healdsburg animal shelter. Anyone recognize him? (Humane Society of Sonoma County via Facebook & Nextdoor)

OK, you're all caught up for today. See you right back here tomorrow...

— 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