COVID Surge + State of Healdsburg Construction + Rural Internet

Hey, neighbors! Simone here with the weekend edition of the Healdsburg Daily. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

First, this weekend's weather:

• Friday: Cloudy through mid-morning, then clear with an afternoon wind. High: 86 Low: 52.
• Saturday: Heating up. Clear, sunny day. High: 88 Low: 52.
• Sunday: Another clear day with high heat, and more afternoon winds. High: 88 Low: 54.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. The local COVID situation is getting progressively worse. There have been seven deaths so far this month in Sonoma County, one of them reportedly an elderly vaccinated woman. The county's total case count is around 862 — almost three times what it was at this time in May. While the surge is mostly affecting unvaccinated residents, "You may also be at risk if you’re vaccinated, so take care if you have any risk factors,” a county health official says. (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. There's an interesting set of interviews with local construction bosses in the Business Journal this week about the state of the industry in the time of COVID and wildfires. Healdsburg's Jerry Eddinger, for one, who's currently working on The Matheson hotel project, says revenue is up and demand is strong. However, "higher material costs" and "longer lead times" are becoming a real issue. (North Bay Business Journal)
3. A $6 billion "Internet for All" bill that will fill in the gaps of California's rural areas with broadband internet was just signed into law. Healdsburg's Sen. Mike McGuire and other state politicians repping Sonoma County were big proponents. An aide to McGuire tells the PD that "towns and schools in out-of-the way areas in Sonoma County like the Sonoma Coast and the Knights and Alexander valleys" will benefit. (Press Democrat; paywall)
4. Smaller indie wineries in Healdsburg and environs are banding together to create "tasting collectives," in order to compete with the single-brand tasting rooms of Big Wine. One such collective is "The Drink" on Front Street, where small local wineries Leo Steen and Rootdown Cellars share a space. They've also "parked a vintage espresso cart" out front. (San Francisco Chronicle; paywall)
5. You can now fly straight to Las Vegas (and back) from the Santa Rosa airport four days per week. Graciously, the flight back has a post-noon departure time. (Airline Geeks)

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This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, July 16

• Virtual Teen "Game On" at Sonoma County Library (4-5PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries (5-8PM)
• Healdsburg Cruise Night, from Foss Creek School to Susy's Ice Cream (6PM)
• Junior Rangers: "The Lifecycle of Trees" at Riverfront Regional Park (6-7:30PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Baseball Game at Rec Park (6-8PM)
• Spring Music Series at Hotel Healdsburg: Dustin Saylor (6-8PM)
• The Pulsators Live at Mazzocco Winery (6-8:30PM)

Saturday, July 17

• Healdsburg Saturday Farmers Market (8:30AM-12PM)
• Little Fluffy Pancakes Cheer Team Fundraiser at TCElite Gym (10AM)
• Spike Sikes Live at Orsi Vineyards (1-4PM)
• Awesome Hotcakes Live at Orsi Vineyards (1-4PM)
• Adam Lieb Live at Spicy Vines (3-6PM)
• "Wine Country to the Rescue" Firefighter Support Auction, Dinner, Dancing at Trentadue Winery (5-7PM)
• Live Jazz at Hotel Healdsburg: Randy Vincent Trio (5-8PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Baseball Game at Rec Park (6-8PM)
• Revolver Live at Coyote Sonoma (6-8:30PM)
• Space Balls at the Drive-In at Healdsburg Community Center (8:40PM)

Sunday, July 18

• Yoga on the Green with Nina Jarnum at Rodney Strong Vineyards (9:30-11AM)
• White Flight Brunch at Comstock Winery (11AM-12:30PM)
• Summer Sunday Music with Dustin Saylor at VML Winery (11AM-4PM)
• Live Music: Lara Louise at Duke's Spirited Cocktails (4:30-7:30PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Here's some more info on the COVID-19 quarantine site that reopened this week at Healdsburg's Best Western Dry Creek Inn, after an outbreak at a Santa Rosa homeless shelter. “Having this Alternative Care Site open again will be a tremendous help in our efforts to limit further community spread and to address this particular outbreak," Sonoma County’s health officer says. "We are very grateful to the Best Western Dry Creek Inn and the City of Healdsburg." (Sonoma County Gazette)
• Down in Los Angeles, residents are now required to wear masks indoors again. Will Sonoma County follow suit? (New York Times)
• There's a lively debate happening on Nextdoor, re: what residents perceive to be "increasing aircraft noise and low-flying planes" over Healdsburg. Some are blaming the "private planes and helicopters" of the Wine Country elite. And tourists, of course. Have you noticed a change? (Nextdoor)
• The SingleThread restaurant on North Street just got Wine Spectator Magazine’s "Grand Award" for its insane wine list featuring thousands of bottles. They are "truly honored and humbled." (Sonoma Magazine)
• The Cloverdale rape-and-murder case of 13-year-old Sara Ann Geer, which sent shockwaves through Sonoma County in the 1980s, has been reopened. "Unnecessary rumors, hearsay, uninvolved party interjections and misleading information posted on social media... has already threatened to jeopardize the integrity of the investigation moving forward," Cloverdale police say. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• The Healdsburg police log for July 5-11 includes a couple more catalytic converter thefts, on Tucker Street and Langhart Drive; a couple attempted alcohol heists (one of which ended with the suspect being "released to her mother"); and a fight between "six males in their 30s" on Plaza Street last Saturday night. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• The PD uploaded a pretty stunning photo gallery of the controlled nighttime burn out Skaggs Springs Road earlier this week. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• This guy wants to make a documentary about wildfires in Sonoma County, and is looking for locals affected by the fires to be part of it. (Facebook)
• Francis Ford Coppola Winery will reportedly lay off 90 workers in the next couple weeks. (North Bay Business Journal)
• A neighbor warns in the "What's Happening Healdsburg?" Facebook group that her dog was throwing up for days after playing in the river. (Facebook)
• A new drone ordinance that would "prohibit people from flying drones during public safety events" such as "wildfires, search and rescue missions, and other emergencies" is being considered by Sonoma County officials next week. Submit your input here. (Facebook)

That's it for today! Hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll be back in your inbox next week. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? You can reach me at simone.wilson@patch.com.