🌱 Dog Stolen From Car + New Pet Store + Movie Theater Update

Hey, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this cozy Tuesday with all the community information you need to know right now. Today you'll learn about:

• The latest business to open in the Safeway shopping center
• A mysterious dog theft on the plaza — with a happy ending
• What's going on at Healdsburg's new homeless shelter
• Plans for our future movie theater and farmers market pavilion
• And much more...

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain at night. High: 58 Low: 43.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy again, with another chance of rain. High: 58 Low: 45.

Also: Local air quality officials have issued a "Spare the Air" alert for today, which means "it is illegal for Sonoma County residents and businesses to burn wood or manufactured firelogs in fireplaces, woodstoves and inserts, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits, or any other wood burning devices," the county says. (County of Sonoma via Facebook & Nextdoor)

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. A dog named Bodie was stolen from a guy's car in downtown Healdsburg over the weekend, on Saturday afternoon, according to local police — then spotted in Santa Rosa by "multiple citizens" who had heard about the theft on social media. The dog has since been "returned to his rightful owner," police say. Chad Hodge, Bodie's owner, posted online Saturday: "Someone took my dog from inside of my truck in Healdsburg today. I stopped for a late lunch at Kinsmoke and someone had come and taken him from the cab of my truck. I was parked just across the street to the south of the restaurant. ... He’s 80lbs and a French mastiff/ Great Dane/ Rhodesian ridgeback cross." By the next night, he wrote: "BODIE IS HOME!!!!! Thank you everyone who shared and commented showing more support than I ever imagined. Santa Rosa emergency veterinary hospital reached out to me today after seeing all the posts about Bodie and the description matched my pup perfectly. So we drove down to pick him up right away. When we got there and asked how he came to be there they said that someone (whoever stole him from my truck) took him into Petsmart to shop and then just left him there. There were people there who saw it and stayed with Bodie for a few hours hoping the person would come back and then walked him over to the hospital. I’m guessing the dognapper noticed the hype on social media and abandoned whatever plan he/she had for Bodie. So again, THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone. Much love to this community!!" (Healdsburg Police Department via Facebook & Facebook Groups & Facebook Groups)
2. A big new pet food and supply store called Your Pet's Market just opened in the Safeway shopping center, in the space right between Starbucks and the UPS Store, according Google Maps and neighbors in the "What's Happening Healdsburg" Facebook group. The store's website shows it also has locations in Sebastopol and Cotati. "Back in 2010, our family fulfilled a long-time dream of opening a combination pet food and livestock feed store, which we named Bucks-n-Barks," the website says. "Guided by feedback provided by our loyal patrons throughout the years, we have evolved into a pet food supply store and rebranded to Your Pet's Market, specializing in high quality - affordable pet foods - to ensure your pet stays healthy and happy! - Janey Mughannam." One Healdsburg resident who stopped by say it has a "super friendly staff" and a "nice selection," and is otherwise "well organized" and "clean." Another says: "Went in and loved it. I have a pet cockatiel, they had food and other bird supplies. I’m so glad because I usually have to go to Santa Rosa or order online." And another says: "Stopped by today and got my dogs some nice new collars . There is a DIY dog wash in the works too!" (Your Pets Market & Facebook Groups & Google Maps)
3. AVFilm, the local film org trying to open a movie theater in downtown Healdsburg, says their board of directors "has approved the leases for the formation of PLAZA CINEMA CENTER, a two-story center for the exhibition, study, and enjoyment of film and media arts, at 371 Healdsburg Ave." Now all that's missing is the money. "Next, the Board and Staff will embark on a Capital Campaign to fund the leasehold improvements and operational growth necessary to run the Center," AVFilm leaders say. "Naming opportunities are available. For details, please contact Executive Director Kathryn Hecht at kathryn.hecht[at]avfilmpresents.org or 707.278.9624." (AVFilm via Facebook)
4. We've also got an update on L&M Village, the homeless shelter that opened this winter in the old L&M Motel at the south end of town. "There are now 15 people living at the L & M Village!" say the leaders of Reach for Home, the local nonprofit running the shelter. "The first four are now enrolled for CalFresh food assistance (one step towards obtaining permanent housing). Several of the participants are artists and are already discussing potential projects including working at the Farmer's Market or hosting a craft fair." Reach for Home will host an official ribbon cutting and open house on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 4 p.m., where you can "see the renovated campus and learn more about our program." And looking forward, the org is planning on "building a reserve fund for the organization, adding another Case Manager to help launch a comprehensive Eviction Diversion Program, increasing street outreach case management and working with partners across the county to add more affordable housing to Northern Sonoma County." Read more about the shelter, and a testimonial from one of the new residents, here. (Reach for Home)
5. And, finally, an update on the Foley Family Community Pavilion next to Little Saint — aka, the future home of the Healdsburg Farmers Market. Our new vice mayor, David Hagele, says the city is "working through the last of the environmental review process for this project (generally positive & making progress) & recently updated our assumptions with the Foley Family for timing." Construction is expected to get underway by next summer, he says, and take about a year — for a projected summer 2024 opening. David adds: "As you can imagine, there are countless issues that could cause delays (and very few that could accelerate the work) but we've been told the results from the [California Environmental Quality Act] analysis have so far been promising. As for funding, the Foleys have deposited the $7 million contribution with the Sonoma County Community Foundation and agreements are in place to ensure distributions to the City based on project milestones. The bidding for the work will be a major milestone to meet & while construction cost estimates haven’t changed dramatically, we continue to see an escalation of costs for almost all capital projects at the City (same as everyone else). Finally, any construction contract will need to be reviewed & approved by the City Council at a public meeting, which means you'll have a chance to review & share your feedback as well." (David Hagele via Facebook)

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Tuesday, December 20

• Ornament Making Workshop for Kids Aged 4-12 at Healdsburg Atelier (1-3:30PM)
• Healdsburg Animal Shelter Hosts Walk-In Pet Vaccine Clinic (2-4PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company "Trail Sisters" Host Holiday Light Run, Ending at Russian River Tea Company for Gift Shopping (6PM)
• Zumba With Chuy at TCElite Gym (6-7PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Basketball Home Game Vs. Rancho Cotate (7:30PM)

Wednesday, December 21

• Gingerbread House Workshop for Teens in Grades 7-12 at the Healdsburg Library (3-4PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (7-9PM)
• Dave Koz & Friends Live at the Luther Burbank Center for 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour (8PM)

From my notebook:

• Did you get that screamer of an emergency earthquake alert on your phone in the wee hours this morning? It was prompted by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake way up in the small Humboldt County town of Ferndale, where folks were shaken and without power. But no huge damage was reported. (United States Geological Survey & COPE Northern Sonoma County via Facebook & Facebook Groups & Sacramento Bee & Press Democrat; paywall)
• In the ongoing saga of whether or not new Healdsburg Mayor Ariel Kelley is in fact our first Jewish mayor in over 100 years, as reported by the Jewish News of Northern California last week, former mayor Leah Gold tells me she personally removed herself from the running. "My dad was Jewish, his parents were immigrants and his first language was Yiddish," she says. "But my mother was not, so there ya go — officially not Jewish. They were not religiously observant and I never have been, so I told the reporter I will gladly concede that honor to Ariel." Meanwhile, I'm still waiting to hear back from Holly Hoods, head of the Healdsburg Museum, on whether there's anybody else to take into account, since she previously told me the Jewish News story "misquoted" her. Hold onto your hats til then... (The Jewish News of Northern California & Healdsburg Patch & Healdsburg Patch)
• Augie Grube, a volunteer firefighting legend from over in the Franz and Knights Valleys between here and Calistoga, has passed away. He "has served the people of his community longer they any other person," officials from our local Northern Sonoma County Fire District say. "Plans are currently being developed to honor Augie. Please keep his family in your thoughts. Rest easy Chief, we will take it from here." (Northern Sonoma County Fire District via Facebook)
• Quick reminder to check out this year's holiday gift market at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts. It runs through Jan. 2, and the center is open daily from 11 a.m. through 5 or 6 p.m. (Healdsburg Center for the Arts via Facebook)
• A neighbor on Nextdoor asks if anyone knows "whats up with the little tarot reader shop next to Ramos Repair" on Healdsburg Avenue, a couple blocks north of the plaza. They say "it's never open although the sign says it is and the voicemail is full." (Nextdoor)
• A chocolate-factory fire down in Windsor on Saturday evening reportedly ruined 180 pounds of chocolate. (Press Democrat; paywall)

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Events:

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Now you're in the loop and ready to take on the day. 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 Daily? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com