🌱 FFA Parade, Fair Details + New Businesses Downtown + Pride Events

Hello, everybody! Simone here with your weekend edition of the Healdsburg Daily, filled with all the things you need to know about what's happening in town. We've got some gorgeous days ahead and a pretty staggering lineup of weekend events to look forward to.

Heads up — I'm gonna be on vacation for the next week, through Memorial Day, and someone else will be filling in for me during that time. I'll miss you guys! See you on the other side...

First, your weekend weather:

• Saturday: Sunny and a little less windy than yesterday. High: 85 Low: 49.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny. Winds kicking up again. High: 86 Low: 53.
• Monday: More sun! High: 88 Low: 52.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Healdsburg's beloved FFA Country Fair and Twilight Parade, a 72-year-old tradition stifled by COVID the past couple years, will be back in full effect next week. The Healdsburg Tribune calls it "the unofficial kick-off to Healdsburg's summer." The festivities begin Tuesday with a free "community concert" in the plaza headlined by Healdsburg High grad and FFA kid turned country star Heidi Newfield. In a front-page story in yesterday's Tribune, Heidi says of showing her farm animals at the fair as a kid: "That lifestyle lends itself to country music, it just does." Amen! After that, the parade, whose theme is "Unity, Community, Ag is our glue for 2022," will start Thursday at 6 p.m. near St. John's Church at East and Matheson — but y'all already know you better get your chair out there on the sidewalk early in the day. The parade will run down Matheson, turn right on Center, pass the plaza, continue onto Piper, head south on Fitch, turn back onto Matheson and end on University. And as soon as it's done, paradegoers can head over to Rec Park for the opening night of the FFA Fair, which runs late til 10:30 p.m. and lasts all weekend. There will be games, food, a circus and more. Plus, the main attraction: "Small and large animals will show all day on Friday, including goats, sheep, swine, rabbits, poultry and beef," the Tribune reports. "Judging will be announced on Saturday, and that evening from 4 to 8pm also sees a live and online public auctions of the animals raised by FFA kids." You can find a full fair schedule on the city's website. (City of Healdsburg & Healdsburg Tribune via Weeklys)
2. Healdsburg High School's spring sports teams are wrapping up their seasons right now — and some have done pretty great this year. The boys' baseball team is finishing strong at No. 2 out of six teams in their league — edged out only by West County High, the new combo school for Analy and El Molino students. West County got one last win in against Healdsburg in a postseason tournament game last week; the Hounds now have one remaining game in that same tourney against Justin-Sienna tomorrow. The high school's varsity swimmers did even better, according to Lorna Hayman, one of the team's coaches. "Head coach Dean and I are so proud of our team this year, especially the boys' team who took the Northbay League pendant," she says. "The last time Healdsburg won the boy pendant was in 2013." Congrats to all! And I'd like to add: It's been really hard for me to find info on how Healdsburg sports teams are doing to share with you all, so if anyone ever has any details, please reach out. (Inbox & MaxPreps)
3. Have you checked out the latest couple issues of the Healdsburg Tribune, now that it's under Bohemian publisher Dan Pulcrano? They've been pretty sparse, with two to three pages each of local news content — but there's been some good stuff in there. And hey, it's somethin' where there would have been nothin'! Dan sent me links to the digital versions if you wanna check them out. Here are some things I learned (aside from the FFA stuff!). First, in addition to the wildly popular Tuesdays in the Plaza series this summer, the City of Healdsburg plans to host more live music in the plaza on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The first performer will be the Healdsburg Community Band on June 5, followed by Brotherly Mud on June 12. And look out for more "folk, classic rock, Latin, bluegrass, jazz, and a Beatles tribute" ahead. (No alcohol allowed at these Sunday ones, though.) I also learned there's a ranch out near Lake Sonoma that's been hosting big monthly concerts; the next one is on the Sunday after next, featuring Americana band SoloRio. Last week's Trib had a long piece, too, on some of the interesting folks behind the "Shoffeitt's off the Square" antique collective downtown, just north of the roundabout. And lastly, Trib columnist Pierre Ratte returns with his regular "This Week in H'Burg" feature, which he says will carry on under the new ownership. (Healdsburg Tribune via Weeklys & Healdsburg Tribune via Weeklys & The Ranch at Lake Sonoma)

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Healdsburg pics of the day:

This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, May 20

• Spirit Friday at Westside Elementary School: Mustache Day (All Day)
• Friends of the Healdsburg Library Book Sale (10AM-5:30PM)
• Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience: Live Fire BBQ Fundraising Event With Matt Horn, Benefitting Healdsburg FFA (12-3PM)
• Spring Fling & District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) Resource Fair at Healdsburg Elementary's Fitch Mountain Campus, Featuring Painted Rain Barrels On Display (4-7PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Critical Mass Bike Ride to Alley 6, With Finish at The Drink (5PM)
• Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience: VIP Welcome Celebration at the Montage (5-8PM)
• "Visiting Saints" Guest Chef Event at Little Saint: Plant-Based Taco Dinner & Conversation (5:30PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries, Feat. Tacos San Juan Food Truck & Live Music by Sonoma Shakers (6-8PM)
• Poetry Reading at THE 222: Julia B. Levine, "Ordinary Psalms" (7PM)
• Pat Jordan Band Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• "The Book of Will" Shakespeare Story at the Raven Theater, Feat. Ticket Drawing for Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland (May 20-21, 7:30PM)
• Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes Live at the Elephant in the Room (8PM)

Saturday, May 21

• Healdsburg Running Company Lake Sonoma Run (8AM)
• Healdsburg Saturday Farmers Market (8:30AM-12PM)
• Cleanup Day at Healdsburg's Oak Mound Cemetery (8:30AM-12PM)
• LandPaths Stewardship Day on Fitch Mountain: Meet at the Villa to Pull Invasive French Broom (9AM-1PM)
• Friends of the Healdsburg Library Book Sale, Featuring Bag Sale (10AM-3PM)
• Healdsburg "Wonder League" Baseball Game for Special-Needs Kids at Healdsburg Community Center Field (10:30AM-2PM)
• Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience: Public Seminars on Wine, Cheese & Sustainability at Hotel Healdsburg (11AM-12PM, 2-3PM)
• Bilingual Botanical Bus Farmworker Clinic at Corazón Healdsburg: Masajes, Herbolaria, Acupunctura y Mas (11AM-2PM)
• Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival, Feat. Winery Open Houses (11AM-5PM)
• Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience: Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting Experience and “Sips-N-Sliders” with Douglas Keane & Viet Pham at Healdsburg Bar & Grill (12-4PM)
• Linus Lancaster's Ceramics Class at Healdsburg High School: "Wheel and Hand Building" (1-4PM)
• Healdsburg Jazz Open House at New North Street Location, Feat. Live Outdoor Music & George Wells Festival Photo Exhibit (3:30-6:30PM)
• Dot Wine Spring Release Disco Party at Bacchus Landing, Feat. Filipino Food & DJ (5-8PM)
• Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience: Public Outdoor Concert at Rodney Strong Vineyards,
  Feat. The Band Perry (6:30PM)
• Solo Jazz Piano Concert at THE 222: Benny Green (7PM)
• Joel Astley Blues Band Live at the Elephant in the Room, Feat. Guitarist Johnny Burgin (8-11PM)

Sunday, May 22

• Maison Porcella Pop-Up Brunch at Lioco Wine Tasting Room on Matheson (10AM-2PM)
• "The Book of Will" Shakespeare Story at the Raven Theater, Feat. Ticket Drawing for Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland (2PM)
• Healdsburg Museum Panel Discussion at Harmon Guest House: "Pomo Basketry: Past, Present & Future" (2-3:30PM)
• Stick & Ball Pop Up at ÆRENA Galleries (6PM)

From my notebook:

• I'm behind on sharing highlights from the Healdsburg police logs — but FYI, you can always check them out yourself by clicking into the "Bulletin" section on the Healdsburg Police Department website. Lotta gems in there... (Healdsburg Police Department)
• Healdsburg's Capo Creek Winery out West Dry Creek is throwing a big celebration for Pride Month two weeks from today, on the afternoon of Saturday, June 4. There will be wine, food, merriment and "a special drag performance by SF's best." Tickets are $50. (Inbox & Capo Creek & Sonoma Magazine)
• That same morning, there's also the regular pride parade happening down in Santa Rosa — where Healdsburg's out-and-proud mayor, Ozzy Jimenez, will be honored. And a few Saturdays later, on June 25, Windsor is hosting their first-ever pride festival on the Town Green. The "family-friendly" event will reportedly include "a designated kid zone, a street fair with plenty of food and drink, a community fair with resources featuring over 20 Bay Area nonprofits and live performances with headliners Wonderbread 5 and The Purple Ones."(Sonoma Magazine)
• Early results from Sonoma County's recent homeless count shows the number of "individuals experiencing a form of homelessness" has increased for the first time since 2011. The count has grown around 5 percent since 2020 — when the last count was taken — for an overall increase of 2,745 to 2,893 people. (Sonoma County Government via Healdsburg Patch)
• Related: A long, impassioned convo has been unfolding this month in the "What's Happening Healdsburg" Facebook group about David and Laney, a local homeless couple known for "panhandling around the Safeway parking lot." There are more than 200 comments in the thread. (Facebook Groups)
• And over in the "Beverly Healdsburg" group, there's a big debate over whether the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience this weekend is good for the community. (Facebook Groups)
• The Santa Rosa-based Fogbelt Brewing Company is opening a location in Healdsburg, according to the sleuths who run the @shoplocalhealdsburg Instagram account. The brewery tells them that “there will be some familiar food and brand new menu additions as well.” Fogbelt's new space — which appears to incorporate a "vintage caboose" — is currently taking shape at 410 Hudson Street by the Old Roma Station. Click through for some clutch footage. (Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram)
• Another exclusive from @shoplocalhealdsburg: The owner of Idlewild Wines on the plaza is opening a "sister business" called Ciao Bruto — aka, "Hey Ugly" in Italian — right next door. It's supposed to open this month, and will reportedly serve as "an import wine shop and provisions shop" with "a few housewares as well." (Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram)
• A new scholarship fund for JC students aspiring to be police officers was just set up in the name of Kevin Burke, Healdsburg's former police chief. (Santa Rosa JC & City of Healdsburg)
• There's a cool "wildflower hike" happening out at the coast this weekend, lead by local naturalist Laura Morgan. (Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods)
• Monday is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming June 7 election. We'll be electing a U.S. representative, a state senator, a state assemblymember, a couple of judges, a county schools superintendent, a county supervisor and a sheriff. (County of Sonoma via Facebook & County Voter Information Guide)
• The Press Democrat ran a thoughtful profile this week on Healdsburg wine boss Ames Morrison of the Medlock Ames winery estate. He reportedly "gave up his position of winemaker last year... to concentrate more on making the winery more environmentally minded in the face of climate change." (Press Democrat; paywall)
• The Healdsburg Tribune's new publisher spoke to the Seattle Times last week about the paper's past failed business models, and how he's gonna try to make it work this time. (Seattle Times)
• Here's your chance to weigh in on a developer's proposal to build a 30-unit apartment complex and 45 parking spots in the 1.2-acre lot at 3 Healdsburg Avenue near Kennedy Lane, right next to the Memorial Bridge. The planning commission for the City of Healdsburg will hold a public workshop on the project this coming Tuesday at 6 p.m. (City of Healdsburg)
• Speaking of! There are three open seats right now on the planning commission. Want to help guide city policy on new developments, housing, infrastructure, etc.? Here's how to apply. (City of Healdsburg)
• The city is also looking for a lifeguard and swim instructor, a police officer and some parks & rec staffers. ((City of Healdsburg)
• And Healdsburg Hospital needs a good "medical staff coordinator." (LinkedIn)

OK, you're all caught up for the weekend. Signing off…

— 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