🌱 Final Tribune + Rummage Sale + Sonoma Cider Returns + Booze At Rec?

Hello, people of Healdsburg! Simone here with your fresh copy of the Daily. Keep reading for much ado about the final issue of the Trib, plus everything else you need to know about what's happening locally.

First, your daily weather:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with continuing strong winds. High: 66 Low: 42.
• Friday: Partly sunny and pretty windy again. High: 73 Low: 49.

Air over Healdsburg:

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Here are the top 5 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. The heartbreaking front page of today's Healdsburg Tribune, the last issue after 157 years in print, is stamped at the top with a big, crimson "FINAL EDITION" and features a front-page story on the legacy of the paper in our community. "Dear readers," the story begins. "The Healdsburg Tribune, after struggling for years alongside thousands of small newspapers in the country, is ending its coverage of the community, ceasing all newsgathering activities and closing its downtown office, effective immediately." The piece goes on to detail the transition of Healdsburg's local paper from the Democratic Standard in 1865 to the Russian River Flag to the Sotoyome Scimitar to the Healdsburg Enterprise to the Trib — and all its various financial models over the years. Ending, of course, with the most recent donation-based model of the Sonoma County Local News Initiative (aka SoCoNews), which in the end just couldn't bring in as much as it was paying out. There's also a great bit in there about the "common belief around town" among folks who think that "Healdsburg was perfect on the day they arrived, and that the community is so extraordinary, so special, that all attempts to grow and change must be resisted, at all cost." And while "that attitude can be frustrating," the Trib staff writes, "if you look underneath it, you'll see that it comes from a deep love of the community. It's easy to love this place, and hard to say goodbye." The entire farewell piece is definitely worth a read — with some tissues in close reach. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
2. For the nostalgic among us, plus anyone looking for some cool office stuff, the Tribune will be hosting an "Everything must go!" rummage sale this weekend at their 230 Center Street headquarters, just south of the plaza. An advert in today's final print issue says that items up for grabs include "office furniture, desks of all sizes, variety of chairs, monitors, printers, copier, paper shredders, whiteboards, bulletin boards, office supplies, bookcases, cabinets, décor, hat stands, dishes, wine glasses, and so much more." The sale starts today and lasts through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Also in today's issue, right next to the rummage sale announcement, is a callout for a new tenant at 230 Center. The space is described as a "desirable" 2,000-square-foot ground floor "ideally suited for a professional office for wine, legal, insurance or consulting or similar business." Then, the final zinger: "This property has an excellent occupancy history and represents a rare opportunity for a new or existing business to upgrade its Healdsburg location and visibility." R.I.P. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
3. Ever wonder what happened to beloved Healdsburg drink company Sonoma Cider after it dissolved in a pile of debt four years ago? Sounds like was sitting around waiting for a buyer for a while — until now. Full Circle Brewing Company, based in Fresno, just "bought the label and the cider recipes," the Press Democrat reports, with "a goal to revive the label for fans across the country who embraced the craft drink — even if it’s not made locally anymore." Sonoma Cider reportedly "burned through $10 million before closing" back in 2018, at which time its "taproom in Healdsburg was taken over by the Wilson winemaking family for its Coyote Sonoma label and other production items were sold off." Now, Full Circle plans to pick right back up where former CEO David Cordtz and his team left off. From the PD: "The brewery is offering three of the brand’s most popular ciders — its apple, pear and bourbon-flavored drinks — and they are available at retail outlets in the area such as Trader Joe’s and on draft at taprooms. The goal is to expand its national outreach to take advantage of the Sonoma Cider name that had previously been available in 30 states." (North Bay Business Journal & Press Democrat; paywall)
4. Exciting update on Purls of Joy Healdsburg, the knitting shop and community space on Healdsburg Avenue and Piper that a group of 25 passionate residents saved and turned into a co-op earlier this year. "We are up and running and with luck will be able to a viable business for many years," says co-op member and organizer Janice Orrego. "We are still very grateful for all the support we have received in this endeavor." Now, they're planning their grand re-opening on May 13, 14 and 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — and want to encourage the entire community to stop in and see what the fiber arts are all about. "Come by and make friends with the members of the new ownership group," the Purls of Joy newsletter says. "We will all be happy to share our stories and our passions for all things yarny. There will be a range of activities, and some nibbles, too." And in a separate email, Janice tells me that "one of the POJ CO-OP mission statement goals was to reach out to the HBG community and share with them the joy of working with fiber." To that end, she says, Purls of Joy also plans to launch a monthly program at the Healdsburg library, starting in June. Stay tuned for more info! (Inbox & MailChimp)
5. Lots of hot topics on the agenda for the next City Council meeting on Monday. David Hagele, who's on the council, listed some highlights on his Facebook page. They include the presentation of the Marie Sparks Memorial Volunteer Award to Martha Brooks and Greta Mesics; an update from our city manager on Healdsburg's water supply; a discussion about potential alcohol sales at Prune Packers baseball games and the FFA fair; proposed street closures for the Healdsburg Arts Festival, Fourth of July events, the FFA parade and fair, and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival's Juneteenth celebration; the possible introduction of "automated license plate reader" technology in town; and next steps toward allowing "commercial cannabis operations" in Healdsburg, including a possible "measure for the November 8th General Election ballot that would authorize commercial cannabis operations to be taxed." Thank you David for the helpful summary! (Facebook & Facebook & City of Healdsburg)

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Thursday, April 28

• Rummage Sale at Healdsburg Tribune Offices (April 28-30, 9AM-1PM)
• Healdsburg American Association of University Women (AAUW) Forum: "Interpreting Works of Art - Your 'GPS' for Visual Literacy" (10-11:45AM)
• Advanced Spanish Conversation Virtual Class at Sonoma County Library (1:30-2:45PM)
• After-School Teen/Tween Studio at Healdsburg Center for the Arts: Painting, Drawing & Printmaking (3:30-5PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Fitch Mountain Trail Run With Tailgate Party & Finish at Duke's for Boiler Makers (6PM)
• Northern Sonoma County Fire District Virtual Community Meeting on Prescribed Burns at Lake Sonoma (6PM)

Friday, April 29

• El Día de Los Libros Virtual Storytime at Sonoma County Library (10-10:45AM)
• Graveside Service for Joan Bennett at Healdsburg Oak Mound Cemetery (11AM)
• Healdsburg Library Family Storytime at Giorgi Park (11AM-12PM)
• Sit and Stitch at Purls of Joy Healdsburg (Weekly, 1-3PM)
• Opening Night of Alexander Valley Film Festival (AVFest): "Calendar Girls" at the Clover Theater in Cloverdale, Followed by Block Party on 1st Street (5PM)
• Joshua Martin Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• Mike Saliani Band Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

Healdsburg pic of the day:

We love to feature local pics from the community! Show us what you've been seeing around town. Please just confirm when you send your photo that you're the one who took it, and that Patch has permission to republish it. 📸

From my notebook:

• Well-known Healdsburg matriarch Joan Coppedge Bennett passed away this month at the age of 97. Joan and her husband Buck famously ran "a horse boarding operation on Westside Road and owned and operated two large salmon fishing boats out of Bodega Bay," according to her obituary. And "after her children were grown, Joan worked at the Healdsburg J.C. Penney’s, Geyserville Lampson Ford and Tractor Company and was a courier for Healdsburg Printing." But through it all, "her greatest love was her family and her home." Joan's loved ones will be holding a service for her at the Healdsburg Cemetery tomorrow morning. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• Healdsburg resident and Korean War vet John Jack Vallerga (better known as Jack) died recently as well, at age 91. While in the Marine Corps, Jack was "stationed near the front lines" and "carried fellow soldiers to safety under heavy mortar attacks," according to his obituary. Later, in Healdsburg, he "proudly served as a member of the Healdsburg Sunrise Rotary whose members faithfully watched over Jack in his later years at Healdsburg Senior Living." He and his second wife Gloria "had 12 enjoyable years hosting family and friends in their Healdsburg home," his obituary says. "Jack always liked to garden and it showed in the couple's backyard of flowers and fresh vegetables." There will be a memorial mass for him at St. John's Church on May 7. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• Healdsburg firefighters will be using a machine called a "masticator" to get rid of flammable vegetation "along the ridge line of the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve" in the coming days. "It has a mower on an articulating arm and can throw debris at high speed," the fire department says. "There will be signs posted to close the trail if the operator is within 300 feet. DO NOT APPROACH while it is in operation and do not pass the signs for your safety." (Facebook)
• Also: There's a community meeting tonight concerning "2-3 prescribed burns at Lake Sonoma in the summer and fall of 2022" — a joint plan between CAL Fire, the U.S. Army Corps and the Northern Sonoma County Fire District. "The meeting will last about a hour," officials say, "and will be mostly to answer any questions/concerns after a 15 minute presentation describing the project and the plan." Read more about the proposal here. (Facebook)
• Healdsburg city offices will be closed tomorrow, FYI. (City of Healdsburg)
• The San Francisco Chronicle ran an interesting piece this week on wineries in the Petaluma area that are paying big money to construct pipelines from their vineyards to the city's sewage treatment plant, so they can use the treated wastewater for irrigation. And it sounds like some Healdsburg wineries may have similar plans. (SF Chronicle; paywall)
• A reminder that the Healdsburg Chorus will be singing at the Raven Theater in person this Saturday night and Sunday afternoon! The show is nature-themed. (Raven Performing Arts Theater)
• Oh, dang! We also just noticed that "legendary" harpist Calvin Arsenia is playing next Tuesday at the Elephant in the Room Pub. (Facebook)
• Did you know there's an adorable, Snoopy-themed lending library called "Woodstock's Bookstock" at the Sonoma County Airport? "This bounty of books is located next to the WW2 Memorial Propeller, just north of the terminal," the airport says. "Take a book, leave a book." (Facebook)
• The Favorites consignment shop on Center Street is hiring. (Facebook & Favorites)
• And the Top Cheer Elite gym on Mill Street is looking for a new tumbling coach. (Facebook)

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Alright, that's it for today. Til 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