Fire Weather Ahead + Pets on Plaza + Free Healdsburg Preschool?

Hello, people of Healdsburg. Simone here with your weekend edition of the Daily. Brace yourself for the events section — I've never seen so many events in town in one weekend! Here we go...

First, your weekend weather:

• Friday: Cool and windy, with clouds in the afternoon. Small chance of rain tonight. High: 68 Low: 47.
• Saturday: Foggy morning, turning to sun. Still pretty cool. High: 73 Low: 44.
• Sunday: Plenty of sunshine and some wind. Hottest day of the weekend. High: 80 Low: 47.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, but cooling off again. High: 71 Low: 40.

Here are the top stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Weather officials have issued a "Fire Weather Watch" for the mountains west of Healdsburg starting this coming Monday morning and lasting through Tuesday evening. It won't be super hot out, but winds are expected to be strong and humidity low, so there's a higher likelihood of a wildfire starting and spreading than usual. The fire-weather forecast for the rest of October and November isn't looking great, either. According to the the PD, "The National Interagency Fire Center’s monthly report shows that much of Northern California has 'above-normal significant fire potential' for fires through November." This is largely because we've been in an extreme drought for two years, so "heavy rainfall would be necessary to stave off concerns about wildfires." (Facebook & Wildfire Today & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. The Healdsburg Community Center could start hosting a new low-cost, full day, year-round preschool program for working families in the near future. City leaders are currently searching for the right provider; those applications are due Oct. 24. If and when the program is implemented, it will serve kids ages 2 to kindergarten age, and "will either be low-cost for everyone, or will have a sliding fee schedule," a city official tells the Trib. It might even be free for many. "Our goal is to make it as affordable as possible for the community." (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
3. SingleThread, Healdsburg's own three-Michelin-star restaurant, just bagged another major accolade: It has been named the 37th best restaurant in the world. The designation comes via a popular annual list called "The World’s 50 Best Restaurants," reportedly curated by a "panel of more than 1,000 international restaurant industry experts — food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and well-traveled gourmets." And in a slightly more down-to-Earth accolade for another Healdsburg restaurant, the Michelin folks have bestowed their "Bib Gourmand" award for good value to the Les Mars hotel restaurant, Chalkboard. To qualify for this award, diners must be able to order "two courses, a glass of wine or dessert" for $40 or less. (Sonoma Magazine & Sonoma Magazine)
4. Here's what it will take for Healdsburg and the rest of Sonoma County to lift the mandatory mask requirement currently in place for indoor public spaces: We move from the orange tier of the CDC's COVID-19 transmission scale down to the yellow tier; our county health officer declares that COVID hospitalizations are low and stable; and the county population moves from 77% to 80% fully vaccinated. (Healdsburg Patch & Sonoma County Government)
5. A city working group called Healdsburg Housing Element, tasked with giving the city "input and guidance on a roadmap for housing production and programs and goals for 2023-2030," is looking for new members with specific life and housing backgrounds. They need a renter, someone with "lived experience of homelessness," a businessperson, a nonprofit member, a religious person and more. Applications are due by Nov. 5. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)

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This weekend in Healdsburg:

Friday, October 8

• Parish Retreat at Bishop’s Ranch (Oct. 8-10, 8AM-12PM)
• Foggy River Farm Pumpkin Patch Open on Eastside Road (Oct. 8-10, 10AM-4PM)
• Pumpkin U-Pick at SRJC's Shone Farm (Oct. 8-9, 10AM-3PM)
• Healdsburg Library Storytime at Giorgi Park (10:30AM)
• Food Truck Friday at Bacchus Landing (4-7PM)
• Introduction to Disc Golf at Veterans Memorial Park (5:30-7PM)
• Friday Evening Wine & Song at Hudson Street Wineries: Youngblood & Company (6-8PM)
• Honkytonk Stumbleweeds Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• "Fully Committed" One-Act Play at Raven Theater (7:30PM)
• John Hiatt & The Jerry Douglas Band Live at the Luther Burbank Center (8-9:30PM)

Saturday, October 9

• Healdsburg Running Company Saturday Morning Fun Run “Out On The Trails": Mill Valley Tennessee Valley Healdslands Run to Bridge and Beach (8AM)
• Healdsburg Saturday Farmers Market, Feat. Maille Swing Playing Ukes and Dancing Hula (8:30AM-12PM)
• Outdoor Yoga Above The Russian River at Wildhaven Sonoma (10-11AM)
• Healdsburg Fire Department Open House (10AM-2PM)
• Healdsburg Center for the Arts Workshop: Landscape Painting Outdoors at Riverfront Regional Park (10AM-2PM)
• Social Saturday: Intergenerational Picnic at Riverfront Regional Park (11AM)
• Meet the Children's Book Author at Sonoma County Library: Raúl the Third (11AM-12PM)
• Bella Vineyards Backyard Summer Concerts: Dustin Saylor (11AM-4PM)
• Flanagan Wines Harvest Party 2021 (12-4PM)
• Fundraiser for Healdsburg Nonprofit Farm to Pantry in St. Helena: Artisan Collective - Black Pig Meat Co. (1-4PM)
• Adam Lieb Live at Spicy Vines Winery (3-6PM)
• Hotel Healdsburg Jazz Series: Lorca Hart Organ Trio (5-8PM)
• Farm to Barrel Dinner at Longboard Vineyards (6-7:30PM)
• "Fully Committed" One-Act Play at Raven Theater (7:30PM)
• Mr. December Live at The Elephant in the Room (8-10PM)
• Stax City Live at Coyote Sonoma (8-11PM)

Sunday, October 10

• Bella Vineyards Backyard Summer Concerts: Jon Gonzales (11AM-4PM)
• Farmstand for Justice / Puesto Popular at Healdsburg Plaza (12-2PM)
• Family Fun Hike at Riverfront Regional Park (12-2PM)
• Sip & Sign at Dry Creek Vineyard (1-3PM)
• "Fully Committed" One-Act Play at Raven Theater (2PM)
• "Pumpkins, Succulents & Wine, Oh My!" at Rodney Strong Vineyards (3-5PM)
• Margaret Jenkins Dance Company Presents: Healdsburg Pop Up (4PM)
• Classical Pipe Organ, Choir Concert at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church: "Evensong" (5PM)

Monday, October 11

• Pumpkin U-Pick at SRJC's Shone Farm (12-4PM)
• Corazón Healdsburg Talleres Para Padres / Workshop for Parents at Healdsburg Community Center: FAFSA, Becas / Scholarships (6PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Did you know there's a guy named Doc Cummings who often plays classic rock and kids' songs on the plaza? "I have been performing at the pavilion 4 to 6 days a week for the last couple years," he writes in an email. "Recently I have been getting lots of parents bringing their 2- to 5-year-old children to hear me perform 'Wheels on the Bus' and other singalong tunes. It's been lots of fun." You can check him out on the plaza most Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m., and weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. (Inbox)
• Healdsburg's Halloween plans just keep getting better. The animal shelter will be hosting a "Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade & Costume Contest" on the plaza a couple weekends from now, on Saturday, Oct. 23. (Humane Society of Sonoma County)
• The Healdsburg High School football team's homecoming game is also coming up on Friday, Oct. 22. The team will "be renewing an old rivalry against the Santa Rosa Panthers," high school officials say, so "we want to see all students, staff, and fans there to support our Greyhounds!" Here's how to get your tickets ahead of time. (Facebook)
• Were you in the Healdsburg High School class of 1964? Check this out: Your former classmate is giving away digital copies of "all elementary class photos and all of the Madrone (junior high) and Sotoyoman (high school) yearbooks," as well as "photos from the 10, 40, and 50 year reunions." All she asks in return is your help identifying some of the people in the photos. Plus $10 for the thumb drive and postage, if you can. (Nextdoor)
• There was a really bad accident down on River Road yesterday, right in front of the Korbel winery near Odd Fellows Road, after a pickup truck apparently swerved in front of a county bus. According to the CHP, "The forward momentum of the large bus pushed the Toyota several feet westbound. The Toyota subsequently rolled and the male driver was ejected." The bus driver had some "minor injuries," and the truck driver died in the crash. R.I.P. (Healdsburg Patch)
• A pair of young stripey cats without collars or microchips were found on North Street this week. They're now at the Healdsburg animal shelter. (Nextdoor)
• Looking to get rid of an old mattress? You can recycle it for free tomorrow in Cloverdale. (Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll catch up with you all next week for another update! If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. 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? I'm all ears. You can email me at simone.wilson@patch.com.