🌱 Fireworks, FFA Fair Update + New Butterfly Mural + Sports Scores

Good morning, Healdsburg! I'm here at the top of the week to get you all caught up on what's happening around town. Let's dive right in...

First, your upcoming weather:

• Monday: Cloudy and windy with possible rain in the afternoon, then another very high chance of rain at night. High: 60 Low: 46.
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with another chance of rain. High: 61 Low: 42.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Tonight's Healdsburg City Council meeting will include a couple hot topics: First, a proposed increase in residents' water and wastewater bills, and second, the approval of certain Healdsburg police equipment that's now considered "military equipment" by the federal government. The fire department will also give their yearly update, including details on recent vegetation management; City Manager Jeff Kay will give updates on our water supply and affordable housing initiatives; and there will be some budget talk, as well as a badge-pinning ceremony for Healdsburg firefighter Dean De La Montanya. You can read the full meeting agenda and more details on the city website. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in person at City Hall. (SoCoNews Healdsburg & City of Healdsburg)
2. Good news: Healdsburg's public Fourth of July fireworks show is returning after taking two years off for COVID! "We are excited to announce the return of the annual 4th of July Fireworks," city officials said on social media over the weekend. "Our Community Services team, along with Healdsburg Fire, Police, and Public Works, are working closely with our friends at the Healdsburg American Legion to support this long-standing tradition. This year's show is made possible thanks the generous financial support from the Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District and donors like you." They're now encouraging more people to donate, to make the show even cooler. "Watch for more information coming this summer on show time and the best viewing locations," officials say. (Facebook)
3. Looks like Healdsburg's beloved FFA parade, fair and barn dance is a tentative "go" this year, too! It's scheduled for Thursday, May 26 through Saturday, May 28, and neighbors have been seeing homemade signs advertising it at local shops. According to the Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair website, event organizers are "striving to have an in person and 'normal' fair in 2022" — but they note that "we are of course subject to any city and county health regulations and in the event of health department directives, have the right to postpone or cancel our event(s)." In particular, they shared that they are still "working to understand the implications of Prop 12," a new state law that makes it illegal to raise farm animals in enclosures that don't meet minimum size requirements, as well as sell products from those animals. Anyway, if the parade and fair do happen this year, the theme will be "unity, community… ag is our glue in 2022." We'll post any additional info as we get it! (Facebook & HealdsburgFair.org)
4. In case you hadn't heard yet, the Healdsburg Tribune's legendary sports reporter, 64-year-old Greg Clementi, retired exactly a month ago, after 20 years on the beat. “I just wanted to retire while I was still young enough to enjoy life — fishing and traveling, going to games, things like that,” he told the Trib. So in his absence, here's an update on some of the current spring sports seasons at Healdsburg High. The boys' baseball team is doing great — they're currently second in the league, with a record of 5-2. Their next home game is this Friday. The girls' softball team is having a little tougher time, with a 2-4 record in the league so far; however, they totally whooped Elsie Allen at home on April 7, and are hoping for another win against Ukiah at their away game tomorrow. Meanwhile, the HHS swim team cleaned up last week at a home meet against Rancho Cotati: The final score was a staggering 116-23. Their next meet is coming up this Wednesday at West County High, aka the new combo school for Analy and El Molino students. (SoCoNews Healdsburg & SoCoNews Healdsburg & Healdsburg High School & MaxPreps)
5. Here's another impressive achievement from a local athlete in a more alternative sport. Healdsburg Junior High eighth-grader Dorian Niaki, star of the Vertex Vertical Vipers youth climbing team in Santa Rosa, took the Norcal Youth Climbing League Championship in Santa Cruz by storm earlier this month. Niaiki "placed first in his age group for both speed and difficulty — a double he achieved at all four of the team’s competitions this season," the PD reports. And "by continuing his seasonlong domination, Niaki helped Vertex clinch the championship of its nine-member league, which includes teams from Concord, El Cerrito, and Oakland in the East Bay, and Santa Cruz in the South Bay." His coach says that while Niaki isn't as tall as many of the other climbers, he’s "crazy strong, and super creative in the way he goes about working out these problems" — with an innate understanding of "how to move and position his body on the wall." (Press Democrat; paywall)

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Monday, April 18

• Countywide "Shake Out" for Earthquake Preparedness: Drop, Cover & Roll (10AM)
• "We Are the Kind" Live at Duke's Spirited Cocktails (4:30-9PM)
• Voices From the Frontlines: Farmworker Rally in Santa Rosa (5-7PM)
• Healdsburg City Council Meeting (6PM)
• "ScripTease" Reading at Healdsburg Center for the Arts of "Cleanup on Aisle 7," New Play by Ron Nash (7PM)
• Zumba With Chuy at TCElite Gym (7:15-8:15PM)

Tuesday, April 19

• Healdsburg American Association of University Women (AAUW) Spring Forum: "The Ocean Off Our Coast" (10-11:45AM)
• Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Open House: Learn About County's New Voting Process (3-6PM)
• Matty Tucker Live at Duke's Spirited Cocktails (5-8PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Mendo 5K/Arnold Rim Trail Shakout Run at Riverfront Regional Park (6PM)
• Ballet Folclórico at Corazón Healdsburg (6:30PM)

Healdsburg pic of the day:

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From my notebook:

• A monarch butterfly mural is coming to the outside wall of Black Oak Coffee, just off the plaza, according to the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce. It's part of an initiative called the "SoCo Monarch Project" — and there will be an event this Saturday at Black Oak where the "artist who will be painting this gorgeous mural" will reportedly be talking to passerby and gathering inspiration for the artwork. (Facebook)
• Also this Saturday, the Sonoma County Master Gardeners club is holding a "pop-up succulent sale" in Healdsburg, featuring a "wide variety of 4-inch and 1-gallon container plants as well as an array of arrangements" and a "limited selection of custom-made potting benches." It will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 402 Tucker St. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• Another player just jumped into the Healdsburg water delivery market to fill the void left by the city this year. Two local college students say they're starting a delivery service called CD Water Solutions. "We hope you consider using us for your recycled water needs," they say. "No tank? No problem, we offer grass watering services too." You can see their prices and schedule on their new website. (Facebook & CD Water Solutions)
• Healdsburg distillery Young & Yonder Spirits is in charge of serving the mint juleps at Kendall-Jackson winery's first-ever Kentucky Derby party in Santa Rosa next month. It will be a benefit for the Sonoma County chapter of Meals on Wheels. (7x7)

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Events:

• Healdsburg Chorus Spring Concert: "And Nature Smiled" (April 24)
• Savour Sonoma Sculpture (April 30)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you soon for another update.

— 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.