🌱 Fitch Mountain Facelift + 2nd Candidate Forum + $24K Chandelier

Hello, friends! It's your girl Simone — back in your inbox on the first day of fall to get you caught up on the most important things happening in Healdsburg. Today you'll learn about:

• Another chance to hear from your Healdsburg City Council candidates
• A couple of notable residents who died recently
• Good news for Fitch Mountain hikers
• And more...

But first, your daily weather:

• Thursday: Some fog in the morning, turning to sun. High: 82 Low: 53.
• Friday: Fog-to-sun again. Heating up! High: 88 Low: 55.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Residents will have another chance to hear from the seven candidates currently running for Healdsburg City Council at a second "candidate forum and town hall" a couple of weeks from now. This one will be hosted by the Healdsburg chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the Raven Theater on Thursday, Oct. 6. "The event is free, so come out to listen to the candidates as they outline their plans for Healdsburg," event organizers say. "Please bring a question for the candidates — an informed electorate is a happy electorate!" Also: "Corazón Healdsburg's Spanish translation headsets will be available and real-time translation will be provided to anyone who needs this assistance." And proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for entry. (Raven Theater & Sonoma County Gazette)
2. We just learned of two well-known Healdsburg residents who passed away in the past month. The first is James Jay Fagan, age 82, who moved with his wife Barbara to a farm out West Dry Creek around 30 years ago."Jim was happiest when he was in his old red barn working on and restoring vintage cars through the years," his obituary says. "He was a Ford man mostly and loved his '36 Blue truck that he used daily and could be seen driving around town." He was also a big supporter of our local Healthcare Foundation and a board member for the Healdsburg Museum. A "celebration of life" will be held for Jim on the Saturday after next at the Latter-day Saints church on Powell. The second local legend we lost recently is former Healdsburg Senior Center president and Patricia Pearl Bean, also in her early 80s. Pat grew up here, and reportedly met her husband Bill while attending Healdsburg Elementary. More from her obit: "She taught in local schools for many years. Upon retirement, she became best known throughout Healdsburg as a local author, contributing to several short story collections as well as her own memoir recounting numerous tales of life growing up and living in Healdsburg and Sonoma County after WWII. In addition, she painted in acrylics and watercolor and played and taught classical guitar. ... A textile artist, she created many of the banners which still adorn the walls of Healdsburg Community Church, of which she had been a member of since High School." A celebration of Pat's life will be held at that same church on Oct. 8. (Legacy.com & Legacy.com)
3. The area surrounding the Villa Chanticleer parking lot, where folks set out to hike Fitch Mountain, is about to get a serious makeover — along with the actual trails up the hill. The work will start this fall, according to the Healdsburg Tribune, and should be done by next summer. When it's done, hikers will be able to "park at the improved trailhead" — see the rendering below — and "take a hike to the summit on a well-marked trail across two new footbridges, and look down on Healdsburg, the Russian River Valley, the Santa Rosa Plain and beyond," the Tribune reports. The story continues: "That hike is possible now, though as locals know the view from the summit is partially obstructed by high vegetation growth. ... An expanded trail system, restroom facilities and picnic grounds are among the features that will begin improvements this fall, thanks in large part to a $1.5 million allocation from the state to the State Coastal Conservancy, a longtime financial partner in the Fitch Mountain Park and Preserve project. Perhaps not surprisingly, it’s former Healdsburg High grad, Healdsburg City Council member and now State Sen. Mike McGuire who has secured the final $1.5 million needed to complete the trail system on iconic Fitch Mountain. 'We couldn’t be more excited to secure the funding that represents the final piece to the Fitch Mountain Park and Preserve puzzle,' said McGuire. 'By next summer, hikers and dog walkers alike will have easier access to this gorgeous property, along with restrooms and an enhanced trail system to enjoy.'" (Healdsburg Tribune & City of Healdsburg via Facebook)

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Thursday, September 22

• Sonoma County Government Well Ordinance Update: Informational Town Hall (4-5PM)
• Meghan Maples Live at Little Saint (5:45PM)
• Healdsburg High School English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Annadel Run at Howarth & Spring Lake (6PM)
• Furthermore Funnies: Live Stand-up Comedy at Furthermore Wines (Weekly, 6PM)
• Audio Angel With Full Band Live at the Elephant at the Room, Featuring Opening Set by Sebastian St. James (7-10PM)
• Weird Al Yankovic Live at the Luther Burbank Center: "The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour" (7:30PM)

Friday, September 23

• Community Law Clinic at the Healdsburg Senior Center: Elder Law Basics & Resources / Fundamentos de la Ley de la Tercera Edad (10AM)
• Healdsburg Library Presents Family Storytime at Giorgi Park (10:30AM)
• Healdsburg High School Wrestling Team Sign-Up Meeting in Frost Hall (Lunchtime)
• Farm to Pantry Volunteer Delivery Shift: Meet at Feed Sonoma in Petaluma & Deliver Produce to Families in Healdsburg (1:30PM)
• Little Monsters Culinary Kids Cooking Class at Merriam Wines (3:30-5PM)
• Mesa-Yakushev Classical Duo Performs at THE 222 (7PM)
• Healdsburg High School Home Football Game Vs. Kennedy at Rec Park (7PM)
• Petty Rocks, Tom Petty Cover Band, Live at Coyote Sonoma (7-10PM)
• Raven Players Perform "Evil Dead, The Musical" at the Raven Theater, Feat. "Splatter Zone" in Front Row (Sept. 23-25, 7:30PM)
• One Grass, Two Grass Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)

Healdsburg pics of the day, rain edition:

Want me to feature one of your photos in the newsletter? Send it on over. Please just confirm in your email that you took the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it, K? 📸

From my notebook:

• Guys! It's officially fall! To celebrate, the Press Democrat reflects on the wild weather we saw this summer, including that record-setting heat wave earlier this month and the big rains that washed it away. Now, "with summer in the rearview mirror," the PD reports, local weather officials are "keeping an eye out for common fall conditions that can promote the spread of wildfires, including low humidity and offshore winds." (Press Democrat; paywall)
• Today in Beverly Healdsburg: A local lighting company on Grove Street called Studio Bel Vetro just sold a custom "light drop" chandelier to someone in the Oakland Hills for a whopping $24,100. "We got to pick the number of drops and we got to play with the spread and height so it fit perfectly with the skyline," says the designer who picked out the piece for her client. “Each drop is handblown at their studio in Healdsburg." (Mansion Global & Studio Bel Vetro)
• The Healdsburg Tribune just ran a followup to their Q&A last week with the four candidates vying for two full-term seats on the council — this time, with the three candidates shooting for the half-term seat. Matias Lopez Jr., Ron Edwards and Brigette A. Mansell answer the following questions: "What are the most important reasons you’re running for a city council seat?"; "What experience or specific qualifications will you bring to the city council?"; "How do you think the council can better represent its constituents?"; and "What do you think that visitors should know about Healdsburg?". (Healdsburg Tribune)
• And after beloved local restaurant Campo Fina announced they'll be closing this fall, the Sonoma County Gazette asks each of the candidates: “If elected what actions will you take so that more community-serving businesses can open in town and thrive?” (Sonoma County Gazette)
• Speaking of Campo Fina: The Trib has some more details on the lease negotiations that put the nail in the coffin. (Healdsburg Tribune)

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Alrighty, that's it for today. See you tomorrow for more...

— 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