🌱 Goodbye Campo Fina + Copters Overhead + Youth Art Lab + Power Out?

Hey there, neighbors. I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in our community. Because local news matters! In this issue, you'll find...

• Sad news about beloved local restaurant Campo Fina
• Obituaries for a couple of Healdsburg transplants who made a big mark in town
• The story behind some PG&E helicopters buzzing overhead this week
• And more...

But first, your daily weather:

• Monday: Clouds turning to sun. High: 88 Low: 54.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High: 80 Low: 52.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsors:

• Have you stopped by Amy's Wicked Slush near Memorial Bridge lately? Amy's has Slush in glorious flavors like root beer, mango, and orange cream and soft serve in flavors like Cupcake, Blueberry and Brown Sugar Cinnamon. Can’t decide? Get the Split — half-slush, half-soft serve layered up like a parfait! Do yourself a favor and stop by ASAP.

• Looking to buy or sell a luxury property in Sonoma County? Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s International Realty is a local firm with global reach that specializes in luxury real estate, vineyards, wineries and land in Sonoma County. Healdsburg's Sotheby's: local expertise, deep market knowledge, and a passion for the community. Whether buying or selling, it pays to work with the best. Call Healdsburg’s Sotheby’s at 707-433-4800.

Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Everyone's favorite local Italian place, Campo Fina, is closing its doors at the end of this month after a decade in business. Owners Ari and Dawnelise Rosen just announced the sad news in a heartfelt letter to the community. "It's difficult to point to one reason we are closing," they write. "The truth is there are many truths. It would be easy to point to the doubling of our rent this year, a national labor shortage, rampant growth in our town, inflation, and the lack of housing for our staff. While these are influencing factors, the truth is they inspired a deeper reflection that points toward a need for change." The Rosens continue: "One of the hardest parts in leaving the restaurant is closing a place that feels like home to so many. Our hope is that Campo has served as a positive reflection of our community’s desire to keep community alive." They say their last day of service will be Oct. 1, "so come get your Campo fix before we close our doors." They also ask that you "please help our amazing staff find great jobs so they can thrive in this community" and continue to "support local family-owned businesses, demand more affordable housing options, and show that locals do matter." You can read their full letter here. (Facebook Groups & Mailchimp)
2. We lost a couple notable Healdsburg transplants recently. The first is Dean Gilbert Gross, who moved to Fitch Mountain from Silicon Valley only eight years ago at the age of 91 — but it seems he made quite a splash in the short time he was here. "In no time he became an ambassador for the City," Dean's obituary says. "He also became a big supporter of several local charities; including, the Sonoma County Humane Society in Healdsburg and the Healdsburg Center for the Arts. Over the last 5 years numerous senior and adult cats have been the benefactors of having their adoption sponsored by Dean and his partner Clay, usually whenever a cat made Dean cry. His presence in Healdsburg, and at three animal shelters he and his partner supported will be deeply missed. Another fork in the road Dean took was to become a winemaker. Soon after moving to Healdsburg, and at the young age of 91, Dean became co-wine maker and chief grape stomper of a delicious off-dry Gewurztraminer. His passion and his bare feet went into every bottle, earning top 3 finishes every year in the annual Blind Gewurztraminer Taste Off on Fitch Mountain." The second transplant who died recently in his late 60s was Ted Reese Royter, Jr., described in his obituary as a "successful painting contractor" for many years in Healdsburg. "He loved everything about living in Northern California and was convinced it was the BEST place to live," his obit says. He was also known for taking in any stray cat who crossed his path. May both Dean and Ted rest in peace. (Legacy.com & Legacy.com)
3. Healdsburg city officials say that "PG&E will be flying helicopters to conduct surveys over our power lines in Healdsburg and Fitch Mountain" this week. The flyovers start today and last through Thursday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. "A helicopter equipped with LiDAR technology will be flying at an altitude of about 500 feet," officials say. "These surveys will collect more data about PG&E’s power lines, poles and their surrounding environment in high-fire threat areas. For more information on the helicopter surveying work, residents can call 1-877-295-4949 or email PG&E at wildfiresafety@pge.com." (City of Healdsburg via Facebook)

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Monday, September 12

• PG&E Hosts Virtual North Coast Town Hall on Wildfire Safety-Related Outages & More (5:30-7PM)

Tuesday, September 13

• Farm to Pantry Apple & Garden Glean at Home Farm (8:30AM-12PM)
• Healdsburg Tuesday Farmers Market (9AM-12:30PM)
• After-School Art Lab for Kids in Grades 1-5 at the Healdsburg Community Center: Painting, Drawing & Mixed Media (Weekly, Sept. 13-Nov. 1, 3:30-5:30PM)
• Sonoma County Emergency Officials Host Live-Streamed Webinar on Current Wildfire Concerns & Preparation (4PM)
• Nutrition Class for Parents at the Healdsburg Library / Clases Gratuitas de Nutrición de "Food Smarts" Para Padres de Niños en Edad Preescolar (5PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Trail Sisters Run With Hawaiian Theme, Ending With Mai-Tai's in the Parklet (6PM)
• Tuesday Trivia at Furthermore Wines: "All About Food" (6-8PM)
• Healdsburg City Planning Commission Meeting (6-10PM)

Healdsburg pic of the day:

Want to see a photo of yours featured in the newsletter? You can send it to me here. Please just confirm in your email that you took the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it! 📸

From my notebook:

• I'd love to hear about how some of you memorialized Sept. 11 yesterday in Healdsburg. Reach out to share your story.
• The famed Healdsburg roundabout, along with the southbound lane of Healdsburg Avenue between Matheson and the roundabout, will be closed until 12:30 p.m. today "to facilitate a pavement repair by the City’s contractor, Engelke Construction," the city says. "Please use Matheson Street to Vine Street as an alternate route and pay particular attention to construction signage and the direction of workers." (City of Healdsburg via Facebook)
• Neighbors say the power went out in parts of Healdsburg last night and this morning. Not totally clear why... (Nextdoor & Press Democrat; paywall)
• Herman G. Hernandez, executive director of the Los Cien Sonoma County org, was given a special nod during at last week's Healdsburg City Council meeting, when the council voted to recognize the month lasting from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Latin-American Heritage Month. "Cheers friend!" the mayor says. (Osvaldo Jimenez via Instagram & City of Healdsburg via Facebook)
• A survey is circulating for residents to "help decide how [Sonoma County Transportation Authority] funding is used on projects in our communities." Give your input here. (Ariel Kelley via Facebook)
• The Tribune pointed out recently that while Healdsburg residents have been given a lot of credit this summer and last for saving water, "this feel-good news must be put in the context of a surprising statistic that residents use about 50% more water per capita than other cities in the county." More from the story: "'This suggests that we have room for more conservation and some ground to make up when it comes to water efficiency within our region, yet we are moving in the right direction,'" the city reports in their Water Management FAQ. 'We do not know definitively the particular cause of historically higher water consumption; however, we think that it was likely due to outdoor irrigation,' said Terra Sampson of the city’s utility department." (Healdsburg Tribune)
• The current art exhibit at the Upstairs Art Gallery inside the Levin & Company bookstore on the plaza is a "collection of paintings that express unique beauty and character of birds." You can stop by through Sept. 25. (Sonoma Magazine)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you soon...

— 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