🌱 Healdsburg Public Drinking Rules + The Ruse + Boys Soccer Surprise

Hello, my people! I'm here to kick off your week with a fresh Presidents Day edition of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Today's briefing includes updates on:

• The HHS boys soccer team and their unexpected postseason win streak
• Healdsburg's rules for drinking in public spaces
• The Ruse, a private club proposed on Grove Street

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Mostly sunny and warm. High: 73 Low: 44.
• Tuesday: Much cooler and cloudier. Strong winds and possible rains overnight. High: 58 Low: 36.
• Wednesday: Another chilly, windy day with more possible rain or snow! High: 53 Low: 32.

Also, a heads up — weather officials warn that "a prolonged major winter storm will spread a large swath of heavy snow from the West Coast to the Midwest" this week. In Healdsburg, from tomorrow through Friday, that could look like heavy wind, rain and even snow at higher elevations. In particular, there's a "wind advisory" in effect starting tomorrow afternoon and ending Wednesday afternoon — during which time officials warn of "northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph." They add: "Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. ... Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle." (National Weather Service & COPE Northern Sonoma County via Facebook)

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. After what the Healdsburg Tribune calls a "see-saw season" that placed the Healdsburg High School boys soccer team fourth within their league, the boys are having a hell of a run at the larger, regional North Coast Section (NCS) division playoffs — aka, "a four-round elimination tournament that pits the 16 seeded teams against one another to determine the regional championship"— the Tribune reports. Although they were seeded fifth in the NCS playoffs, they've only got two more games between them and the championship. The "Greyhounds had quite a day in their Division 4 quarterfinal, thrashing No. 4 Saint Mary’s 5-0," the Press Democrat reported over the weekend. "Three goals in the second half sealed the deal for the Greyhounds. Five different Healdsburg players found the back of the net: Juan Pablo Patino, Diego Zavala, Edwin Vasquez, Ricardo Gomez and Jordan Valencia. Edgar Campos had three assists on the evening. In the semifinal round, Healdsburg will host No. 8 Piedmont, 1-0 winners in an upset over top-seeded Cardinal Newman. That game will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday" here in Healdsburg. And whoever wins that game will go on to play one of two San Francisco high schools, University High or Lick-Wilmerding, in the final championship game. (Healdsburg Tribune & MaxPreps & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Healdsburg city leaders may keep the more relaxed rules around drinking in public spaces, such as the plaza and restaurant parklets, that they adopted at the start of the COVID pandemic — along with the rest of California — to help local food and drink businesses stay afloat, according to the Healdsburg Tribune. "The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission contemplated new rules for public consumption of alcohol at their Feb. 8 meeting," the Tribune reports — "the result of the imminent expiration of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID State of Emergency declaration. That declaration times out at the end of February, so the more lenient consumption rules that were allowed during the pandemic to help downtown businesses stay open will likewise expire, and previous limits on public consumption will once again be in effect. Unless, that is, the rules are rewritten to reflect the pandemic experience. That’s why Mark Themig, Healdsburg’s community services director, spoke at the Feb. 8 meeting to propose a few adjustments to the Municipal Code, adjustments that reflected the experience of the past two and a half years. He said that not only have a number of downtown food and beverage businesses become used to relaxed regulations, but law enforcement and city staff have found that increased public consumption really hasn’t caused any problems." The City Council will consider keeping the COVID-era drinking rules at their regular, every-other-week meeting tomorrow night. (Healdsburg Tribune & City of Healdsburg)
3. One thing that will NOT be discussed at tomorrow's Healdsburg City Council meeting is The Ruse, formerly known as Honor Mansion, at 891 Grove St. After extensive renovations that surely cost them a pretty penny, the new owners wanted to flip the property from a classic B&B into a “private recreational park and swim club" — but after months of pushback from neighbors and city officials, they've officially "withdrawn their appeal to the city council of the city’s denial of their proposed use for the three-acre property," the Tribune reports. "The hearing had been anticipated to take place at the Feb. 21 meeting, but with their withdrawal, the city’s decision will stand." It's not totally clear yet why they've stopped fighting for the new use permit, but City Councilmember Chris Herrod tells the Trib his theory: "It’s purely conjecture, but I think the community’s overwhelming objection to the developer’s plans played a key role in their deciding to withdraw the appeal." More from the story: "The directors of the LLC now include brothers Patrick and Jonathan Wilhelm, whose family owns the Mayacama Golf Club in Santa Rosa, and an agent, Levi White. Silicon Valley executive Craig Ramsey, founder of Vlocity and co-owner of The Matheson in downtown Healdsburg, was shown as the sole manager or member of the LLC on its original filing, in July 2020." Read the full saga here. (Healdsburg Tribune & Nextdoor)

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Coming up in Healdsburg:

Monday, February 20 (Presidents Day)

• Sonoma County Restaurant Week, Feat. 9 Healdsburg Restaurants (Feb. 20-26, All Day)
• President's Day Basketball Camp for Kids Aged 7-13 at Healdsburg Junior High (9AM-3PM)
• "Colectivo de Artes" at Corazón Healdsburg (Weekly, 5:30PM)

Tuesday, February 21 (Fat Tuesday)

• Felta Education Foundation (FEF) Meeting (9-10AM)
• Farm to Pantry Hosts Volunteer Citrus "Gleans" at Healdsburg Farms (9:30AM-12PM)
• Book Club at the Healdsburg Senior Center: "Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman (10AM)
• Senior Citizen Strength Training at Rec Park (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:15AM-12PM)
• Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Celebration at at Parish Café & Elephant in the Room, Feat. Authentic Louisiana Cuisine, Cajun Food Truck, Crawfish Boil & 4 Live Bands (2-10PM)
• After-School Art Lab for Kids Aged 6–8 at the Healdsburg Community Center: "Mixed Media" (Weekly, Feb. 21-Mar. 28, 3:30-5:30PM)
• "Seeds & Reads" for Kids in Grades K-6 at the Healdsburg Library: Learn About Local Mushrooms & Make Clay Mushroom Models (4-5PM)
• "Mi Bebé y Yo" Taller Para Padres / Workshop for Parents at Corazón Healdsburg (5PM)
• West Side School Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30PM)
• Healdsburg City Council Meeting (6PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts Mardi Gras Run With Hurricanes & King Cake (6PM)
• T-Luke & The Tight Suits Live at Coyote Sonoma for Mardi Gras (6-9PM)

Wednesday, February 22

• "Universal Yums" for Teens at the Healdsburg Library (1:30PM)
• Studio Art Class for Tweens/Teens Aged 9-13 at the Healdsburg Community Center: "Drawing, Painting & Mixed Media" (Weekly, Feb. 22-Mar. 29, 3:30-5:30PM)
• Senior Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting (4PM)
• Homework Help at the Healdsburg Library (Weekly, 4PM)
• Redwood Empire Food Bank Hosts Food & Supply Distribution at Healdsburg City Hall (Twice monthly, 4-5PM)
• North Coast Section Boys Soccer Playoffs: Healdsburg High School Plays Piedmont at Home (7PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)

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That's it for now. Hope you're feeling good and informed and ready to take on the week! 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com