HHS Principal + Scary Fire Stats + Winery 'Dream Job' Finalists

Good morning, people of Healdsburg! It's me again, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Daily, with everything you need to know about what's happening in town today.

First, today's weather:

Sunny and clear, with some relief from the recent heat wave. Yesterday's "flex alert" has been lifted. High: 86 Low: 45.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Healdsburg High School's new principal, who started this month, does not come controversy-free. Amy Jones-Kerr, former superintendent of Roseland School District in Santa Rosa, is reportedly still being investigated by Healdsburg school district officials after accusations surfaced of "bullying, harassment, racism and other discriminatory behaviors by staff" at a school in Roseland under her watch. (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Remember that insane contest announced a few months ago by Healdsburg's Murphy-Goode Winery, where people could compete to land their "dream job in the wine industry"? Well, winery judges have whittled the finalists down to 17 hopefuls from across the country. They're all reportedly headed to Healdsburg at the end of July for a series of in-person interviews. The two winners will "earn $10,000 salary per month, live rent-free in Healdsburg for one year, and receive a year's supply of Murphy-Goode wine." Watch the contestants appeal to the judges on YouTube. (PRNewswire & YouTube)
3. Unsurprisingly, the reason for the recent surge in COVID cases and hospitalizations locally is more social gatherings, according to county officials. "We really have two realities going on, one for those who are vaccinated and one for unvaccinated," a county spokesman says. Officials are now reportedly bracing for another round of cases coming off Fourth of July weekend. (Press Democrat; paywall)
4. Do you still have fallen trees on your property resulting from PG&E work after the Lightning Complex fires last summer? Here's how to make PG&E come deal with them. (Patch Press Release Desk)
5. A short film called "Barnhouse Dames" — a 1930s-style comedy, no less — was recently shot at an unnamed Healdsburg farm with "a bunch of extras of local Healdsburg residents." The film's Raven Theater debut had been set for the end of this month, but was just postponed til next year because, you know, COVID. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)

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Today in Healdsburg:

• Healdsburg Tuesday Farmers Market (9AM-12:30PM)
• Dip, Dive, Dodge, Duck Dodgeball Camp at Healdsburg Community Center (July 12-16, 9AM-3PM)
• All Sorts of Sports Jr. Academy at Healdsburg Community Center (July 12-16, 9AM-3PM)
• Virtual Pride Club for Teens (ages 13-18) at Sonoma County Library (4-5PM)
• Ladies Night Fitch Mountain Run, ending with Tie Dye, Bubbles, & Live Music (6PM)
• Tuesdays in the Plaza: Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings (6-8PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Apocalypse suspicions confirmed. There have already been three to four times as many acres burned by wildfires in California so far this year compared to last year, according to CalFire. (Facebook)
• On the upside, local humans have come through for Tierra Vegetables, a farm off the 101 at Airport Boulevard that saw key infrastructure damaged during the Tubbs Fire. The farm — famous for heirloom crops like chiles, "unusual corn varieties," dried beans and onions — has received an outpouring of donations from neighbors. "That $50,000 is going to stabilize the immediate fate of the farm and be able to carry us through this year," says one half of the brother-sister Tierra farming team. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• Tomorrow is the deadline to apply for Healdsburg's adult soccer league. (Facebook)
• There's a beautiful obituary for Healdsburg children's book writer Steve Cotler in the Trib. The "Cheesie Mack" author was killed in a car crash last month. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• A new "Latino-focused" market called El Mercadito opened over the weekend in Windsor. It will run every Sunday this summer at the Bluebird Community Center. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• Wine industry insider news: Sally Srok has been named the new director of hospitality at Healdsburg-based Arista Winery. (North Bay Business Journal)
• Speaking of the industry, the Jeff Cohn Cellars tasting room on North Street is hiring. (Nextdoor)
• Did you know a new baby clothes store opened last month on the Healdsburg Plaza? (Sonoma Magazine)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! If you're liking these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow 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? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com.