🌱 L&M Motel Rehab Plan + Ozzy Speaks On Equity + Peach Season In Town

Hey, neighbors! I'm back in your inbox this fine Monday to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally. Keep scrolling for the scoop...

First, your daily weather:

• Monday: Morning fog, turning to sun. Warm as ever. High: 91 Low: 54.
• Tuesday: Hot and sunny. High: 92 Low: 51.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Healdsburg Mayor Ozzy Jiminez just sat down with the Press Democrat for an interview on his time in city government so far. Our 35-year-old mayor, "the first openly LGBTQ+ Latinx in the city’s 165-year history to head up the local government agency," was appointed to the council during the social-justice summer of 2020, after Mayor Leah Gold resigned due to charges of racism — then began his turn as mayor late last fall. Since then, the PD points out, "the city council has approved the framework of a Universal Basic Income plan that will offer 50 local families $500 a month for two years to help make up the gap that often occurs during early childhood when mothers need help to pay for childcare or to make up the income deficit if they decide to stay home. The city also has purchased the local L&M Hotel to offer shelter for the local homeless population." Still, Ozzy argues Healdsburg still has a long way to go in the equity department. "We can't be up on the dais speaking about the experiences of people of color, marginalized people, people in poverty, if we're not doing something about what they are experiencing in our community," he says. Read the full interview here. (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Speaking of the L&M Motel project! Healdsburg city leaders are looking for the right building contractor to tackle the rehabilitation of the motel before they re-open it as a sort of next-level homeless shelter at the south end of town, operated by the Reach for Home nonprofit. The city is accepting construction bids through July 12. "The Work in general consists of of rehabilitation and related construction of L&M Motel," says the city's bid posting. "L&M MOTEL is a Twenty Two (22) Unit existing Motel. Work includes interior and exterior rehabilitation of buildings, accessibility improvements, site improvements, public sidewalk improvements and sewer replacements and other such items of work as are required to complete the Project." City officials previously announced that the motel would be renamed L&M Village and would provide interim housing for 22 people for up to 30 days each, with the option to renew based on need. They had originally aimed to begin renovations in March or April of this year, and start accepting residents by August — but given that renovations haven't started yet, that timeline is probably getting pushed a little. You can see the detailed construction plans on the city's website. (City of Healdsburg & Press Democrat; paywall)
3. Meanwhile, Windsor's former disgraced mayor and Healdsburg winery son Dominic Foppoli is facing yet another accusation from a young woman in Montana. She's the 14th woman to come forward — and her claims are especially horrifying. From the San Francisco Chronicle: "The lawsuit was filed on May 20 in Sonoma County Superior Court. In addition to Foppoli, it also names Christopher Creek Winery, the estate outside of Healdsburg that Foppoli co-owns. In the 28-page complaint, the woman alleges that on several occasions from May to September 2020 — a period when Foppoli was the mayor of the Wine Country town of Windsor — Foppoli sexually assaulted her after events connected to promoting and selling his wine. The allegations include rape, forced oral copulation, groping and nonconsensual kissing. The woman asserts eight causes of action, including sexual battery, gender violence and negligence. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Neither Foppoli, 40, nor representatives with Christopher Creek Winery responded to requests for comment on Friday. Foppoli has previously denied sexually assaulting anyone. Last spring, Foppoli stepped down as chief executive of the winery, but it is not clear whether he has maintained an ownership stake." (SF Chronicle; paywall)

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Monday, June 27

• Summer Art Camp for Kids Aged 6-9 at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts: "Studio Painting, Drawing and Collage" With Teacher Kelly Ebeling (June 27-30, 8:30AM-12PM)
• Summer Art Camp for Kids Aged 3-5 at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts: "At the Circus" With Teacher Maria Gerstley (June 27-30, 9AM-12PM)
• New Exhibit at the Upstairs Art Gallery: "Marble-Ous" (June 27-July 31, 11AM-6PM)
• Summer Art Camp for Kids Aged 10-17 at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts: "Introduction to Digital Photography" With Teacher Nicole Schlaeppi (June 27-30, 1-4:30PM)
• Healdsburg Senior Center Supper Club: Enchilada Night (5:30PM)

Tuesday, June 28

• Healdsburg Tuesday Farmers Market, Featuring Live Hawaiian Music by Maille Swing (9AM-12:30PM)
• Meet the Artist: Paris Street Photography Show by Tania Amochaev at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (2-5PM)
• Tuesdays in the Plaza, Feat. Live Music by The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra & Terrie Odabi (6PM)
• Healdsburg City Planning Commission Meeting (6PM)
• Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes Live at the Elephant in the Room (7-10PM)

Healdsburg pic of the day:

Want to see one of your pics featured in the Healdsburg Daily? Send it on over. Please just confirm in your email that you took the photo, and that Patch has permission to republish it! Thanks, and happy snapping... 📸

From my notebook:

• It's peach season in Healdsburg! And local seller Dry Creek Peach is positively overflowing. You can now find them at the Saturday edition of the Healdsburg Farmers Market, or visit their farm stand at 2179 Yoakim Bridge Rd. on Wednesdays through Labor Day. The stand opens at noon and closes when the peaches run out. (Healdsburg Farmers Market via Facebook & Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram)
• There's also a new mushroom vendor at the Tuesday farmers market called Gourmet Growers. "Or as we all know them, Duncan's Mushrooms." (Facebook Groups)
• Everyone's impatient to know when the Healdsburg branch of Mambos Pizza will be opening in the Safeway shopping center, in the spot where Mountain Mike's used to be. A few neighbors who've called the Santa Rosa location say Mambos staffers are telling them it's a matter of weeks. We'll see... (Facebook Groups)
• A couple of other neighbors who were monitoring police scanners on Saturday night said there was apparently a fight at Duke's Spirited Cocktails on the plaza, involving a suspect from Santa Rosa. (Facebook Groups)
• The Press Democrat published a quick and fascinating history lesson on the City of Healdsburg this morning. One particularly interesting tidbit: "What we know now as the Healdsburg Plaza was once the site of Ka’le, a Pomo Indian village in a forest north of a small lake that used to exist... . A few hundred years ago there were many varieties of trees and bushes in the Plaza area that provided nuts and berries for the Pomo tribe." (Press Democrat; paywall)

Now you're in the loop for today! See y'all tomorrow...

— 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