🌱 More Rain + Sustainable Wineries + Art Tour Through Healdsburg

Hello again, Healdsburg! Happy to be back in your inboxes this cozy fall Tuesday. I come bearing some very good weather news, some pretty good grape news and everything else that's fit to print. Keep scrolling to find out what's happening in Healdsburg today.

First, today's weather:

Foggy in the morning, turning to clouds with a little sun. Some wind gusts, too. And more rain tonight! High: 64 Low: 52.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Can you believe all this rain in the forecast? Healdsburg's "storm door is officially open," weather officials said after Sunday's showers, adding: "Needless to say, we're just a tad excited." More rain tonight, and even more expected next weekend, could mean up to three to five inches in the span of a week. This would be a huge sigh of relief for firefighters and those of us living in wildfire country. "We celebrated last night when we heard raindrops on the skylight," one Cal Fire chief down in the Santa Cruz area told the local TV news station. And an assistant fire marshal in Santa Rosa said: "We seem as if right now, at least in the North Bay, we have dodged a bullet." There are other things to watch out for with these first big rains, though, like dangerous wet roads and inflamed or downed power lines. So stay safe out there. (Healdsburg Patch & KTVU & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Before the rain fell over the weekend, a small but scary fire broke out between the Russian River and Healdsburg Avenue, just south of Memorial Bridge. Someone who lives across the river uploaded a video to Nextdoor of the flames shooting up Saturday afternoon, saying, "Fire happening now across the river in a Homeless Encampment by Syers. This is our worst fears. Pray no wind!!!" Fire crews managed to squelch the fire within an hour, according to Watch Duty. Sonoma County photojournalist Kent Porter also posted some dramatic footage of the aftermath on Twitter. (Nextdoor & Twitter & Watch Duty)
3. The New York Times just passed through town again, sniffing for stories. What did they find this time? "In Sonoma County, ‘Regenerative Agriculture’ Is the Next Big Thing," the headline reads — including "carbon sequestration, pollinator habitat restoration and simple composting." A Times reporter stopped by a couple Healdsburg wineries, Medlock Ames and Jordan Winery, as well as our local SingleThread Farm to taste the fruits of their latest sustainable techniques. In short, she was rather thrilled. Related: According to the Business Journal, Medlock Ames just joined an international coalition of more than 20 "wineries for climate action," where the goal is to "tackle the severity of the climate crisis by taking immediate action to reduce their carbon emissions.” Good on them. (NY Times & North Bay Business Journal; paywalls)
4. In other industry news, one of Healdsburg's "wine superstars" — Baron Ziegler, creator of Banshee Wines and Marine Layer Wines — just partnered with another bigshot from Sebastopol to purchase 162 acres of "what some consider California's best Syrah vines," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Their new plot, called Halcon Vineyard, is located just north of Cloverdale. The duo will reportedly use it to create a small label of the same name. “From the best syrah site in California, we are going to try create the best syrah we have seen around here,” Ziegler tells the PD. He's planning to sell it for around $80 per bottle. (SF Chronicle & Press Democrat; paywalls)
5. Last night's Healdsburg City Council meeting is available to re-watch now on Facebook. I haven't skimmed through it yet myself, but will update you on any significant outcomes in the coming days! Agenda items included a long-awaited vote on the Urban Water Management Plan and the consideration of a proposal to turn the L&M Motel at 70 Healdsburg Avenue into 21 rooms worth of interim housing for the local homeless population, operated by Reach for Home. (Facebook & SoCoNews Healdsburg)

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Today in Healdsburg:

• Healdsburg Tuesday Farmers Market Feat. Bob Culbertson, "Master of the Chapman Stick Guitar" (9AM-12:30PM)
• Little Monsters Halloween Class at Dragonfly Floral: Kids Make Spider Sliders, Magic Potion Lemonade & Pumpkin Patch Pudding (3:30-5PM)
• West Side Elementary Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Halloween Costume Run on Fitch Mountain, Ending With House Party (6PM)
• Comedian John Cleese Live at Luther Burbank Center (7:30PM)

Healdsburg Patch Notebook

• Mr. Moon's on the plaza is hiring after an employee left the Healdsburg area unexpectedly. They promise a "fun working environment" and "great employee discount." (Facebook)
• Or if retail isn't your thing, there's a job fair tomorrow at the Sonoma County airport. Employers looking to hire include American Airlines, the CHP, Korbel and many more. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• There are some wonderfully spooky pics posted in the "What's Happening Healdsburg" Facebook group from the Zombie walk through downtown Healdsburg over the weekend. (Facebook & Facebook)
• The Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce is organizing another walking tour of art projects "in local business windows and on exterior walls" over the holiday season, just like last year. Here's how you can participate. (Facebook)
• If you see some smoke coming from the west today, it's probably the prescribed burn Cal Fire is conducting out by Cazadero. Delightfully, it's been named the "Magic Prescribed Burn," after nearby Magic Mountain Road. (Facebook)
• A man died early Sunday morning after veering off the Arata Lane exit of the 101. May he rest in peace. (Press Democrat; paywall)
• How sweet is this? The PE teacher at Healdsburg Elementary, Mr. Huffman, recently "spent the day meeting with each class to review sportsmanship, being kind and the rules of some of our most popular blacktop games." Here are the pics. (Facebook)
• There's an extensive (and pretty fascinating) history of Healdsburg's Rafanelli family posted over at North Bay Biz magazine. (North Bay Biz)
• A calico cat named Daquiri was found on Chemise Road out West Dry Creek recently. Recognize her? (Facebook)

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— 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? You can email me at simone.wilson@patch.com.