🌱 More Storm Aid + SoFi Layoffs + Asian-American Plaza Festival

Hi, everybody! It's me, Simone, your host of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter. Let's kick off this drizzly weekend with a quick look at the most important things happening these days in town, shall we?

But first, your weekend weather:

• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a big chance of rain and wind later in the day — as well as possible thunderstorms. High: 56 Low: 43.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy again. More chances of rain and wind. High: 56 Low: 32.
• Monday: Frost in the morning, then warming up a little with some sun peeking through. High: 63 Low: 36.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. Good news for the hundreds of people who stood in line for hours last month at the county's storm recovery centers in Healdsburg and Guerneville, waiting to apply for financial aid to help cover wage losses and other costs brought on by January's storms. Sonoma County officials have "more than tripled the emergency assistance allocated last month for low-income residents," bringing the aid pool up to $1 million, the Press Democrat reports. What does this mean for everyone still waiting on an answer to their aid application? "More than $600,000 is already spoken for by the 1,080 people who funneled through two hastily established storm recovery centers in Guerneville and Healdsburg and applied for help after wage loss and other weather-related impacts left them struggling economically the week of Jan. 15," according to the PD. "All qualified applicants" who showed up — including 651 people in Healdsburg, 81 percent of them agricultural workers — will reportedly receive a payment of between $250 and $800, "based on severity of loss." And the plan is to distribute the remaining few hundred thousand after "further outreach" to people in Sonoma Valley and southern Sonoma County, since "initial efforts were aimed at disproportionately affected individuals in west and north county." (Press Democrat; paywall)
2. But the folks at local nonprofit Corazón Healdsburg say that won't be enough. After working closely with the county to set up Healdsburg's storm recovery center last month, Corazón just launched their own additional fundraising drive for local workers who "are struggling to stretch their wages to make ends meet" after "recent storms and floods left many without power or work for days." More from their announcement: "Our team has met with more than 100 northern Sonoma County families who are unable to pay rent after losing work due to the storms. The Press Democrat captured the tough situation our local agricultural workers are facing in this article. Working with our volunteers at the County of Sonoma's Recovery Support Center after the storms reminded us of what happened in the fires and during COVID, where crisis like this just exacerbate the living conditions and financial situations that our families are in. It was really difficult to see and bear witness to once again. That's why we're reopening our Unity & Community Fund. Our region has been through crisis after crisis and our community has always stepped up when our neighbors are in need. Our neighbors need our support right now. If you can, please give generously so that Corazón staff can support families with wraparound services, keeping them in their homes with food on the table through these hard times." You can donate here. (Corazón Healdsburg & Press Democrat; paywall)
3. Those same storms' impact on our local water supply has been much more positive. A few weeks later, after the dust has settled, the Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino reservoirs — where Healdsburg gets most of its water — are officially showing "above-average water supply levels" for this time of year, county officials say. When compared to this date each year for the past decade, our 2023 levels — just a few percentage points shy of 100 percent capacity at Lake Sonoma, and well over 100 percent capacity at Lake Mendocino, now spilling over into the flood pool — are nearly tied with 2019, the best year within that time frame. Of course, what happens the rest of this rainy season will have a big say in our final water supply for the dry summer months, but the current situation is certainly a world apart from last year. (County of Sonoma via Facebook & Sonoma Water)
4. SoFi, the giant "social finance" banking and lending company with offices here in Healdsburg, is cutting 65 jobs from its mortgage division, according to the Wall Street Journal's secret sources — amounting to "roughly 5% of its 1,300-person workforce." The Journal reports that "the layoffs are centered in SoFi’s mortgage-operations centers in Healdsburg, Calif., and Cottonwood Heights, Utah." Their local office is located at 375 Healdsburg Ave., in the same little shopping center where film org AVFilm plans to open a movie theater soon. A SoFi spokesperson says the company has “made some changes to staffing to ensure we have the right people in the right roles and locations to power our growth," adding that it is currently hiring for more than 175 roles — so this seems to be more of a strategy move than a downsizing. "The firm is looking to make its mortgage process more automated," reports FinTech Futures. And all this comes on the heels of SoFi announcing that Twitter exec Anthony Noto will take over as CEO next month. (FinTech Futures & Wall Street Journal & Google Maps)
5. This year's excellent girls basketball team at Healdsburg High is "closing in" on the league title, with just one more game to go this evening, the Press Democrat reports. If they do come out on top of the league, this would reportedly be their "first regular-season championship pennant since the 2004 season." More from the PD: "The Healdsburg girls basketball team has now won 13 of its past 14 games, after Thursday night’s 46-11 demolition of host St. Vincent in a North Bay League Redwood division contest. The first-place Greyhounds (21-4, 10-1) can clinch the regular-season title with a win Saturday at home against last-place Piner." Coach Steve Zichichi tells the paper that "we are playing really good defense" and "our shooting has been really good,” too. You can cheer our girls through their final game at the high school gym tonight at 7:30 p.m. (Press Democrat; paywall)

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This weekend in Healdsburg:

Saturday, February 4

• Read to a Dog / "Perritos y Libros" at the Healdsburg Library (11AM)
• Memorial Service for Deceased Healdsburg Businessman Ernest Nicholas Frandsen at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (11AM)
• Services for Maureen Ann Finigan at St. John's Church (11AM)
• "Live Music on the Piazza" at Bacchus Landing, Featuring Wine, Pizza & Music by Pianist Nick Foxer (12-4PM)
• Healdsburg American Legion Hosts Annual All-You-Can-Eat Crab Feed Benefit at the Villa Chanticleer (4-7PM)
• Opening Reception for New "Red Show" Exhibit at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (5-7PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Basketball Plays Last Game of the Season at Home Vs. Piner (7:30PM)
• Mustache Harbor Live at Coyote Sonoma (8:30-10:30PM)
• Birds of Paradox Live at the Elephant in the Room (9PM)

Sunday, February 5

• Lunar New Year Celebration at the Healdsburg Plaza, Feat. Drumming, Dancing, Tai Chi & Asian-American Street Food From Local Vendors (10:30AM-2PM)
• "Hearts & Bubbles" Valentine's Day Wine & Chocolate Tasting at Breathless Sparkling Wines, Feat. Live Music by Lara Louise (11AM & 1PM)
• Appellation Hotels Hosts Valentine's Day Cookie Decorating Class at CraftWork Healdsburg (11AM-1:30PM)
• "Symphony Pops" at the Luther Burbank Center: “Stayin’ Alive” - The Bee Gees Tribute (3PM)

Monday, February 6

• Healdsburg City Council Regular Meeting (6PM)

From my notebook:

• Quick clarification on my Amy's Wicked Slush sale announcement in Thursday's newsletter: While I linked to the listing posted on the Coldwell Banker Realty website, the actual broker for the listing is Roxanne Mercer at Luxe Places International Realty. Here's the original listing on her website. (MyRoxanne.com)
• Well-loved Sonoma County bluesman Levi Lloyd has passed away, according to friends in the music business. The owners of the Elephant in the Room pub in Healdsburg posted online Thursday: "To a true legend and great friend. RIP Levi Lloyd. This man touched so many people, and really made a deep impression on me. We are so sad to hear this news." In the comments, a guy who works at the Furthermore Wines tasting room downtown responded: "He was on our calendar Feb 25th! ... I had the pleasure a hanging out with him for a few gigs here! Rest in peace, my friend." And Healdsburg's vice mayor, Chris Herrod, added: "Shocked. I saw him playing Oliver’s just last Friday. What a loss." (Facebook Groups)
• The winter shelter run by local nonprofit Reach for Home out of St. Paul's Church will be open the next few nights, due to low overnight temps. And FYI, they still need volunteers to serve dinner tonight and Monday night. (Reach for Home via Facebook & SignUpGenius)
• This is pretty cool! Local artist Jendala says she's going to start hosting "Gen Z open mic" nights every third Wednesday of the month at her Moore Lane studio behind Healdsburg City Hall, starting this month. "Do you have a child over 11 that needs a bit of nudging to the stage or perhaps is stage ready and ready to share their gifts with us?" she asks. "Please join us February 15th for our first performances." Here's how to get in touch with her and find out more. (Healdsburg Patch Calendar)
• Little Saint is open again after recent renovations with a "new downstairs lounge mood and menu" at their big North Street location, according to Shop Local Healdsburg. Click through for video footage of the comfy new space. (Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram)
• And one block south, the newly renovated Guiso Latin Fusion restaurant right next to the Raven Theater is open again as well. Salvadoran chef Carlos Guiso gave Shop Local a tour of his restaurant's fresh new interior, including "reupholstered seating, bistro tops, and lighting." He also talks about his newborn baby Belicia Arielle. “She’s the reason why we’re doing this all for her,” the chef says. (Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram)
• In response to the two new big sources of funding for the SMART train announced last week by transit officials, the Press Democrat's editorial board seems optimistic that this may really mean "SMART rail will finally have the resources to reach Windsor and then Healdsburg as well as to build a pedestrian and cycling trail that parallels the tracks." They write: "Coordinated investment across multiple projects will transform communities" in Northern Sonoma County "and make travel accessible to people of all incomes."(Press Democrat; paywall)
• A couple more highlights I haven't mentioned from the last Healdsburg City Council meeting: "We adopted the City’s recently completed Community Wildfire Protection Plan," Mayor Ariel Kelley says, and "appointed Stephen Barber to the planning commission." (MailChimp & Ariel Kelley via Facebook)
• If you missed the flood preparedness webinar hosted last week by our Northern Sonoma County branch of Communities Organized to Prepare for Emergencies (COPE), along with some emergency officials from the county, you can now watch it online. (YouTube & COPE Northern Sonoma County via Facebook)
• Have you ever checked out the lunch spot at the Healdsburg Senior Center on Matheson, just off the plaza? "The Bistro" is open to everyone, and it's crazy affordable. "If you are age 60 or better the cost is $5, and for those under 60, $10," city officials say. "Hours are 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." The menu for the next few weeks features tomato bisque with "cheesy heart shaped crostini"; turkey and Swiss paninis; Caesar salads; pulled pork sandwiches and Italian hoagies. (City of Healdsburg & Healdsburg Community Services via Facebook)
• It's celebrity sighting time. "Guess what everyone from Healdsburg, I saw Finn Wittrock an actor known for his work in American Horror Story, at Quail and the Condor in Healdsburg this morning," a neighbor says on Nextdoor. "He was very nice and shook my hand. He said he was taking some time off. I told him and his wife to have fun. Healdsburg is getting quite popular with the celebrities!" (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to enjoy your weekend! 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