🌱 New Businesses + Water Conservation Rules + Sheriff Shooting Video

Hey, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town. Here goes...

First, your daily weather:

• Tuesday: Super hot with hazy sunshine. High: 100 Low: 57.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and still very hot, but a little less so. High: 94 Low: 57.

Heads up: There's a "heat advisory" in effect for the Healdsburg area today. Remember to "hydrate, dress for the heat, limit your time outdoors" and "check on your family and your neighbors," city officials say. The fire department also asks that you "stop mowing and weed trimming while temperatures are high and humidity is low." (City of Healdsburg via Facebook)

Also: All this hazy smoke in the air is reportedly coming from the "Six Rivers Lightning Complex Fire" up north, comprised of "a dozen blazes that ignited by lightning strikes in Humboldt and Trinity counties near Willow Creek on Aug. 5." Sonoma County officials advise you "limit your time outside, close your windows, use fans or air-conditioning with re-circulated air when possible" and "stay hydrated" with all the smoke blowing through. (SF Gate & County of Sonoma via Facebook)

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. Despite the recent Eel River decision that prompted state orders for those with access to Russian River water to reduce their withdrawals, including the City of Healdsburg, city officials say this will NOT in fact result in stricter water conservation rules for Healdsburg residents — at least for now. "While the City’s water rights were curtailed under these recent orders, the City has access to stored water within Lake Mendocino," they say. And "this stored water, a result of flows through the Potter Valley Project, has helped to maintain our conservation target at 20% rather than the higher levels experienced last summer." However, officials remind us that we should still "monitor usage and continue to maintain the lower usage through the summer months" — because "the water saved today is the water you’ll need this fall." (City of Healdsburg)
2. More water news! Healdsburg city officials just gave an update on the big water storage improvements they want to make with some "tentative" new state and federal funding. From their announcement: "Last week the City received news that our application to fund the proposed aquifer storage and recovery wells passed a major funding milestone by being deemed feasible, eligible, and cost-effective by the Office of Emergency Services. This is a big win for the City as this step helps our application move forward in the process. Once we can secure funding for this project the City of Healdsburg will be able to increase water availability during the summer months and help alleviate the effects of the ongoing drought. The City has now passed the State and Federal review of the project’s sub-application with a tentative award of $6.0 million. Over the next several months this tentative award will be confirmed through a series of clarifying questions about the project scope and timeline." (City of Healdsburg)
3. In a story on the front page of the Press Democrat yesterday, the paper applauds Healdsburg for successfully rebounding from the COVID pandemic with a bunch of new business openings in town. These have "signaled optimism for the city of more than 11,000 residents that took an economic hit during the pandemic when many well-heeled tourists stayed away," the PD writes. The story stars Fogbelt Station, our new beer garden on Hudson Street. Also on the list: "Furthermore Wines of Sebastopol took over the old Bergamot Alley location that closed in 2018 and opened the space for its new tasting room. Oakville Wine Merchant, the wine shop of the Oakville Grocery in Napa County, has opened a second location near the Healdsburg Plaza. And in late spring, the folks behind Idlewild Wines opened Ciao Bruto, a store just north of the plaza that offers wines and specialty food from Italy. All of that activity comes with the heralded opening of Little Saint, whose owners took over the 10,000-square-foot space that was formerly known as SHED with a plant-based café and coffee shop. It also has an upstairs concert venue that has attracted indie pop acts such as Phoebe Bridgers, creating a buzz of a burgeoning music scene." And the PD adds that "investment in most of these businesses have come from local North Bay residents as opposed to outsiders" — "a bullish indicator that things are picking up economically in Healdsburg, said Skip Brand, owner of the Healdsburg Running Co. store who also serves as a board member of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board." (Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram & Press Democrat; paywall)
4. There was a shooting Sunday evening "on Front St. near the railroad tracks and Railroad Park," according to the Healdsburg Police Department. When officers got to the scene around 6:10 p.m., they "learned that a male adult victim had been transported to an area hospital suffering from a gunshot wound," the department says. "Officers are continuing to investigate the shooting and ask that anyone with any information on the incident contact the Healdsburg Police Department at (707) 431-3377 or report a tip at crimetips@healdsburg.gov." And here's some more info from the PD: "Homes and businesses line the stretch of Front Street, which is parallel to the Russian River, with Hudson Street to the north and Healdsburg Avenue to the south, in southern Healdsburg. Upon arrival, officers learned that a man had been transported to an area hospital after suffering a 'serious' gunshot wound, said Lt. Luis Rodriguez. The man was still recovering as of Monday afternoon but his medical condition wasn’t released. Rodriguez said there were no other reports of injured victims but other specifics were still being investigated. This includes whether the victim was targeted, if any witnesses were present, the number of shots fired and the number of times the man was hit." (Healdsburg Police Department via Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
5. The Sonoma County Sheriff has released video footage of the deputy-involved shooting in Healdsburg's rural Chalk Hill area last month. At the end of a long chase on the morning of July 29, Deputy Michael Dietrick shot and killed Lake County resident David Pelaez-Chavez in the rocky bed of Franz Creek. "This video is being released pursuant to State law AB 748," sheriff's officials say. "Viewer discretion is advised." Indeed — the footage is incredibly disturbing and hard to watch. It begins with 911 calls from local residents reporting Pelaez-Chavez on their properties, trying to break into their homes with big rocks. Then body-cam footage shows Dietrick and fellow deputy Anthony Powers following him through the forest and into the creek, where they shout for him to drop the objects he's holding — which they believed to be a rock, hammer and tiller. The video shows him waving around the objects and shouting some stuff I can't quite hear. When the suspect reaches for a second rock in a motion that they interpret as being about to throw it at the deputies, the sheriff's office claims Powers then tries to stun Pelaez-Chavez with a Tazer, to "no effect" — but that part's kinda hard to make out in the video. Dietrick then fires his gun three times, killing the man. After that, helicopter footage shows paramedics arriving and trying to save him, to no avail. May he rest in peace. (Sonoma Sheriff via Facebook & Sonoma Sheriff via YouTube & Press Democrat; paywall)

Today in Healdsburg:

• Healdsburg Elementary School Family Photo Day, Featuring Photo Booth & Props (8AM-4PM)
• Healdsburg Tuesday Farmers Market (9AM-12:30PM)
• Community Emergency Preparedness Fair / Feria Comunitaria Inaugural de Preparación Para Emergencias at Healdsburg Hospital (10AM-12:30PM)
• Dry Creek Ecosystem Restoration Phase 1 Project Kick-Off Ceremony at Gallo & Foley Family Wines Property (10:30AM-1PM)
• Tuesdays in the Plaza, Feat. Live Music by Funk/Soul Band Sal's Greenhouse (6PM)
• Mike Saliani & The Canyon Stars Live at the Elephant in the Room (7:30PM)

From my notebook:

• Healdsburg police sent out an alert late last night that a "68-year-old 'at-risk' woman with Alzheimer's" had gone missing near Cali Ln. She was located a few hours later. (Healdsburg Police Department via Facebook)
• Update on the wine grape harvest currently happening in Healdsburg and environs, courtesy of the Sonoma County Winegrowers org: "Harvest is underway in Sonoma County with farmers picking grapes that have reached the right balance of Brix (sugars), flavors and acidity. Most of the grapes being harvested right now are Pinot Noir for sparkling wines and Rosé, while the other varieties continue to ripen and get ready for their harvest moment. During the harvest season, grape growers and winemakers work together to determine the perfect time to harvest their grapes. All vineyards grow and grapes ripen at different paces depending on the variety, location, soils and temperature." (Sonoma County Winegrowers via Facebook)
• I haven't had a chance to watch last night's Healdsburg City Council meeting yet, so not sure what went down — but here's the two-hour replay, if you're interested. (City of Healdsburg via Facebook)

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• Rotary Club of Healdsburg presents Embers of Awakening: From Firestorms to Climate Healing (August 17)
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• Appliance Technician $22-25 DOE (Details)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— 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