🌱 New Development + 'Watch Duty' Scrutiny + Sheriff Shooting Details

Hiii, it's me, Simone — back after a brief hiatus with an overflowing weekend edition of the Healdsburg Daily, full of everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Enjoy! ✨

First, your weekend weather:

• Saturday: Mix of sun and clouds. High: 84 Low: 57.
• Sunday: Cooling down. Fog and clouds in the morning, turning to sun. A little windy. High: 79 Low: 57.
• Monday: Partly sunny and breezy again. High: 81 Low: 55.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 5 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. A man was shot dead yesterday morning by Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies on a rural road just to the northeast of Healdsburg, in the Chalk Hill area. His name hasn't been released yet, and of course the sheriff is still investigating exactly what happened, but here's what officials are saying so far: Deputies responded to the 5200 block of Tre Monte Lane after locals started to call and report a trespasser in the area who was had thrown a rock through a window and such. Neighbors also claimed that he had "asked one of them to shoot him" — before stealing one of their trucks and roaring off, breaking through several cattle guards on the way. Deputies then say they tracked him down to a "wooded area east of the 5600 block of Thomas Road," where he appeared to be holding some kind of weapon. "Deputies ordered the man to drop the weapon, but he refused," a sheriff's spokesman says. "The man initially appeared to charge at one of the deputies but stopped. After a standoff with multiple commands to drop the weapon, one deputy deployed his Taser, but it appeared ineffective; the second deputy shot the man." He died half an hour later. Sheriff's officials plan to release more info, including the man's name and the names of deputies involved, next week. R.I.P. (Healdsburg Patch)
2. A few more Healdsburg residents have reportedly thrown their names in the hat for three City Council seats opening up this November. A city rep tells the Healdsburg Tribune that "the following people have filed the Form 501 Candidate Intention Statement: Evelyn Mitchell, Chris Herrod, Linda Cade, Matt Villano and Brigette Mansell." Mitchell already serves on the council; Herrod is a local musician and Parks & Rec commissioner; Villano is a "journalist and writer," according to the Trib; Cade is a "holistic health coach," also according to the Trib; and Mansell is a well-known local activist who has previously served on the council. I'll share more info as I get it! (Healdsburg Tribune)
3. Watch Duty, the increasingly popular wildfire alert app based in Healdsburg, is attracting some "concern from public officials" one year after its launch, the Business Journal reports. Nearly 200,000 people are now using it to keep track of fires in Sonoma County and the rest of California. It works like this: A dozen “core reporters” working for the app are monitoring a set of official emergency sources and "snippets of calls coming through dispatch services," then compiling the info for app users and sending out alerts on fires as they develop. And while many local officials say they see the value of this, some are worried that bad or unverified info might be disseminated to the public before it's ready. "One of the issues we’re having is whenever police and fire departments release information, we have to be ‘triple dog’ sure of it, and we’re on the same page," says our local Cal Fire captain, Tom Knecht. For example, the Journal reports, "the issue arises for Knecht when Watch Duty sends out messages that imply it’s OK for residents to return to homes and businesses after they have evacuated." App developers now say they'll try to work more closely with local agencies to make sure everyone's on the same page. You can read the full piece in the Journal — it's pretty fascinating. And very relevant! (North Bay Business Journal; paywall)
4. More investigative fire journalism! The San Francisco Chronicle just published a report on how the "Wine Country's fancy new resorts" — including our very own Montage Healdsburg — could "increase fire risk" for everyone. From the Chronicle: "Wildfires have not slowed new development, especially when it comes to lodging. Three new Wine Country resorts opened in Napa and Sonoma after the Glass Fire’s incursion: the Montage in Healdsburg, the Four Seasons in Calistoga and Stanly Ranch on the southern end of Napa. Another upscale Healdsburg hotel, Appellation, co-founded by chef Charlie Palmer, is slated to open in 2023. This massive expansion of the tourism industry comes at a contentious time. Environmental experts say that such development increases the risk of wildfires, yet visitor demand in Wine Country is high. Some of these resorts have undertaken exhaustive and expensive fire mitigation measures to protect their properties and guests, but it might not be enough." An expert tells the Chronicle that "while these resorts were erected according to modern building codes and have the resources for extensive mitigation, their very existence increases the danger for higher-risk homes and structures in the area that were built 30 or 40 years ago." He says evacuation routes are also a concern. Read the whole thing here. (SF Chronicle; paywall)
5. Speaking of new development. Healdsburg city leaders are considering a developer's proposal to build a new four-story building at 444 Healdsburg Avenue, in that old abandoned lot between the Modern Antiquarium antique warehouse and the little street that cuts through to the CVS shopping center. The new building would "include 1,200 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and two residential units, and one accessory dwelling on the upper floors," the city says. It "would be accessed off Healdsburg Avenue and six parking spaces would be located at the rear of the building." The city's planning commission will be hosting a public workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 9 to review the proposal and get input from the community. Below is a rendering of what the new building would look like. Seems like the little parking lot next to it would also be getting an upgrade... (City of Healdsburg & Google Maps)

This weekend in Healdsburg:

Saturday, July 30

• Healdsburg Saturday Farmers Market (8:30AM-12PM)
• Yard Sale at 1360 Meadow Court (9AM-2PM)
• Corazón Healdsburg Presents Día de Trabajo en el Jardín / Garden Work Day at the Healdsburg Community Center (10-11AM)
• Wilson Artisan Wineries Present 4th Annual Wine & Grilling Showdown (11AM-5PM)
• DaVero Winery Summer Wine Luncheon Series at The Matheson (12-3PM)
• Corazón Healdsburg Hosts Feria de Regreso a la Escuela / Back to School Fair at the Healdsburg Community Center (3-7PM)
• DJ Yuka Yu Plays BloodRoot Wines (3-7PM)
• Johnny Tsunami & The Hurricanes Live at Coyote Sonoma (5:30-8:30PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Baseball Game Vs. the Solano Mudcats at Rec Park (6PM)
• Healdsburg High School Reunion at the Villa Chanticleer for Classes of 1990-92 (6-10PM)
• Raven Players Present "Twelfth Night (With A Twist)" Performance in the Plaza (7:30PM)
• Pazifico Live at the Elephant in the Room (8-11PM)
• HHS Class Reunion After Party at Coyote Sonoma (10PM-1AM)
• Entry Deadline for Upcoming "Beauty and the Beasts" Art Exhibit at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts (11:59PM)

Sunday, July 31

• Emily Hamilton Live at VML Winery (11AM-4PM)
• Sundays in the Plaza, Featuring Live Music by Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes (1PM)
• Live Music on the Lawn at Truett Hurst Winery, Feat. Jimmy Chardonnay & the Second Street Band (5-8PM)
• Backyard Nights at Medlock Ames, Feat. Food Trucks & Live Music by Lowstar Rodeo (5-8PM)
• Sunset Music Series at the Ranch at Lake Sonoma, Feat. Western Swing Band The Familiar Strangers (5:30PM)
• Healdsburg Prune Packers Game Vs. the Novato Knicks at Rec Park (6PM)
• Submission Deadline for Sonoma County Library Virtual Open Mic Night (11:59PM)

Monday, August 1

• New Exhibit at the Upstairs Art Gallery: "Sonoma Backroads" by Beverly Bird (Aug. 1-28, 11AM-6PM)
• Farm to Pantry Veggie Glean at Bernier Farm in Geyserville (2-4PM)
• Healdsburg City Council Meeting (6-11PM)

Healdsburg pic of the day:

Want to see one of your pics featured right here 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, looking forward to seeing through your eyes... 📸

From my notebook:

• Healdsburg city firefighters say they helped put out a 14-acre wildfire up in Cloverdale earlier this week. (Healdsburg Patch & Healdsburg Fire Dept. via Instagram)
• A reminder that the left-turn light at the intersection of Grove Street and Dry Creek Road is working differently now. It's Healdsburg's first "flashing yellow left turn arrow," city officials say. Here are the rules: "Left turns are permitted when the yellow arrow is flashing, but the driver is required to first yield to all oncoming vehicles, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic, and then proceed with caution." (City of Healdsburg via Facebook & City of Healdsburg via Facebook)
• One neighbor claims her front tire was punctured by construction debris from the traffic light project when driving through that same intersection yesterday, so she recommends you "use caution in the area." (Facebook Groups)
• Healdsburg's much-buzzed-about new art and event space, Little Saint, just opened their upstairs lounge to the public. This is where "all our musical performances and special events will take place moving forward," owners say. The lounge's opening hours are Thursday through Monday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Little Saint via Instagram)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be back next week with more...

— 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